How do I get my nitrates down?

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Tested water today and no changes in nitrate. Is it too late in the cycle to use Dr. Tims live nitrifying bacteria and dose ammonium chloride?

For what purpose?

FWIW, nitrifying bacteria are the ones that make nitrate, not the ones that consume it.

You want denitrifying bacteria, which may be in the product too, but the issue is not usually too few bacteria but not enough organic matter for them to use when denitrifying ( organics and nitrate and a low O2 environment are All needed).

 

[Centerline]

So what I'm hearing is add a hardy fish like clownfish? I will quarantine them for 4 weeks then add them

And relax - this will take some time and there is no reason to rush it and many not to. And don't just drop clowns into a new tank - they may be tough but you can certainly kill them. If you must have a fish add a blue damsel or two. Less expensive and just as tough. Feed them a little bit daily and wait a few weeks.

 

[Lucas Lembke]

And relax - this will take some time and there is no reason to rush it and many not to. And don't just drop clowns into a new tank - they may be tough but you can certainly kill them. If you must have a fish add a blue damsel or two. Less expensive and just as tough. Feed them a little bit daily and wait a few weeks.

No I was going to add them to my quarantine tank and wait 4 weeks to put them in the DT

 

[beaslbob]

So what I'm hearing is add a hardy fish like clownfish? I will quarantine them for 4 weeks then add them

I recommend you use Mollys as a dither or test fish.

my .02

 

[Jesterrace]

Some tanks take longer to cycle than others. Personally I never change the water until the algae bloom comes and goes, because a water change can impede the cycling process.

 

[Lucas Lembke]

Some tanks take longer to cycle than others. Personally I never change the water until the algae bloom comes and goes, because a water change can impede the cycling process.

I have had a diatom outbreak