nitrate problems

[Geoff Cysouw 0]

I'm having an issue with cloudy water. It looks like my fish are swimming in milk. All of the water levels are good except the nitrate. It's off the charts. I have a canister filter and a mechanical filter on the tank. I used the same system last year with no problems. The fish (3) summer in a pond and winter in the tank. But this season almost from day one the water has been cloudy. The fish seem healthy and normal. Any ideas?

[FishyMandy 6,277]

Hi

Just how high is the nitrate?

How big is the tank?

How often are you doing waterchanges and how much?

 

Welcome to kokos

[Geoff Cysouw 0]

It's a 75 gallon tank. I do bi-weekly water changes of 25% volume. The nitrate level is HIGH. I'm thinking that I might not have enough oxygenation going on via surface agitation to help eliminate the nitrogen, so I readjusted the filter outlet for more surface movement. 

[koko 14,340]

My suggestions.

1. Test your tap water. See if it has nitrates in it.

2. I would do bigger water changes.

[FishyMandy 6,277]

Im not sure if biweekly means twice a week or once every two weeks,

 

But either way I agree with Koko, I would do at least 80% a week wc and test the tap water to see if there is nitrates in it

[Lucy Fantail 5]

I had really bad nitrate problems, it was not my tap water but because I used mirical grow for substrate.. The only way I could get on top of it was, to do lots of water changes.. Don't be scared of water changes(unless your tap water has lots of nitrates in it).. Anyways I still gravel vacked once a week and a 25% water change.. But every 3 days syphoned off 1 bucket about  litres  14 litres or (6 gallons).. After a couple of weeks my tank settled down.. The nitrates were being caused buy the decomposition of the mirical grow but I have to say my plants love it..  And now the plants are getting established they are looking after the nitrates for me.. 

Honestly don't be scared of water changes, especially during a tank that is cycling. It's good for every thing.. (as long as your tap water is OK) 

Anyways I hope my little story helps.. 

 

[koko 14,340]

So true water changes are one of the best things you can do for them.