When are nitrates too high?

When are nitrates too high in a fw planted tank?

 

When I was doing FW I never let my Nirates go above 10ppm. FW fish etc can handle nitrates up to 20ppm but no higher than that at the highest!! Even then, too high for my liking.

 

Here's an awesome read on nitrate levels and fresh water. Hope this helps!
http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/watercare/a/nitrates.htm

 

Thanks. Mine were at 80 ppm and I had very little algae growth and a new crop of convict cichlid babies every couple of months. Im converting from a cichlid room a planted community now, so I'll need to get them down.

 

oh jeeze! lol That's HIGH! But convicts could live in acid for frig sakes!!! LMAO.... and still breed!!! Algae doesn't just need nitrates to grow, it also needs good light and Phosphates!! Any small comunity fish placed in nitrates 80ppm would surly die the next day. Especially the more commonly used community fish like neons or cardinal tetras. Good luck bringing those nitrates down! Maybe even consider making a FW sump/refuge Grow the more fast growing eventually niucence plants in there like the java Moss etc... that will help keep the nitrates at bay

 

I know my well water contains phosphates, so they are definitely present in the tank too. I'm going to bring the nitrates down with water changes.