Default Nitrate Levels Options

[CP]

I am talking bio tanks here.

Frankly,I have not bothered about nitrate levels for the past year since I took up this hobby.My stock level is low (750l for 9 fishes),I do 30% water changes forthnightly,the fishes growing well and no diseases (touch wood) so far.

Until I chance upon RafflesGold forum.After browsing thru the old threads and subscribe to the advice of keeping nitrate levels below 50ppm,got myself a Tetra test kit 3 wks ago and... WAH PIANG!!Turned red in no time!Performed 80% water change immediately and still red!Performed another change and brought down to abt 25.

Whew,I thot,the level must have been in the hundreds to begin with.After the first week I find that I need to perform at least 50% change weekly at the current stock and feeding level to keep it below 50.

Now-straight to the point.I found that when I did 80% change (lazy to net fish out la) at 50ppm I was expecting nitrates to be abt 10 (0.2x50=10)afterwards but found that its abt 25.After the next water change (same parameters) also discovered abt 25.The maths don't tally.So I tested tap water - wtf already 12.5!Checked PUB website and found that nitrates in tap water can be up to 15ppm.

There you have it - After water change 10.
Tap water 12.5

The rest?In my opinion from the ammonia freed from chloramines (chloramine = ammonia + chlorine) after adding the water conditioner which was subsequently coverted to nitrates as well.I reckon it can be abt 2ppm judging from the recommended chlorine residual level from PUB website.

Therefore I conclude that even after you change 100% of water,the default nitrate level shd be abt 15ppm.You may think that I am mad for dwelling into these figures but after browsing the old threads I take comfort that there is a self- proclaimed nut case who keeps the nitrates levels below 40(or is it 20,I cant remember.)

That's all.Time to change water.

[mrchoco]

wow...
never thought of testing tap water for nitrates......

[HappyBuddha]

Excellent work and a delightful read too!

I'm out of a nitrate test kit so I can't test the nitrate level of my tap water. Over a year ago when I kept a record of the water parameters (for my bio-green experiment), I did recorded nitrate at zero level after water change. So I'm wondering either the water supply have changed quite drastically since, or maybe your test kit is faulty/expired?

But you got me curious and I'll go get a new kit (from the distributor to ensure freshness) to find out what the nitrate level is like over here compared to woodlands.

[mrchoco]

a water change of 90%
my tank ongoing for 1 day already
my nitrate reads less than 5ppm
i think your test kit might have problem or you never rinse the container properly..

[CP]

my nitrate reads less than 5ppm
i think your test kit might have problem or you never rinse the container properly..

Er...my Tetra test kit scales are 0,12.5,25,50 and 100.Difficult to estimate in between figures.

However,see attached link for nitrate levels.Can range from 0.5 to 7 or up to 15 depending on which waterworks.Maybe Woodlands is from 'other' waterworks.


http://www.pub.gov.sg/our_services/WaterWS...2=8&l3=4-2&l4=3

[HappyBuddha]

Er...my Tetra test kit scales are 0,12.5,25,50 and 100.Difficult to estimate in between figures.

However,see attached link for nitrate levels.Can range from 0.5 to 7 or up to 15 depending on which waterworks.Maybe Woodlands is from 'other' waterworks.
http://www.pub.gov.sg/our_services/WaterWS...2=8&l3=4-2&l4=3

Thanks for the link.

I found a way to verify if your test kit is good.

According to Evian, their water has 1ppm of nitrate. Get a bottle of evian and test the nitrate level. If your test kit still register amber instead of a bright yellow (0 mg/l), then it's faulty.

The link to Evian's analysis of its product is

http://www.evian.com/us/corp/faq.html

Click on the 5th FAQ "What's in Evian Natural Spring Water".

[CP]

Thanks will double check.

[CP]

The experiments carried over the weekend got me labelled a madman by my wife and Professer Utonium of Powerpuff girls by my kids.

OK,here's what happened:

Went to Cheers,got a bottle of 500ml Evian (wtf almost 2 bucks,I could have gotten myself a can of cheap beer ) but read the contents that nitrates are 3,8.
Not 3.8 but 3,8.Wonder what that meant.
So I browsed around and obtained another sample - a 500ml 'Life' pure distilled drinking water(why the heck would anyone drink distilled water) for 1 buck.The nutritional info were all listed as zero with no mention of nitrates.

And the results - Tap water (I tested twice) still 12.5
Evian - A shade below orange so I reckon its abt 8 to 10.
Life - Yellow!Not bright yellow,but my guess is 1 or 2.

This was followed by an 80% change of tank water at 50ppm and as expected the result was abt 25ppm (0.2x50 + 12.5).

Conclusion:
For my 750l tank performing 100% water change,I have the option of using PUB water costing abt $1.50 inclusive of water borne fee and water conservation tax
and obtain 12.5ppm nitrates; or I can purchase 1,500 bottles of LIFE costing abt 1.5k and obtain almost zero level nitrates.

[The Matrix]

Not 3.8 but 3,8.Wonder what that meant.

Europe standard of decimal placing.

U staying around Woodlands HDB ? Can tell us which particular area ? High or low floor ? Or private, landed ppty ?

And also do you have any particular timing of changing water ?
Types of anti-chlorine, dosage
any buffering
types of filter media
ph of water when u taking the measurements.

[HappyBuddha]

Congrats on finding out your test kits works and hence your finding is correct.

Went to Cheers,got a bottle of 500ml Evian (wtf almost 2 bucks,I could have gotten myself a can of cheap beer ) but read the contents that nitrates are 3,8.

In some european countries, the decimal point is written as a comma. It can be very confusing when we read those numbers especially when we're not aware of the cultural differences. For instance, $1,234.56 is written as $1.234,56 in Belgium. To experience the cultrual differences, go to your Windows' control panel and change your country format from US to France or Italy.

Finally... it's too bad water in your area has such a high level of nitrate. Looks like you either change your water more frequently, cut your stock load, or maybe use (bio-)green water.

[CP]

Europe standard of decimal placing.

U staying around Woodlands HDB ? Can tell us which particular area ? High or low floor ? Or private, landed ppty ?

And also do you have any particular timing of changing water ?
Types of anti-chlorine, dosage
any buffering
types of filter media
ph of water when u taking the measurements.

All other mineral contents were written in decimal placing except nitrates written in comma.I suspect 3,8 may mean min3 max8.
Living in Woodsvale EC,12th floor.I normally change water at night abt 10pm.
Using 'FISHGUARD' anti chlo and chloramine, recomm dosage 5ml per 20gals (80l) but using double the dosage
No buffering - Dont know what it means
Filter media - Japanese filter mat,corals,bio-home,oyster shell,zeolites,activated carbon and bio balls.Also add small quantity of 'Aquazyn 1000' bacteria culture.
pH-abt 7 after water change,increases to abt 7.5 after a week.Have not checked pH for quite some time,though.pH when measurement taken was 7.

[The Matrix]

No buffering - Dont know what it means 

No buffering hmmmmm ...

Ok, just 2 final question ...

When you mention testing the tap water and obtain the result, did you mean by testing water directly from the tap or from your tank ? Is the water dechlorinated before you test ?

[CP]

Direct from tap,no treatments whatsoever.

[The Matrix]

Direct from tap,no treatments whatsoever.

Can I suggest that a change to another brand of test kit ?
Tetra test for NO3- right ?

Anyway, dun worry too much about it. Just maintain a proper schedule of water maintenance.

[jhansolo]

So I tested tap water - wtf already 12.5!Checked PUB website and found that nitrates in tap water can be up to 15ppm.

There you have it - After water change 10.
                            Tap water 12.5

Just came across this ...

http://www.krudico.com/residential_nitrate.htm

If you have infant at home, mix your boiled water with distilled water.

I think you should try to get another test kit to be sure about the nitrate level.

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...p?article_id=96

You are using tetra right ... according to that test ... get another test kit.