Best Nitrate Remover?

[henkychif]

I do regular water changes to control Nitrate levels, but would like to experiment with a Nitrate-removal filter. I see a bunch of products out there. Anyone have any experience with them?

[liv2padl]

adding chemicals to your tank is almost always a bad idea, particularly when something as simple as a water change will do as well? in other words, why spend money on chemicals when a simple water change will do the job?

[unstopable4700]

i agree water changes are best.

[Rallysman]

Water changes are the only thing that will remove nitrate along with other disolved organic compounds and/or hormones.

[kira]

Nitrate removers do nothing for removal of DOC's. The only way to do it is to do it right, and that means water changes. Nitrate removers are a waste of time and money.

[donfenk]

agreed- water changes are the best way to remove unwanted Nitrates. Well besides a heavly planted tank - in which case you might actually have to add Nitrates to the water.

[Mgamer20o0]

water changes.

[jm1212]

water changes :D

[Rbishop]

Water changes because of other DOCs and toxins.

[henkychif]

Oh, yeah, couldn't agree more.

I was looking for opinions on products. I see all these freshwater products advertised and I was wondering who buys them.

I was thinking if we ever had a drought, are there ways to extend the life of my tank water?

[jm1212]

tetra recently came out with a product that is supposed to make it so you dont have to do water changes for six months... now thats a disaster waiting to happen.

if you had a drought and there wasnt any water, you should worry about yourself first. your fish can go without a water change for a couple of weeks if there isnt any water, but you can only go a couple of days without water.

[Jaysn]

Pythons are really good at getting rid of nitrates :)

[Hound]

I was looking for opinions on products. I see all these freshwater products advertised and I was wondering who buys them.



Impulse buyers of course. Retail businesses love them by the thousands.

[garbon2535]

I love how this guy asks a simple question and a hundred people feel the urge to say "water change". Isn't it a waste of time to repeat something so much?

This is a perfectly good question. I have no clue who buy's nitrate remover. Someone must, otherwise stores would not stock it. Companies continue to make more so there must be a demand. I'm sure there are some here that use it but feel too intimitated to speak up from fear of massive verbal abuse or being shunned from future help.

[henkychif]

That's ok, I appreciate the responses. I'm glad people feel so strongly about water changes. The fish probably do, too.

Every few years we have a long period without rain. The well runs low and things like watering the lawn and washing the car become luxuries. I would never let myself die of thirst, thank you very much :-), but cutting down the number of water changes might be necessary.

I'll keep experimenting with stuff, that's the best way to find out.

[BooMonkey]

I live in the UK. My tap water is 50ppm nitrate, which is already high for fish. I regularly use the nitrate minus and have to keep lots of plants to get the levels down. Water changes could conceivably RAISE the nitrate levels...

[Shelby_Tempo_GT]

That's ok, I appreciate the responses. I'm glad people feel so strongly about water changes. The fish probably do, too.

Every few years we have a long period without rain. The well runs low and things like watering the lawn and washing the car become luxuries. I would never let myself die of thirst, thank you very much :-), but cutting down the number of water changes might be necessary.

I'll keep experimenting with stuff, that's the best way to find out.




I think plants are probably your best resource. They are non-chemical and add to your eco-system.

[henkychif]

I live in the UK. My tap water is 50ppm nitrate, which is already high for fish. I regularly use the nitrate minus and have to keep lots of plants to get the levels down. Water changes could conceivably RAISE the nitrate levels... Wow, 50ppm, that's high. Could you tell me a little more about "nitrate minus"?


I think plants are probably your best resource. They are non-chemical and add to your eco-system. I actually have a lot of experience with plants. For the past two years all 4 of my tanks were planted tanks (I used to visit planted-tank forums exclusively). Without gettting into a long post, I'll just say that I got rid of all my plants.

[dixienut]

this is what was suggested to me from the dwarf puffer forum,
http://www.algone.com/opinions.php
i havent bought it yet but it looks promising along with water changes. never stop water changes but at times nirtates do get high for other reasons also..

[jgulecas]

Plants and water changes. Get some low-light, easy plants if you don't want to do the bright light/CO2/fertilizer bit. Java moss, java fern, water sprite, anubias, elodea, etc.

My tank is fairly heavily planted and my ammonia/nitrites/nitrates are always 0/0/0. I probably need to start adding nitrates.

[pistoli]

What about freshwater clams? I have been trying to find out more about these guys for a while and understand that they can help reduce nitrate levels.
Does anyone have any experience?

[jm1212]

What about freshwater clams? I have been trying to find out more about these guys for a while and understand that they can help reduce nitrate levels.
Does anyone have any experience?
they are pretty hard to keep alive and will foul up your tank if they die. they do keep the gravel well oxygenated but i havent heard of them removing nitrate.

[legendaryfrog]

I HAD nitrate problems (around 35ppm) in my 720 gallon tank and i hated the frequent water changes, so i added a 50 gallon sump. In this sump, i put in a 12 inch gravel bed on top of an undergravel filter. (running on a powerhead)

Ive never had problems since.

[biowyo]

i use this product exclusively and have had massive permanent improvements
in my 2 120 gal. tanks that are both extremely over stocked.

Purigen™ is a premium synthetic adsorbent that is unlike any other filtration product. It is not a mixture of ion exchangers or adsorbents, but a unique macro-porous synthetic polymer that removes soluble and insoluble impurities from water at a rate and capacity that exceeds all others by over 500%. Purigen™ controls ammonia, nitrites and nitrates by removing nitrogenous organic waste that would otherwise release these harmful compounds. Purigen’s™ impact on trace elements is minimal. It significantly raises redox. It polishes water to unparalleled clarity. Purigen™ darkens progressively as it exhausts, and is easily renewed by treating with bleach. Purigen™ is designed for both marine and freshwater use. This product is sold by volume. Cited weight is minimal weight.

it is re-useable by simply soaking it for 8 hrs in a 1:1 bleach /water solution then thoroughly rinse and let dry.

[Rbishop]

Even with a nitrate clearing additive, the water changes would still be required for all the other toxins that are there and we don't test for.

[Squawkbert]

I think plants are probably your best resource. They are non-chemical and add to your eco-system.

I was going to say
1) PWCs,
2) Live plants (even though they don't eliminate pollutants or the need for PWCs, they can help cover your rear end if you get behind in your PWC schedule).

[Squawkbert]

I HAD nitrate problems (around 35ppm) in my 720 gallon tank and i hated the frequent water changes, so i added a 50 gallon sump. In this sump, i put in a 12 inch gravel bed on top of an undergravel filter. (running on a powerhead)

Ive never had problems since.

Bacteria removing NO3 in an anoxic FW plenum?

Any issues w/ bad anaerobic bacteria (funky rotten egg H2S type smells)??

Do you ever stir the gravel in the sump?

How do you get rid of the other pollutants, fish poop etc?

[legendaryfrog]

Before i added the undergravel filter, the sump did smell like rottn egg. Before water reached the sump, it went through filter floss and 10 micron mesh. (the mesh can be purchased at aquaticeco.com)

once in a while, i would stir the gravel.

[Pepe]

I have just added some red mangrove to a 10 gallon. My understanding is that they use great amounts of nitrate. I like the tree on an aesthetic level and the extra nitrate removal is always a plus. I have only had it for a short time but have noticed reductions in some types of algae. It may be an alternative to "traditional" freshwater plants.

[will74]

what are doc's

[snickle]

I have played with Algone and it does reduce the Nitrate levels, but as have been mentioned repeatedly, Nitrates are the beginning of the story, not the end.

I am not sure what the proper answer is other than water changes are good.

[Rbishop]

Dissolved Organic Compounds

[DarkSoul]

Dissolved Organic Compounds

I understand the need for water changes, But is there NO way, in a common sized tank(~50g), to balance the ecosystem in such a way that you would not need to do water changes?

I know there are a MILLION reasons for the water changes, but nature doesnt do them, and are we not trying to replicate nature to an extent?

Im not saying im going to start experimenting with this, heh, i need fish first lol.
But it has often crossed my mind, there must be a way to balance the ecosystem inside the tank.

[ct-death]

But it has often crossed my mind, there must be a way to balance the ecosystem inside the tank.


2 things to achieve this:

Scale and Nature.

In other words, a 55G tank cannot be expected to 'naturally' handle even a small neon on it's own. The scale just isn't there.

Also, mother nature will find it's own equalibrium if left unchekced and most people don't like algae blooms, told they cannot have certain fish, generally dislike the high mortality, etc. Even small backyard ponds need attention (especially if a closed system).

An open system (has natural inputs/outputs), scaled appropriately, and left untouched (cannot take out the frogs and salamaders!) is required for a balanced system.

Without inputs/outputs (we do water changes, add fertilizers to our plants, etc.), our systems would fail. A closed system is doomed to fail (unless you cheat! ;))

[Rbishop]

I think there are many folks out there playing with a balanced system or closed biotopes. Not sure how close we can achieve to it though. That biosphere out in AZ a few yrs back came very close. It would take some pretty regular testing and it could be there would be a long period before something detrimental popped up.

[ct-death]

I think there are many folks out there playing with a balanced system or closed biotopes. Not sure how close we can achieve to it though. That biosphere out in AZ a few yrs back came very close. It would take some pretty regular testing and it could be there would be a long period before something detrimental popped up.

Did they stop that experiment? I always thought that that was on-going, no? :(

EDIT: *sigh* http://www.fredbernstein.com/articles/display.asp?id=150

[madtundra]

I do regular water changes to control Nitrate levels, but would like to experiment with a Nitrate-removal filter. I see a bunch of products out there. Anyone have any experience with them?


add a few handfulls of hornwort it'll suck up lots of nitrates

[musho3210]

during the nitrogen cycle it produces acids, these acids connect to a buffer, if you dont do water changes the acids take up all the buffers and then there is nothing left to buffer, then the ph crashes fast. But with water changes you are renewing the buffers and taking out some of the acids therefor maintaining a stable ph. Thats one of the many reasons why water changes are nessicary

http://www.aquariumlife.net/articles/aquarium-care/16.asp

[lousybreed]

add a planted fuge to your system and kiss nitrates goodby. you iwll still have to do WC though!

I ran a system with a planted fuge for 1 yr with no dectectable trates ever!!!

I have a thread on it titled something like "daily log of my 55 gallon tank" it has all the details!

[PDX-PLT]

I live in the UK. My tap water is 50ppm nitrate, which is already high for fish. I regularly use the nitrate minus and have to keep lots of plants to get the levels down. Water changes could conceivably RAISE the nitrate levels...

Yikes! I notice german fishkeeping books talk alot about nitrate removers; maybe this is why?

50 ppm is five times the legally permissable level in the USA:

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/dw_contamfs/nitrates.html