help on correct levels of nitrate and nitrite, please

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what is the accepable level for these 2 units in a new aquaruim,

just done a test and nitrate is about 11

and nitrite is about 0.8

changed 20 litres water from 80 litre tank just done 2 more at 10
litres and have not fed 5 fish for 3 days, now a bit worried about
fish not having any food.

ps: new tank setup, and new to the hobby.

colin

[Rick]

> wrote in message
...
> what is the accepable level for these 2 units in a new aquaruim,
>
> just done a test and nitrate is about 11
>
> and nitrite is about 0.8
>
> changed 20 litres water from 80 litre tank just done 2 more at 10
> litres and have not fed 5 fish for 3 days, now a bit worried about
> fish not having any food.
>
> ps: new tank setup, and new to the hobby.
>
> colin
>

acceptable level for nitrite is 0. Nitrate 5-10 ppm is a nice level if you
have a planted tank. Around 20 ppm I would be doing water changes however I
know some that schedule their water changes by checking nitrate and don't
consider doing any until it is over 25.

Rick

[Ian Smith]

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 19:38:57 +0000,
> wrote:
> what is the accepable level for these 2 units in a new aquaruim,
>
> just done a test and nitrate is about 11
>
> and nitrite is about 0.8
>
> changed 20 litres water from 80 litre tank just done 2 more at 10
> litres and have not fed 5 fish for 3 days, now a bit worried about
> fish not having any food.
>
> ps: new tank setup, and new to the hobby.

Nitrite really wants to be zero. Don't add any more fish until it is.

Nitrate wants to be as low as you can get it, and different fish are
differently tolerant.

I wouldn't worry about the fish not having eaten for 3 days - if I go
away for anything up to a week I just leave teh fish to get on with it
in my absence. There's nearly always as many when I get back as when
I left. If they still look basically happy they'll be a long way from
starving.

You can probably feed the fish very very sparingly, but it really is
much more likely that you'll over-feed them than you'll under-feed
them. Remember fish don't use any energy fighting gravity and don't
use any energy maintaining body temperature, so their energy (ie food)
requirements are much lower than anything warm-blooded on land.
While the filter is still establishing, it's better to err on teh side
of not giving enough food, and if teh fish were healthy when they went
in, they'll be happier hungry than well-fed but poisoned.

It sounds to me like you're doing the right things, you just need to
wait for teh filter to establish.

Incidently, have you done a test on your tap-water? Check what
nitrate levels you have coming out of the tap. You may have quite
high levels in teh water you're adding to the tank, and it's as well
to be aware of that if it is the case.

regards, Ian SMith
--
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[col]

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 19:39:40 +0000 (UTC), Ian Smith
> wrote:

>On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 19:38:57 +0000,
> > wrote:
>> what is the accepable level for these 2 units in a new aquaruim,
>>
>> just done a test and nitrate is about 11
>>
>> and nitrite is about 0.8
>>
>> changed 20 litres water from 80 litre tank just done 2 more at 10
>> litres and have not fed 5 fish for 3 days, now a bit worried about
>> fish not having any food.
>>
>> ps: new tank setup, and new to the hobby.
>
>Nitrite really wants to be zero. Don't add any more fish until it is.
>
>Nitrate wants to be as low as you can get it, and different fish are
>differently tolerant.
>
>I wouldn't worry about the fish not having eaten for 3 days - if I go
>away for anything up to a week I just leave teh fish to get on with it
>in my absence. There's nearly always as many when I get back as when
>I left. If they still look basically happy they'll be a long way from
>starving.
>
>You can probably feed the fish very very sparingly, but it really is
>much more likely that you'll over-feed them than you'll under-feed
>them. Remember fish don't use any energy fighting gravity and don't
>use any energy maintaining body temperature, so their energy (ie food)
>requirements are much lower than anything warm-blooded on land.
>While the filter is still establishing, it's better to err on teh side
>of not giving enough food, and if teh fish were healthy when they went
>in, they'll be happier hungry than well-fed but poisoned.
>
>It sounds to me like you're doing the right things, you just need to
>wait for teh filter to establish.
>
>Incidently, have you done a test on your tap-water? Check what
>nitrate levels you have coming out of the tap. You may have quite
>high levels in teh water you're adding to the tank, and it's as well
>to be aware of that if it is the case.
>
>regards, Ian SMith