How Do You Lower Nitrate In A Fish Tank?
High nitrate levels in a fish tank could make fish sick or kill them. It can also cause a bad odor or cloud water. If you think your nitrate is high or you test the water and confirm it is, then you should lower the levels before fish begin dying off. Feed your fish the correct amount. The number one reason for high nitrate levels in a tank is overfeeding. Make sure your fish finish their food in 2 minutes or less. You may want to feed your fish twice a day instead of dumping a large amount in once a day. Decrease the number of fish in your tank. In general, you should have 1 gallon of water for each tropical fish and 3 gallons for each goldfish. More fish means more waste, which leads to nitrate buildup. Vacuum the substrate. Waste collects in the rocks, so you need to use an aquarium vacuum to clean out the gravel. Also, clean the tank walls and decorations at this time. Replace filter cartridges, which may be holding decaying food and waste in your tank, raising the nitrate levels.
