Nitrates represent a class of chemical compounds having the formula NO3 – Nitrate salts are used as fertilizers to supply a nitrogen source for plant growth. Nitrate additions to surface waters can lead to excessive growth of aquatic plants.
High nitrate is often seen in ponds with high bioload — meaning that lots of fish poop, dead leaves, leftover food, and other rotting organics are in the water. Hence, the easiest methods to reduce nitrate in the long term include decreasing the number of fish and/or amount of food that goes into the tank.
