"Gail Futoran" wrote in message
...

That's the advice I've usually gotten from people who
have really large tanks with a lot of expensive fish.
I have small mostly cheap tropicals.

That's me too When I go to the LFS first I scan the pricetags - then the
fish!!

Could be you're overfeeding a bit. That's something a
lot of us do, I think. Maybe try throwing in a fast day?
It's hard to walk past a tank knowing I haven't fed
the poor guys that day, but it really doesn't hurt them
and might help keep the nitrates down. Anyhoo, I
schedule Wednesday for my fast days. (by "my" I
mean the fish, but I suppose I could do a fast day
for myself, too. LOL)

I have read and forgotten about 'fast' days - good idea. btw - the only
tank that is 40ish is my one with fancy GF. I was just trying not to
confuse the issue since I know they are a little dirtier and hardier. I
also give them about 3 gal/inch.

The bottom line is I am going to have a tendency to
want to spend sparingly, add as little as possible and stock heavily

By "stock heavily" what do you mean? If you're putting
too many fish into your tank(s), that could well be the
source of your higher nitrates (which don't seem excessively
high to me, but could be lower). Better to move up to
a larger tank than overstock.

All the tanks I have are pretty much filled at the inch per gallon (with a
*little* growing room left). I can't really add much bigger tanks or they
would be REALLY expensive - I'd have to buy a bigger house I am curious
what plants you have. I have been trying to slowly build up my plant life
but thus far with small hood lights the only thing that seems to get bigger
instead of smaller is the anacharis I take from the pond.

"4 years" ?? I killed off most of my poor little fish over
a 7 year period - never learned a darned thing -
ROFL - too funny.

near San Antonio TX
::hi neighbor::
Howdy partner(ess) Yes I am the same Newbie Bill you have helped from
time to time in rec.ponds. I've just been graviting towards the glass ponds
during the winter.

Thanxx
Bill