How to Manage Nitrates

Elevated levels of nitrates in your aquarium water can stress your fish. This stress can make fish more susceptible to disease, and can also inhibit successful reproduction. Nitrates are a by-product of the natural cycle that occurs when plant and waste materials break down in the tank. In order to properly care for your aquarium fish, you need to keep nitrate levels in the water below 5 ppm.

Things You'll Need

• Nitrate testing kit
• Aquarium scrubber

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Instructions

• 1

  Purchase a nitrate testing kit at your local pet store and test the water nitrate levels regularly. If you have a nitrate problem, continue testing weekly until the issue has resolved, then perform nitrate testing on a monthly basis.

• 2

  Remove the algae from your aquarium regularly. Purchase an aquarium scrubbing tool at your local pet store and use it once a week to clean the algae from the sides of the aquarium. Consider introducing algae-eating fish into your tank to help control any buildup between cleanings.

• 3

  Perform a partial water change regularly. If you are having problems with nigh nitrates, change 25 percent of the water each week until the nitrate levels fall. Once levels are in the normal range, change 25 percent of the water every two weeks.

• 4

  Install a nitrate filter in your tank. Filters can be purchased at your local pet store and will help bring a quick correction to elevated nitrate levels. Although filters are effective, the long term management of nitrates requires additional maintenance, such as regular cleaning and water changes.

• 5

  Feed your fish the proper amount of food. Do not give your fish any more food than the amount recommended by the fish food manufacturer, and skim any food that remains uneaten after several hours from the surface of the tank.