Another sketchy sounding one to me on nitrates

[duanes]

Exposure to Nitrate Increases Susceptibility to Hypoxia in ...The University of Chicago Press: Journalshttps://www.journals.uchicago.edu › doi
The scientifuc data is quite clear.
And after being an aquarist since the late 1950s, and a retired chemist/microbiologist at a water quality lab for over 20 years believing some guys rambling unsustanciated theories don't mean much to me..
And then, because I collect fish myself, and test the waters they live in........it's pretty obvious what nitrate levels to shoot for.

 

[12 Volt Man]

The problem is 95% of aquarist don’t watch fish keeping content on YouTube or post on aquarium forums except when there is a problem and they're searching for answers. Much like other moronic “content creators” like this man and Father Fish the only thing the average hobbyist will take away from it ”perfect I don’t need to do water changes” Which we all know simply isn’t true.

Of all the channels I have come across the Father Fish one was the worst in terms of misinformation.

One of his videos he goes on about if you have monster fish you should only feed them ONCE PER MONTH

clearly, this man had no Fing clue what he was doing when it came to big fish. none at all.

I understand that he has since passed, but in terms of stopping the spread of misinformation, the fact that he can't make anymore videos is probably a great thing.

 

[RD.]

Another thing worth mentioning is that on this forum we have some members who have some extremely old fish in their care.

Now these guys may have drip systems or do 100% water changes every day, but I doubt it very much. These guys are more than likely just like your average hobbyist who do their weekly water changes.

These guys will undoubtedly have nitrate in their tanks at some level too, and yet they have these fish that just keep on going.

If nitrate was so bad, and was toxic long, or even short term, then how the hell have these guys raised these very old fish?

The issue is rarely the *nitrate levels*, but what typically is found alongside those elevated nitrates, in a closed system such as an aquarium.

Nitrate readings are simply a cheap easy way that is used by consumers as a gauge to assist one in keeping their overall tank parameters in check, between water changes.

Nitrate tests/levels are a fast, simple way for the average hobbyist to gauge the overall condition of their tank water, but there is sooooo much more to be considered if one is considering their complete aquarium water quality. This is where fresh water via water changes come into play, such as the overall bacteria count, the water alkalinity, which in turn can affect the pH, the TDS, conductivity, mineral levels, etc. So while reducing ones nitrate levels to zero may seem like a significant achievement, in and of itself, is it? I don't think so. At least not at the typical levels found in an aquarium. Nature does not = a closed system, as in what the average hobbyist is running in their home. See below.

esoxlucius if by chance it is your tap levels that are a concern - it seems that much of the nitrates found in UK tap water originate from fertilizers used in agriculture, which typically should not be as harmful to aquatic organisms found in a closed system, where high nitrate creep usually equates to higher dissolved organic levels, higher pathogenic bacteria levels, and a reduction in mineral content, which can cause pH and conductivity swings.

 

[neutrino]

You can debate to some degree how low of a target to set for nitrates (obviously, the majority of aquarium fish don't have issues when nitrates are above 5, not that 5 isn't a fine target). I've done enough reading on this to know that nitrates exist naturally in some water systems, in some cases fluctuating seasonally. Also, some fish are well known (at least by those keeping them) to be less tolerant than others. But recommending 'don't worry about high nitrates' or claiming 'nitrates in the hundreds doesn't hurt' (if that's what the video says-- I didn't bother to watch) is an anti-scientific display of ignorance, plain and simple. Not only do environmental scientists consider both nitrates and phosphates to be pollutants, but:

Simultaneous exposure to nitrate and low pH reduces the blood oxygen-carrying capacity and functional performance of a freshwater fish | Conservation Physiology | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

Fish growth and condition
Independent exposure to elevated nitrate (F2,12 = 8.16, P = 0.006) or low pH (F1,12 = 3.69, P = 0.01) had strong, depressive effects on fish growth. Indeed, fish exposed to elevated nitrate (50 or 100 mg L−1) or pH 4.0 experienced marginal growth rates or lost mass over the 28-day growth experiment (Table 2). When combined, there was a significant antagonistic interaction (i.e. less than the two stressors independently) between nitrate and pH treatment on the absolute fish growth rate of fish (F2,12 = 9.01, P = 0.004; Table 2). Similarly, the body condition (Fulton’s K) of fish was significantly affected independently by nitrate (F2,12 = 7.35, P = 0.008), pH (F1,12 = 7.35, P = 0.003) and marginally by their interaction (F2,12 = 3.86, P = 0.05). Post hoc pairwise comparisons showed that condition factor was lowest in fish exposed to combined elevated nitrate and low pH

So, sure, if you're not worried about the condition, growth, or long term health of your fish, high nitrates are fine.

 

[RD.]

I just bumped an old thread regarding this same subject. Different players, same net result.

(3) Water Changes...Unnecessary? | MonsterFishKeepers.com

 

[AR1]

I just bumped an old thread regarding this same subject. Different players, same net result.

(3) Water Changes...Unnecessary? | MonsterFishKeepers.com

seems like nitrates are not only difficult to remove from aquariums, but also their discussion here on MFK

 

[RD.]

Young blood, this is simply another example of what goes around, eventually comes back around. lol

 

[Cal Amari]

I've been reading this forum on and off for over 15 years now though I only joined last year. But I can't believe this topic still comes up so frequently. It has been well documented, discussed thoroughly, and remains clear. It's only a battle between laziness and hygiene. I make my kids shower regularly, especially when they play so hard they get sweaty. I clean my dogs feet when he steps in ****, and give him a bath when he rolls in something out back. And my fish get fresh water to swim in on a regular basis. If you're not willing to see to it that a creature under your care doesn't have to live in its own piss and **** then you shouldn't have a creature under your care.

 

[RD.]

I'm waiting for the "second hand smoke is fake news" thread......

 

[troublesum]

Where do these people come from? i watch a lot of YT videos but mostly like Predatory Fins (i like to see the fish they import) King of DIY just because he's handy and to see his fish, Cichlid Bros again just to see there fish i don't watch those Nitrates videos because i know I've been keeping fish 20+ years i know 2-3 80% WC a week will keep my fish healthy.
If its not broken don't try to fix it!!!!!!