How to Prevent Nitrates in Your Aquarium
Fish lovers generally do not give much importance to the presence of nitrates in their aquariums.
They think nitrates are not lethal like other chemicals.
However nitrates will have a bad effect on your fish, the plants inside the aquarium and the environment of the aquarium.
What are the effects of nitrates on your fish? You fish will have stress if the levels of nitrates are the 100 ppm or above.
This will make your fish prone to diseases and it will also affect their ability to breed.
They are much more harmful to the young fish and it will have a serious effect on their growth.
The levels of oxygen drop down due to the increase in nitrates in water.
Effects of nitrates on algae The elevated levels of nitrates will be encouraging the growth of algae in your aquarium.
Generally in the new tanks, growth of algae is very high due to the high levels of nitrates.
It is true that the plants in your aquarium use nitrates in their routine.
However their sudden growth will accelerate the growth of algae and ultimately it may harm your plants considerably.
How nitrates are generated in your aquarium? They are generated in the nitrogen cycle and will be found in all aquariums.
Decay of the plant material, overfeeding to the fish and overloading the tank will create more nitrates in aquarium water.
You will be surprised to know that even the drinking water supplied to you may contain some amount of nitrates! So before introducing fresh water in your aquarium, you should check the levels of nitrates.
What is the desired level in your aquarium? In water from all natural sources, the level is about 5 ppm.
However you can consider the level up to 25 ppm as safe.
The bacteria which remove nitrates from your aquarium cannot work with high levels of oxygen in your water.
But oxygen is required for fish and plants.
So you need to use special filters to remove them.
These filters are expensive but you need to have them for well being of your fish.
Besides using filters, take the following precautions to keep the level of nitrates in your aquarium water under control - Always clean the tank regularly to remove wastes.
Cleaner water will always prevent the level of nitrates under control.
Never overfeed your fish.
If you provide extra food to your fish, it will increase the undesirable wastes and consequently increase the level in aquarium water.
Frequently change the water in your aquarium.
While changing the water, ensure that the water is low in nitrates.
That will reduce the overall level in the tank.
Try to keep many live plants in the aquarium.
They will use nitrates which will reduce the level of nitrates.
Remember, you will not be able to lower the levels of nitrates very quickly by using special filters.
You should also take extra precautions so that the total efforts will keep your fish healthy and live for a longer time.
They think nitrates are not lethal like other chemicals.
However nitrates will have a bad effect on your fish, the plants inside the aquarium and the environment of the aquarium.
What are the effects of nitrates on your fish? You fish will have stress if the levels of nitrates are the 100 ppm or above.
This will make your fish prone to diseases and it will also affect their ability to breed.
They are much more harmful to the young fish and it will have a serious effect on their growth.
The levels of oxygen drop down due to the increase in nitrates in water.
Effects of nitrates on algae The elevated levels of nitrates will be encouraging the growth of algae in your aquarium.
Generally in the new tanks, growth of algae is very high due to the high levels of nitrates.
It is true that the plants in your aquarium use nitrates in their routine.
However their sudden growth will accelerate the growth of algae and ultimately it may harm your plants considerably.
How nitrates are generated in your aquarium? They are generated in the nitrogen cycle and will be found in all aquariums.
Decay of the plant material, overfeeding to the fish and overloading the tank will create more nitrates in aquarium water.
You will be surprised to know that even the drinking water supplied to you may contain some amount of nitrates! So before introducing fresh water in your aquarium, you should check the levels of nitrates.
What is the desired level in your aquarium? In water from all natural sources, the level is about 5 ppm.
However you can consider the level up to 25 ppm as safe.
The bacteria which remove nitrates from your aquarium cannot work with high levels of oxygen in your water.
But oxygen is required for fish and plants.
So you need to use special filters to remove them.
These filters are expensive but you need to have them for well being of your fish.
Besides using filters, take the following precautions to keep the level of nitrates in your aquarium water under control - Always clean the tank regularly to remove wastes.
Cleaner water will always prevent the level of nitrates under control.
Never overfeed your fish.
If you provide extra food to your fish, it will increase the undesirable wastes and consequently increase the level in aquarium water.
Frequently change the water in your aquarium.
While changing the water, ensure that the water is low in nitrates.
That will reduce the overall level in the tank.
Try to keep many live plants in the aquarium.
They will use nitrates which will reduce the level of nitrates.
Remember, you will not be able to lower the levels of nitrates very quickly by using special filters.
You should also take extra precautions so that the total efforts will keep your fish healthy and live for a longer time.
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