Water Changes and Nitrate

"David J. Braunegg" wrote in message
...
My ammonia and nitrites test out at zero, so my bio-wheel biological
filter seems to be working well. I'd like to figure out how often to
perform partial water replacements based on the nitrate levels. At what
level of nitrate should I do a water change, and what level should I try
to bring the nitrate down to?

Thanks,
Dave

Platies are good eaters, pecking plants during the day, eating the micro
(something) that feed on algae on plants. They do produce a lot of poo. In
my 10g, I am raising 10 male redwags platy fry for LFS. All are now 1", and
will have to be 1.25" before they are ready. It is fully stocked, but I
hoover gravel 25% a week and change 10% a day. Nitrate is 12.5% and tap
water is 15%. Plants bring it down very well. In my 25g, I have 30+ platy
fry, all about 1/2" . As platies eat everything from the top, middle,
bottom you have to increase the water changes. It is hard to get food past
platies for your cories as they will eat it first, before the cories come
out. My platies love tossing an algae wafer around, meant for someone
else, etc. Even so, platies are very hardy with nitrate levels, but your
cories are not.I have over 60 platies and 10 cories in various tanks at
moment so I do understand them a little. Mary