It is common for old aquariums to have high levels of nitrate especially if they are not maintained regularly or have water changes periodically done.  These high nitrate levels need to be solved urgently as they will prove toxic to the fish and even increase the formation of algae.

The first effect of high nitrate levels can be seen in the plant life.  Even though plants consume nitrate, if the levels are too high there would be too much for them to make use of and it will kill off the plants.  Then when these plants rot in the aquarium, they in turn release nitrate into the water, increasing the levels even more.

Then it will begin to affect the fish.  The presence of nitrate in the water will reduce the amount of oxygen in it, thus higher nitrate levels equals to less oxygen.  The lesser the oxygen levels, the harder the fish would have to struggle just to catch a breath of air and they will soon die.

Natural Ways To Reduce Nitrate

You don’t have to spend your hard earned money on expensive equipment or chemicals in order to reduce the level of nitrate in your aquarium.  To reduce nitrate and keep them at a healthy balance here are some things that you can do:

1. Change the water each week.  Every week without fail, discard 20% of the tank water and replace it with new water.  By changing water on a regular basis, you will ensure that the nitrate levels are always low and also discard fish waste which is the major source of nitrate in an aquarium.
2. Test before topping.  Get nitrate strips from your local pet store and test the new water before you put it into aquarium.  These strips are very cheap and will help you test your water source for contamination.  You never know if your water source is high in nitrates.
3. For saltwater fish tanks, add a coral reef or two, which are excellent at keeping nitrate levels in check.
4. Don’t overstock your fish tank.  Too much fish poop will shoot the nitrate levels to the ceiling.
5. Clean up the tank.  Remove all dead or withered leaves and plants immediately before they have a chance to rot.

Products That Reduce Nitrate In Fish Tank Water

There are a few products on sale that you could buy if you’d like to reduce the nitrate levels in your water easily.

1. Nitrate Absorbing Filter Media.  These such as Purigen which you could purchase from That Fish Place are synthetic absorbents that controls ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates by removing waste that would otherwise release these harmful compounds.
2. Nitrate Cartridges.  Good filters such as the Fluval G6 have nitrate cartridges that can be installed easily which will reduce nitrate levels in your aquarium very fast.
3. Protein Skimmers.  Protein Skimmers work by bringing fish waste to the surface using tiny bubbles that latch themselves to the waste and this will then be easily discarded from the skimmer.

The most important thing to remember in keeping nitrate levels in check is to keep your tank clean and reduce the amount of waste and decay in the tank.  If you keep this always in mind, then you will never have to worry about your aquarium nitrate levels hitting the ceiling.

For more information on fish tank nitrate levels and other aquarium solutions, visit Fish Tank Filters at http://fish-tank-filters.org and enjoy great discount from That Fish Place Online Store.