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Lessons Learned "Quick Hits"
We are soliciting short lessons-learned from hobbyists: events that possibly left you sadder, but measurably wiser. Have a good one? Please send it to the . Here is a brief diatribe from the Webmaster:
There has been a lot of speculation on what are acceptable nitrate levels in the water that goldfish are kept in. In parts-per-million, or PPM, most people agree that levels below 15-20 PPM are probably acceptable (though unacceptably high for some other fish and invertebrate species, which suggests that the goldfish are enduring this). However, Koi ponds may reach nitrate levels of 200PPM, with these long-lived fish apparently not suffering adverse effects. And goldfish, with the Koi in these sunny, outside ponds, often seem to thrive as well. So what is the acceptable upper limit for goldfish? And if there are adverse effects, are they due to nitrates themselves or to other compounds that may accompany nitrate build-up, like phosphates?
There has not been the scientific study needed to answer these questions authoritatively, so the conventional wisdom remains to do frequent, substantial water changes. Anecdotally, the kinds of symptoms that have been associated with high nitrate levels include slow growth or stunting of young goldfish, curling and weakening of fin tips in long-finned goldfish, and partial kidney failure in older fish, leading to a pre-dropsy condition where some edema is present. Often these latter symptoms can be controlled through improved water conditions and careful feeding, with the fish living years longer.