We all know that nitrate can be bad for fish. Unfortunately, that was all that I knew when I started this hobby. I had no idea what causes nitrate, what levels of this toxin are acceptable, or what steps I should take to get rid of it. So, to save you a lot of time …
Water Care
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 admit that ammonia spikes can be a serious headache. That is especially true for aquarists who deal with the issue for the first time, as ammonia can be pretty difficult to eliminate. So, after years of learning from mistakes, I decided to gather some of the most frequent questions …
If you’ve measured ammonia levels of 0.25 ppm or higher, you have an ammonia spike in your tank. This is a pretty common thing that many fish owners have to deal with at some point. While some fish can tolerate an ammonia spike, in the long haul, it is dangerous. Even the most resistible creatures …
As a fish owner, I used to suffer from ammonia spikes. After a few times, I learned how to get rid of this toxic matter, but I still didn’t know how to prevent it from building up in the future. That is why I decided to dedicate an entire article to this topic. Follow these …
Ammonia is bad for fish tanks. That is why almost every fish owner looks for a way to get rid of it. This immediately raises the question regarding water conditioners. I personally asked myself if those products can actually remove ammonia from fish tanks. A water conditioner doesn’t remove ammonia directly. Instead, most water conditioners …
As a fish owner, it is essential to know the signs of ammonia stress and ammonia poisoning. I personally suffered from these conditions in the past, and because I didn’t know what to look for, my fish got sick and died. These signs indicate that ammonia has spiked in your tank: Your fish swim erratically. …
Ammonia is bad for fish tanks; we all know it. But there is a wide range of ammonia levels, and each one affects the fish differently. As this topic has preoccupied me a lot in the past, I decided to write an entire article about it. Here is a simple chart that shows how toxic …
We all know that ammonia is bad for fish. Unfortunately, it is pretty common to get stuck in a tricky situation without a test kit. As it happened to me in the past, I decided to dedicate an entire article explaining how you can check for ammonia without any products. You can roughly tell that …
Many aquarists know that aquariums require nitrifying bacteria that turn ammonia into nitrites. But not everyone knows how long it takes. As I asked this question myself pretty frequently in the past, I decided to dedicate an entire article to it. It takes 7 to 10 days for ammonia to turn into nitrite. After another …
Most fish owners know that ammonia is bad for fish. But if you wish to cycle a new tank, ammonia products can become pretty handy. When I was in my early days of fishkeeping, I found this topic pretty interesting. Adding ammonia to a brand new fish tank can speed up the cycling process. By …
Many fish owners know that fish tanks often have ammonia and that it is bad for fish. But not everyone realizes how many different sources of ammonia there are. In this article, I will discuss how fish tanks get ammonia in the first place and what you should do to get rid of it. Fish …
Many aquarists already know that water conditioners are necessary for fish tanks since they quickly take care of ammonia, chlorine, and chloramine. However, there are many types of conditioners, and each one requires a different amount per gallon. In this article, I will teach you how much water conditioner you should put in your tank. …
As an aquarist, I consistently heard that I should let the water sit for a while before adding my fish. Some people told me the water should wait 24 hours, while others argued it takes several days. Luckily, as the years passed, I gained some experience in this topic. It is highly recommended to let …
As an aquarist, I tend to measure the toxins in my tank. This way, I can prevent ammonia spikes, which can be extremely dangerous for fish. However, quite a few times, I measured 0.25 ppm of ammonia, and I wasn’t sure whether it is safe or bad for fish. The more I investigated the situation, …
Numerous times I’ve been asking myself whether I can use relatively hot tap water for my fish tank. Since that is the most convenient way of adding new water to aquariums, I had the feeling that other aquarists ask themselves the same question. Now, after tons of research, I am willing to share my conclusions. …
As an aquarist, numerous times, I have conditioned water for my fish. Naturally, I found water conditioners to be the most convenient method. However, I wasn’t sure if I should put the conditioner while the fish are in the tank. After extensive research, I am willing to share all the lessons that I’ve learned. You …
I’ve noticed numerous times that my tank’s ammonia levels remain high after a partial water change. Sometimes, the concentration even spiked and got higher than what it was in the beginning. As the years passed, I gained a lot of experience with the issue and learned how to fix it. Now, I am willing to …