How to bring nitrates down quick?

[Nemolover12]

I had my auto feeder filled to the brim with food and it malfunctioned and kept releasing food into the water. My nitrates spike to 40 ppm. What do I do to bring it down fast?

 

[rmorris_14]

I had my auto feeder filled to the brim with food and it malfunctioned and kept releasing food into the water. My nitrates spike to 40 ppm. What do I do to bring it down fast?

Water change

 

[Nemolover12]

Water change

By how much?

 

[rmorris_14]

By how much?

Depends on how big your tank is and how fast you want to bring it down 40 isn’t scary high

 

[Nemolover12]

I have a 75 gallon and I would feel better if the nitrates were lower as fast as possible

 

[rmorris_14]

I have a 75 gallon and I would feel better if the nitrates were lower as fast as possible

I mean you can do a 50 percent water change is cut in half. A lot of people successfully run their tanks around 20 to 25 No3

 

[Nemolover12]

Ok

 

[nkyreef]

If you're tank isn't huge change out half the water. Try to get as many pellets out as possible before the phosphates get out of hand.

 

[ryshark]

I had my auto feeder filled to the brim with food and it malfunctioned and kept releasing food into the water. My nitrates spike to 40 ppm. What do I do to bring it down fast?

Yeah I think a big water change is all. How high did your Phosphate rise up to? Which auto feeder did that?

 

[Nemolover12]

I retested and the solution is dark red. Indicating that I have at least 160 ppm.

 

[Troylee]

I retested and the solution is dark red. Indicating that I have at least 160 ppm.

That test kit is junk! But don’t panic just change some water out you’ll be fine.. mine was running that high when I got it second hand and it didn’t effect anything..

 

[Akreefnewguy]

I retested and the solution is dark red. Indicating that I have at least 160 ppm.

80% water change and get more water you probably will need to do another 50% this week from everything I've read and watched, but im new so listen to the experienced people

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

40 ppm nitrate is not a big deal and I would not try to do anything fast.

 

[Akreefnewguy]

40 ppm nitrate is not a big deal and I would not try to do anything fast.

Yes but he retested and is at 160ppm

 

[Nemolover12]

Just did a huge water change and it’s looking good. It looks like the nitrates are down to 80 ppm

 

[legionofdoon]

Yes but he retested and is at 160ppm

Probably nitrites

 

[gbroadbridge]

I had my auto feeder filled to the brim with food and it malfunctioned and kept releasing food into the water. My nitrates spike to 40 ppm. What do I do to bring it down fast?

How long ago did the fish feeder incident happen?

I doubt that dumping food in this morning turned into 180ppm Nitrate in 8 hours.

 

[Nemolover12]

It has been a day. It happened last night

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree that a little nitrite might explain everything, and nitrate may not be particularly high.

 

[Nemolover12]

My nitrites showed 0 ppm. Do you think the test may be wrong? It doesn’t seem that trustworthy