Dealing with high nitrates

Gymnogeophagus Blue Neon

I guess if there weren't challenges to overcome my aquarium hobby might not be as satisfying. Maybe, but I highly doubt it. I think I'd be just as happy if my water was sparkling and perfect with very little effort and no fish ever died.

This week my headache is high nitrates in one of my 55 gallon tanks. This is the aquarium that I just put some Gymnogeophagus Blue Neon and Yerbalito in a couple of weeks ago. I noticed the fish clinching their fins and flashing (rubbing against rocks and other objects in the tank) yesterday. Checked the nitrate level last night and sure enough it was nearly off the handy little color chart that comes with the test kit.

I've been doing weekly 50 percent water changes on this tank, but I think I made the neglectful mistake of adding too many fish at one time.

Steps I've taken so far:

• Did another 50 percent water change last night and replaced the filter cartridges in the hang-on-back filter.
• Removed two of the seven gymnogeophagus and the two flag tail catfish. They're now in other tanks.
• This morning I did another water change, this time about 80 percent of the water.
• Added two more filter cartridges. Not sure how much that will actually help, but giving it a try.
• Did some gravel vacuuming, but really the sand in the tank doesn't appear that bad.

Siphoning out the water

The fish remaining in the tank appear to be doing a little better. I haven't noticed as much flashing, but three hours after the last water change, I checked the nitrates again.

They're still pretty high. This water should be a lighter orange.

I've thought about adding some chemicals to help remove nitrates, but I'd have to go buy them first. Right now I'm trying not to be overly anxious about it. Sometimes you can over do it when trying to treat a problem in your aquarium.

So in short, there are always problems to tackle, even when you've kept fish for several years. I'm by no means an expert. Every time I take on high nitrates or a disease in one of my tanks there seems to something new to learn. It's an ever changing hobby, and while it can be rewarding it can also have its share of frustrations.