As a fish owner, I knew that toxins like nitrate can be lethal to aquarium fish, especially in high concentrations. Unfortunately, for many years, I didn’t know what signs are associated with this condition. These signs typically indicate that nitrate has spiked in your tank: Algae will increase in your tank for no apparent reason. …
I always knew that aquarium plants can help against toxins like ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. However, for quite some time, I couldn’t help but wonder whether algae would do the same thing. Algae will consume nitrogen compounds, including ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite. The highest affinity is towards ammonia, which can be consumed pretty quickly. However, …
Fighting nitrate in fish tanks can be pretty frustrating, especially in new tanks that require cycling. As I suffered from this issue pretty extensively in the past, I decided to dedicate an entire article to this topic. This is how long it takes for nitrates to go down, depending on the method you choose: Water …
I remember how every time I tested my aquarium water, I kept asking myself if the nitrates were too high. As I knew they have different toxicity than ammonia and nitrites, I kept feeling confused when I got results like 10, 20, and 30ppm. Ideally, aquarium water nitrate should be kept under 20ppm. Nitrates are …
A positive nitrate test is pretty common in home aquariums, and it immediately raises one question: what can actually remove it? As I asked this question so many times in the past, I decided to gather everything that I know into one article. These are the main ways to remove nitrates from aquarium water: Water …
We all know that water changes are the answer to elevated toxins, including nitrates. But in some cases, even after a decent change, the nitrates remain high. As I suffered from this issue in the past, I decided to share all that I know about it. Nitrates typically remain high when the water change was …
Many aquarists know that nitrates and nitrites are bad for an aquarium, but not everyone knows the differences between the two. As I asked myself these questions many times before, I decided to gather all the relevant information into one article. These are the general differences between nitrates and nitrites in aquariums: Nitrate Nitrite Chemical …
While most fish owners know that toxins like nitrate can be dangerous, not everyone knows how to test for it or how often to do so. Therefore, I decided to gather everything I know about this topic into one article. You can test your aquarium for nitrate by using a test kit. Most fish owners …
Detecting high levels of nitrates in a fish tank can be pretty frustrating. That was at least how I felt a few years back when I couldn’t get rid of it. Luckily, as the years passed, I gained a lot of knowledge in this field. Nitrates typically build up after an ammonia spike, when nitrifying …
Even after years of experience, I acknowledge that raising mystery snail eggs can be challenging. That is especially true for those who are new to this hobby, as these little things raise tons of questions. Therefore, after a lot of trial and error, I decided to combine the most frequently asked questions into one article. …
Mystery snails can become a nuisance, especially when they lay eggs and proliferate rapidly. When I first had to deal with this issue, I wondered if I could use these eggs to feed my fish. And frankly, I’m glad that I’ve asked. Being opportunistic feeders, aquarium fish will eat whatever fits in their mouths, including …