HOB Nitrate Filter

Well I decided to give "Pothos" a very common low light house plant a chance at being my new nitrate filter for my 60 tank. After replacing the cartridge filters and cleaning out the hob I rinsed off all the potting soil from the plant roots with warm water and separate the plants main stalk and roots. Then I suspended each stalk on dental floss attached to finisher nails in the drywall, this so that the roots would be just below the water line. Then I just fired up the filter allowing continuous water to flow preventing stagnation and rotting, at least that's the plan. Ill know in about a week which way this is going to go. The aquarium sits directly across from a window which I use to bring in light during the day. With my UV sterilizer running 12 hours a day algae has never been an issue.

Well Im very glad to report that after just 4 days the Pothos has apparently reduced nitrates from 40 PPM to 20 PPM. No mistake about it and I specifically chose this tank becasue it had the repeated red nitrate test indication. So no water changes have been conducted so the new test sample is without a doubt conclusively orange.

I will make another report as to whether nitrates reduce further withing the next few days before the next water change.

Id love to have a bunch of Hornwort as it was the only aqua plant I could grow ever LOL. But I cant seem to find it anywhere and Im not to crazy about ordering live things online.

UPDATE! results on Pothos nitrate HOB filter

Well its been a month since I switch from Hedra Ivy to Pothos plant growing in the water tank of my HOB filter. This aquarium always had the highest nitrates just before my bimonthly water changes and I can confirm with great satisfaction that not only is the Pothos growing well but this same tank now leads in the lowest nitrates. Normally 40 PPM Nitrates after 2 weeks without a water change is now registering 10 PPM nitrates.

So I will definatly be investing in a $5 Pothos potted plant that I will soil rinse and place bare root inside each of my other 4 aquarium HOB filters. These pis were taken today just before waterchange.

You will notice my 18W florescent light fixture turned upside down. I do this at night to augment daytime window and office lighting but becasue pothos is an extreme low light requiring plant, the extra light goes a long way in growing which translates into consumed ammonia and nitrates. Pothos is also extremely resistant to pest and disease, unlike my previous Hedra Ivy killed by micro leaf mites