over feeding / nitrates

[idgy]

I think in the last few weeks I have been feeding my fish too much! I have had 0 nitrates and now I am around 2 or 5.

I did a water change today, I do a water change once a week. I think it is either I am feeding too much or could it be time to change the filter things in my RO?

I think that those could be the only two reason I have had a little spike.

I have 2 clowns and a flame angel and 3 shrimp in a 60 gallon with 83 pd of LR. I am a bit concerned because I am expecting a fish delivery on Saturday and I do not want to have my nitrates explode. I am expecting a watchman goby and a royal gramma and a star fish.

How quick should nitrates drop after a water change?

 

[Krish]

I guess it would depend on how much water you change, but if you think it is from your RO filter needing to be changed causing your nitrates to rise, then using the same thing will be only add more nitrates to the tank. Maybe you could test the water coming directly out of your RO filter to see if it contains any nitrates so you could know if to rule that out. HTH

 

[clayswim]

RO filters don't produce nitrates even when old, although DI cartridges certainly can. It could be overfeeding, or it could be a spot in your tank where detritus is building. Make sure you change or clean any and all filter pads or socks, and give your rocks a good blowing with a powerhead or turkey baster to remove any buildup around and under them. Water changes will remove nitrates immediately out of the water column, in whatever percentage you change.

Clayton