[CichlidWhisperer]

My water supply has a nitrate level of 30 PPM. I have never had an ammonia spike, and only a very short lived nitrite spike when I initially set up the tank months ago. I do weekly 25% water changes and my nitrate level stays at 30 PPM. Any idea how I could lower this???? I have thought of using nitrate absorbing resins, but they also eliminate ammonia and nitrite and so I have always worried that they might screw up the biological filter. Does anyone deal with a similar problem and if so, how do you manage to lower the nitrate?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Carol

 

[Dave]

RO water, but you will need to replace the minerals and buffer with a rift lake salt or buffer additive.

What is the Nitrate level in your tank?

 

[CichlidWhisperer]

I have been successful at keeping the nitrate level at 30 PPM. It is rarely above this and never above 40 PPM.

 

[Dave]

Then I do not think I would worry about it too much. Although, if your tap water is 30 ppm, then then your tank water is going to be a lot higher, or eventually it will. You still might consider occasional changes with RO water.

 

[DJRansome]

Here is what I got when I googled "drinking water standards nitrate".

In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause health problems.

and this

EPA has set an enforceable standard called a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). The MCL for nitrates has been set at 10 ppm, and for nitrites at 1 ppm, because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water.

Try complaining to your municipality.

 

[CichlidWhisperer]

Wow... I think I am going to call the health department... Thank you for that information!

 

[dielikemoviestars]

I know for a fact in San Diego that the max Nitrate level allowed by law is 40ppm. It's generally b/t 0-5ppm (got the annual water report yesterday), but I know 40ppm is legal and acceptable.

 

[DJRansome]

How do they get around the federal standard?