Found my nitrate problem.

[shamanofsexy]

Always wondered why my tank was seemingly making nitrates and today i found the problem. Thought id post this just incase anyone else does the same as me.

Tap water. When i top up my tank i use tap water then a store bought solution to rid of pollutants. The nitrate in my taps is less than 1ppm per litre. But i wasnt getting my tap water out of the tap. I was getting it out of the shower (warmer water easier to get to desired temperature to put into tank.) But ive recently learned when you heat water the nitrate content in it becomes more concentrated. So while my tap water has very low nitrates the warm shower water has a reading of 20ppm.

I guess its like they say nothing good happens quickly in a reef tank. Not even pre heated water.

 

[jcook54]

Wow, I've never heard of that. Could you post any more info on it? I don't use warm water but am always looking to learn. I suppose all the "Stuff" that settles in the water heater tank may slowly be breaking down?

 

[shamanofsexy]

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/dwg/nitrate.htm">http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/dwg/nitrate.htm</a>

The site isnt talking about aquariums but it is talking about nitrates in tap water.