FishForums.com - View Single Post - Nitrate Levels (when it's safe to make a water change)

**JustOneMore20** · 04-12-2008, 09:16 PM

In a cycled tank, you shouldn't have ammonia or nitrIte. Ammonia is converted to nitrIte then to nitrAte. Nitrate builds up and the only way to get rid of it is water changes and live plants if you have them. They just keep building and building. Having low nitrates means you haven't had alot of ammonia converted to nitrates.

04-12-2008, 09:16 PM	#4
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,404 User Feedback: (2)	In a cycled tank, you shouldn't have ammonia or nitrIte. Ammonia is converted to nitrIte then to nitrAte. Nitrate builds up and the only way to get rid of it is water changes and live plants if you have them. They just keep building and building. Having low nitrates means you haven't had alot of ammonia converted to nitrates. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry