Nitrates are a normal part of aquarium keeping since they are the end product of the nitrogen cycle. The nitrogen cycle is when waste products, like ammonia, are consumed by beneficial bacteria and converted to different forms. Some nitrate is normal in any tank with a healthy nitrogen cycle, but most people aim to keep their nitrate levels below 20ppm, while others allow it to go as high as 40ppm. However, elevated nitrate levels can be detrimental to the health of the fish and invertebrates in your aquarium, so it’s important to keep these levels in check.

Before You Begin One of the most important aspects of maintaining an aquarium is monitoring your nitrate levels. Liquid test kits are ideal for this because they often provide the most accurate test results. It’s extremely important to thoroughly read the instructions on these test kits and follow the instructions exactly to get accurate test results. This is especially important with the nitrate test because the active components of the test solution can settle in the bottle, leading to inaccurate test results. This test typically requires a significant amount of shaking of both the bottles and the test tube once the water and test solution have been added, so make sure to thoroughly read the instructions before beginning.

The 7 Tips to Lower Nitrate Levels in Your Aquarium

  1. Water Changes

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zooxae (@zooxae)

The most tried and true method for reducing nitrates in your aquarium is performing water changes. Oftentimes, you’ll need to perform small, frequent water changes to bring down nitrate levels since rapid shifts in nitrate levels can shock and even kill your fish. Aim to perform a 10–30% water change every day until your nitrate levels are where you need them to be. If your nitrate levels are below 20ppm, a water change is likely unnecessary. Pros

Most effective method

Easy solution that requires no special purchases

Cost-effective solution

Cons

Can shock fish if water change is too large

  1. Adding Plants Image Credit: Public Domain Pictures The addition of plants to your aquarium is an easy way to reduce nitrate levels, but it is not a quick fix as it will take the plants some time to absorb the nitrates. Some plants are more effective than others at reducing nitrate levels, so if you’re struggling to keep your nitrate levels under control, carefully select plants that are highly effective nitrate removers. Hornwort, Moneywort, Anubias, Duckweed, and Dwarf Water Lettuce are great plants for reducing nitrates in your tank. One of the best nitrate reducers is a plant you may have hanging in a pot in your house already. Pothos plants are one of the most popular houseplants, and they are also highly effective at reducing nitrates. These plants will often die if planted underwater, but they can be planted with their roots in the water and the leaves and vines out of the water. Pros

Easy solution

Can be very effective in the long term

Multiple good options available

Cons

Takes time to be effective

  1. Decrease Bioload Image Credit: Frantisek Czanner, Shutterstock The bioload in your tank is determined by the amount of waste produced by your tank’s inhabitants versus the size of your tank and the filtration system. If you have an overstocked tank or a tank that is stocked with heavy bioload producers, like goldfish and plecostomus, then your tank will have a higher baseline nitrate level than a tank that is not overstocked or that has lower bioload producers, like Tetras and shrimp species. To decrease the bioload in your tank, you have multiple options. You can remove some of the fish from your tank, which is most effective if your tank is overstocked. You can also invest in a larger tank or a stronger filtration system. Pros

Multiple effective options available to decrease bioload

Gives you a chance to invest in a new tank or filtration system

Will be healthier for your fish and keep them happier

Cons

Likely to require expensive purchases

  1. Add Nitrate Removing Chemicals

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Aquarium Shop Australia (@aquariumshopaustralia)

Adding chemicals to your tank that impact the water parameters is often the last resort for many people due to the risk of causing rapid shifts in parameters, which can be detrimental to the health of your tank’s inhabitants. This is a good solution if you’re running out of ideas, though. Adding chemicals to your tank that help reduce nitrate levels is a surefire way to reduce your nitrate levels, and this solution can be effective if you’re feeling like nothing else has worked. It’s imperative that you follow all package instructions correctly, though, to prevent rapid shifts in parameters. If you’re uncomfortable using water additives to reduce nitrates, you can also try nitrate removing filter media. These filter pads are added right into your filtration system and can help reduce nitrate levels over time, but they may not work as quickly and effectively as chemical additives. Pros

Good option when nothing else has worked

Almost guaranteed to reduce nitrates

Nitrate removing filter pads are a safe alternative to water additives

Cons

Can cause rapid shifts in water parameters

  1. Add a Refugium

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Obsessive Coral (@obsessivecoral)

A refugium is an interesting and fun way to help reduce nitrates in your tank. A refugium is a small, protected area, often outside of the tank itself, that is used to grow seaweeds and macroalgae. They share a filtration system with the tank, so water flows through the refugium, filter, and aquarium. The seaweeds and macroalgae within the refugium are big fans of nitrate and will help reduce the levels in the water when you harvest the plants and remove them from the refugium. They essentially act as a sponge, absorbing nitrate levels and taking the nitrate with them when removed. A refugium is most often associated with saltwater tanks and isn’t an ideal solution for most freshwater tanks. Pros

Interesting and unique option

Plants act as a nitrate sponge

Nitrate levels are reduced as plants are harvested

Cons

Best for saltwater tanks

Requires the harvesting of plants to be fully effective

  1. Use Microbes Image Credit: best time photos, Shutterstock While your average biological filtration in your aquarium is unlikely to have a significant impact on your nitrate levels, the addition of specific microbes can be a safe way to reduce nitrate levels. Live cultures are becoming more widely available, and these cultures contain specific bacteria that will help consume nitrate. Having a variety of microbes is ideal to ensure efficacy. The issue that some people run into with using microbes to reduce nitrates is that some of these microbes may require a food source other than nitrates in the water. Essentially, you’re committing to the care of another living thing in your tank to ensure the microbes stay healthy. Pros

Safe way to reduce nitrates

Becoming more widely available

Effective if maintained

Cons

Often requires an additional food source

  1. Test Your New Water

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by malvin (@nivlamaquatics)

One of the things that most people overlook when dealing with mysteriously high nitrate levels is to check the new water being added to the tank. This is especially important if you are using tap or well water in your aquarium. Distilled and RO water shouldn’t contain nitrates, but other types of water often have some nitrates at baseline. If your tap water has a baseline nitrate level of 20ppm, then your tank may end up with elevated nitrate levels over time as you add new water to the tank. Test the water source you add to your tank to get an idea of the baseline nitrates. If your tap water has high nitrates or slightly elevated nitrates and you’re struggling to get nitrates in your tank under control, then consider switching to distilled or RO water for your aquarium. Make sure to read up on what needs to be added to distilled and RO water to make it safe for your aquarium since these types of water lack minerals. Pros

Easy problem to solve

Can explain uncontrolled nitrates in your aquarium

Cons

May require a switch to distilled or RO water

Conclusion Reducing the nitrates in your aquarium doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it may seem, but it does require some time and care on your part. Make sure to make an honest assessment of your aquarium to determine if it’s overstocked, too small, or requires more filtration. Many people underestimate how many fish they have in their tanks, leading to difficulty controlling water parameters. You do have multiple options for reducing your nitrate levels, though! Sources

https://www.petmd.com/fish/care/how-reduce-nitrate-your-aquarium https://www.algone.com/how-to-remove-nitrate-from-the-aquarium

  Related Fish Reads:

Java Moss: Planting & Growing Care Guide Nano Goldfish Keeping: What is It All About? Can Goldfish Eat Algae Wafers? The Answer and More!

Featured Image Credit: M-Production, Shutterstock

Nitrates are a normal part of aquarium keeping since they are the end product of the nitrogen cycle. The nitrogen cycle is when waste products, like ammonia, are consumed by beneficial bacteria and converted to different forms.

Some nitrate is normal in any tank with a healthy nitrogen cycle, but most people aim to keep their nitrate levels below 20ppm, while others allow it to go as high as 40ppm. However, elevated nitrate levels can be detrimental to the health of the fish and invertebrates in your aquarium, so it’s important to keep these levels in check.

Before You Begin

One of the most important aspects of maintaining an aquarium is monitoring your nitrate levels. Liquid test kits are ideal for this because they often provide the most accurate test results. It’s extremely important to thoroughly read the instructions on these test kits and follow the instructions exactly to get accurate test results.

This is especially important with the nitrate test because the active components of the test solution can settle in the bottle, leading to inaccurate test results. This test typically requires a significant amount of shaking of both the bottles and the test tube once the water and test solution have been added, so make sure to thoroughly read the instructions before beginning.

The 7 Tips to Lower Nitrate Levels in Your Aquarium

1. Water Changes

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zooxae (@zooxae)

The most tried and true method for reducing nitrates in your aquarium is performing water changes. Oftentimes, you’ll need to perform small, frequent water changes to bring down nitrate levels since rapid shifts in nitrate levels can shock and even kill your fish. Aim to perform a 10–30% water change every day until your nitrate levels are where you need them to be. If your nitrate levels are below 20ppm, a water change is likely unnecessary.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zooxae (@zooxae)

A post shared by Zooxae (@zooxae)

View this post on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

Pros

Most effective method

Easy solution that requires no special purchases

Cost-effective solution

Cons

Can shock fish if water change is too large

2. Adding Plants

The addition of plants to your aquarium is an easy way to reduce nitrate levels, but it is not a quick fix as it will take the plants some time to absorb the nitrates. Some plants are more effective than others at reducing nitrate levels, so if you’re struggling to keep your nitrate levels under control, carefully select plants that are highly effective nitrate removers. Hornwort, Moneywort, Anubias, Duckweed, and Dwarf Water Lettuce are great plants for reducing nitrates in your tank.

Most effective method

Easy solution that requires no special purchases

Cost-effective solution

  • Most effective method
  • Easy solution that requires no special purchases
  • Cost-effective solution

Can shock fish if water change is too large

  • Can shock fish if water change is too large

One of the best nitrate reducers is a plant you may have hanging in a pot in your house already. Pothos plants are one of the most popular houseplants, and they are also highly effective at reducing nitrates. These plants will often die if planted underwater, but they can be planted with their roots in the water and the leaves and vines out of the water.

Pros

Easy solution

Can be very effective in the long term

Multiple good options available

Cons

Takes time to be effective

3. Decrease Bioload

The bioload in your tank is determined by the amount of waste produced by your tank’s inhabitants versus the size of your tank and the filtration system. If you have an overstocked tank or a tank that is stocked with heavy bioload producers, like goldfish and plecostomus, then your tank will have a higher baseline nitrate level than a tank that is not overstocked or that has lower bioload producers, like Tetras and shrimp species.

Easy solution

Can be very effective in the long term

Multiple good options available

  • Easy solution
  • Can be very effective in the long term
  • Multiple good options available

Takes time to be effective

  • Takes time to be effective

To decrease the bioload in your tank, you have multiple options. You can remove some of the fish from your tank, which is most effective if your tank is overstocked. You can also invest in a larger tank or a stronger filtration system.

Pros

Multiple effective options available to decrease bioload

Gives you a chance to invest in a new tank or filtration system

Will be healthier for your fish and keep them happier

Cons

Likely to require expensive purchases

4. Add Nitrate Removing Chemicals

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Aquarium Shop Australia (@aquariumshopaustralia)

Adding chemicals to your tank that impact the water parameters is often the last resort for many people due to the risk of causing rapid shifts in parameters, which can be detrimental to the health of your tank’s inhabitants. This is a good solution if you’re running out of ideas, though. Adding chemicals to your tank that help reduce nitrate levels is a surefire way to reduce your nitrate levels, and this solution can be effective if you’re feeling like nothing else has worked. It’s imperative that you follow all package instructions correctly, though, to prevent rapid shifts in parameters.

Multiple effective options available to decrease bioload

Gives you a chance to invest in a new tank or filtration system

Will be healthier for your fish and keep them happier

  • Multiple effective options available to decrease bioload
  • Gives you a chance to invest in a new tank or filtration system
  • Will be healthier for your fish and keep them happier

Likely to require expensive purchases

  • Likely to require expensive purchases

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Aquarium Shop Australia (@aquariumshopaustralia)

A post shared by The Aquarium Shop Australia (@aquariumshopaustralia)

If you’re uncomfortable using water additives to reduce nitrates, you can also try nitrate removing filter media. These filter pads are added right into your filtration system and can help reduce nitrate levels over time, but they may not work as quickly and effectively as chemical additives.

Pros

Good option when nothing else has worked

Almost guaranteed to reduce nitrates

Nitrate removing filter pads are a safe alternative to water additives

Cons

Can cause rapid shifts in water parameters

5. Add a Refugium

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Obsessive Coral (@obsessivecoral)

A refugium is an interesting and fun way to help reduce nitrates in your tank. A refugium is a small, protected area, often outside of the tank itself, that is used to grow seaweeds and macroalgae. They share a filtration system with the tank, so water flows through the refugium, filter, and aquarium.

Good option when nothing else has worked

Almost guaranteed to reduce nitrates

Nitrate removing filter pads are a safe alternative to water additives

  • Good option when nothing else has worked
  • Almost guaranteed to reduce nitrates
  • Nitrate removing filter pads are a safe alternative to water additives

Can cause rapid shifts in water parameters

  • Can cause rapid shifts in water parameters

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Obsessive Coral (@obsessivecoral)

A post shared by Obsessive Coral (@obsessivecoral)

The seaweeds and macroalgae within the refugium are big fans of nitrate and will help reduce the levels in the water when you harvest the plants and remove them from the refugium. They essentially act as a sponge, absorbing nitrate levels and taking the nitrate with them when removed. A refugium is most often associated with saltwater tanks and isn’t an ideal solution for most freshwater tanks.

Pros

Interesting and unique option

Plants act as a nitrate sponge

Nitrate levels are reduced as plants are harvested

Cons

Best for saltwater tanks

Requires the harvesting of plants to be fully effective

6. Use Microbes

While your average biological filtration in your aquarium is unlikely to have a significant impact on your nitrate levels, the addition of specific microbes can be a safe way to reduce nitrate levels. Live cultures are becoming more widely available, and these cultures contain specific bacteria that will help consume nitrate. Having a variety of microbes is ideal to ensure efficacy.

Interesting and unique option

Plants act as a nitrate sponge

Nitrate levels are reduced as plants are harvested

  • Interesting and unique option
  • Plants act as a nitrate sponge
  • Nitrate levels are reduced as plants are harvested

Best for saltwater tanks

Requires the harvesting of plants to be fully effective

  • Best for saltwater tanks
  • Requires the harvesting of plants to be fully effective

The issue that some people run into with using microbes to reduce nitrates is that some of these microbes may require a food source other than nitrates in the water. Essentially, you’re committing to the care of another living thing in your tank to ensure the microbes stay healthy.

Pros

Safe way to reduce nitrates

Becoming more widely available

Effective if maintained

Cons

Often requires an additional food source

7. Test Your New Water

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by malvin (@nivlamaquatics)

One of the things that most people overlook when dealing with mysteriously high nitrate levels is to check the new water being added to the tank. This is especially important if you are using tap or well water in your aquarium. Distilled and RO water shouldn’t contain nitrates, but other types of water often have some nitrates at baseline. If your tap water has a baseline nitrate level of 20ppm, then your tank may end up with elevated nitrate levels over time as you add new water to the tank.

Safe way to reduce nitrates

Becoming more widely available

Effective if maintained

  • Safe way to reduce nitrates
  • Becoming more widely available
  • Effective if maintained

Often requires an additional food source

  • Often requires an additional food source

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by malvin (@nivlamaquatics)

A post shared by malvin (@nivlamaquatics)

Test the water source you add to your tank to get an idea of the baseline nitrates. If your tap water has high nitrates or slightly elevated nitrates and you’re struggling to get nitrates in your tank under control, then consider switching to distilled or RO water for your aquarium. Make sure to read up on what needs to be added to distilled and RO water to make it safe for your aquarium since these types of water lack minerals.

Pros

Easy problem to solve

Can explain uncontrolled nitrates in your aquarium

Cons

May require a switch to distilled or RO water

Easy problem to solve

Can explain uncontrolled nitrates in your aquarium

  • Easy problem to solve
  • Can explain uncontrolled nitrates in your aquarium

May require a switch to distilled or RO water

  • May require a switch to distilled or RO water

Conclusion

Reducing the nitrates in your aquarium doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it may seem, but it does require some time and care on your part. Make sure to make an honest assessment of your aquarium to determine if it’s overstocked, too small, or requires more filtration. Many people underestimate how many fish they have in their tanks, leading to difficulty controlling water parameters. You do have multiple options for reducing your nitrate levels, though!

Sources

https://www.petmd.com/fish/care/how-reduce-nitrate-your-aquarium https://www.algone.com/how-to-remove-nitrate-from-the-aquarium

 

Related Fish Reads:

Sources

https://www.petmd.com/fish/care/how-reduce-nitrate-your-aquarium https://www.algone.com/how-to-remove-nitrate-from-the-aquarium

Featured Image Credit: M-Production, Shutterstock