What Are Nitrates In Aquarium Water

The bacteria in your biofilter convert ammonia first into nitrite and then into nitrate.

What are nitrates in aquarium water.

It is produced by fish wastes rotting leftover food and decomposing plant matter. Though water facilities do their best to remove contaminants some no 3 ions may remain unfiltered. Nitrate is a by product of nitrite oxidation during the latter stages of the nitrogen cycle and is present to some degree in all aquariums. Nitrites are invisible but they have a huge negative impact on the health of your fish in an aquarium.

Just when you think you are home free after losing half your fish to ammonia poisoning the nitrite level rises and puts your fish at risk again. Nitrites naturally occur in your aquarium but you and your fish definitely don t want them. Nitrates no3 are a form of dissolved nitrogen that occur naturally in the water column which is the water inside your aquarium. Fertilizer runoff and other wastewater sometimes leach nitrogen in tap water supplies.

However they play an essential role in your tank so you should understand why they happen and how to lower nitrite levels in freshwater aquarium. What s the role of fish tank nitrate. Common sources of waste found in aquariums include. To promptly lower the high nitrite levels in your freshwater aquarium follow these exact steps.

While ammonia and nitrite are highly toxic to fish nitrate is much less so. The most important components in algae fertilizer are ammonia ammonium nitrite and nitrate. Nitrate is the form preferred by most plants. Ammonia is the most significant dissolved waste in an aquarium.

Detritus decaying plant material dirty filters over feeding and overstocking the aquarium all contribute to increased levels of nitrate. Nitrate rich tap water used for water changes. Anytime ammonia levels are elevated elevated nitrite will soon follow. Nitrites and nitrates are harmful and undesirable chemical compounds in aquarium resulting from a biological decomposition process that comes from fish or invertebrate waste substances such as feces urine and excess food.

Nitrite poisoning follows closely on the heels of elevated ammonia as a major killer of aquarium fish. Nitrites are the second most toxic byproduct in the nitrogen cycle of an aquarium. Nitrate reducer is now available to help aquarium owners take better care of their pets when it comes to enhancing the quality of water in their tanks. When using this product it is important for you to consider dosing straight into the water column.