This isn't crazily critical, but it is time sensitive. Nitrate level question.

Hi everyone.

I'm 3 months into my first tank, so yes, a newb.

I realize the best nitrate reading is obviously 0, but I have a situation.

I have run out of salt to do water changes. I have a shipment coming in on Monday via UPS. The reef crystals I ordered online were so much cheaper than they are in the LFS (i like to support the local economy, but I'm a broke college student. )

Anyway, this morning (Saturday) my nitrate level is right around 5-10. Usually, when I have any trace of nitrates, I do a 20% water change. Would it hurt my fish to not do a water change until Monday afternoon? I want to say I've read nitrates become a problem for fish at around 40ppm?

It's a FOWLR tank with 2 clowns, 1 pajama cardinal, and 1 damsel. All hardy fish.

So do I wait until Monday afternoon, or do I head on over to the fish store and get more salt for 4 times the price I got it for online?

Thanks everyone.

Brett

 

Waiting until monday afternoon is fine. The reccomended nitrate levels in FO and FOWLR tanks are supposed to be 0-30 mg/L. Fish start to get stressed at 40 mg/L and die at 80-100 mg/L.
If you've been having nitrate spikes, then your aquarium might not be fully cycled. When nitrite turns to nitrate it creates a nitrate spike. Nitrates usually don't spike up from 0 to 20 mg/L in just a couple days like you've been experiencing unless your tank has just finished cycling, or is in a cycle. A cycle can be made by adding too much live rock, fish, corals, inverts, or food at once. In a normal tank nitrates will gradually build up.
Of course, reef tanks need pristine water conditions at 0-20 mg/L of nitrates. So if you're thinking about adding corals and inverts, you will need a protein skimmer.

 

Yes that is correct...You will be fine.

 

My tank had gone through it's initial cycle. I planned on only having my 2 clowns for a good while, but a family member came home with a brown paper bag, and yelled "surprise! the lady at the fish store said you'd LOVE these guys!" and added 3 fish at once. Between that and the feeding, I think the nitrates haven't exactly been spiking, but just building up over time.

There is a protein skimmer on the way. AquaC remora HOB with a maxijet 1200. I've read great reviews about it.

Thanks for the quick help guys. K+

Brew