That may be true, I can't think of anything else inside the tank affecting the fish, it's just a FOWLR, I didn't add anything, there are no invertebrates or anemones, there are no corals, there are no reactors, I didn't use any "miracle product" or anything similar.I don't see how that answers my question. You said that high nitrates were hurting your fish and when you did a water change, the fish recovered. But it could've been something else in the water that was hurting the fish that was removed when you did the water change.