High levels of nitrate commonly occur in existing fish tanks that have not undergone regular maintenance and routine water changes. It is very important to find a solution to reduce these nitrate levels because they will eventually be deadly to the fish as well as cause an algae bloom.
The first effect of high nitrate levels can be seen in the plant life. Even though plants consume nitrate, if the levels are too high there would be too much for them to make use of and it will kill off the plants. As these plants decay, they will rot and release more nitrate into the tank water.
Then it will begin to affect the fish. The higher the level of nitrate in the tank water the less oxygen there will be. The lesser the oxygen levels, the harder the fish would have to struggle just to catch a breath of air and they will soon die.
Reduce Nitrate Naturally
You don't have to spend your hard earned money on expensive equipment or chemicals in order to reduce the level of nitrate in your aquarium. To reduce nitrate and keep them at a healthy balance here are some things that you can do:
Change the water each week. Every week without fail, discard 20% of the tank water and replace it with new water. By changing water on a regular basis, you will ensure that the nitrate levels are always low and also discard fish waste which is the major source of nitrate in an aquarium.Do nitrate level tests. You can purchase cheap nitrate strips from your local fish shop. Test the water before pouring it into the fish tank. You never know if your water source is high in nitrates.Add in a coral reef or two into a salt water aquarium. These are ideal in keeping a balance on the level of nitrate.Don't overstock your fish tank. Too much fish poop will shoot the nitrate levels to the ceiling.Keep the tank clean. Remove all dead or withered leaves and plants immediately before they have a chance to rot.Products That Reduce Nitrate In Fish Tank Water
If you really want to purchase equipment to reduce your nitrate levels, here are some choices for you.
Nitrate Absorbing Filter Media. These such as Purigen which you could purchase from That Fish Place are synthetic absorbents that controls ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates by removing waste that would otherwise release these harmful compounds.Nitrate Cartridges. Certain filters such as Fluval G6 allows for removable nitrate cartridges that can quickly remove nitrate from fish tanks.Protein Skimmers. Protein Skimmers work by bringing fish waste to the surface using tiny bubbles that latch themselves to the waste and this will then be easily discarded from the skimmer.The most important thing to remember in keeping nitrate levels in check is to keep your tank clean and reduce the amount of waste and decay in the tank. Just doing this alone will ensure that you do not have to worry about the level of nitrate in your fish tank ever again.