API Nitra-Zorb with TetraTec Easycrystal 300

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FishyFingers333

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Aug 2, 2010
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Hello all,

This is my first post and im somebody pretty new to the game.
I have been seaching the net for ages to see if i can find out weather API's Nitra-Zorb is compatible with my TatraTec EasyCrystal 300 and if so which size Nitra-Zorb sachet should i use and where best should i put it in the filter? i was actually thinking perhaps i could use a spare bio-foam frame and slot the sachet in there.
Would the sachet also lower the aeration properties of the EasyCrystal filter as i am currently not using any other form of aeration. Oh that was another question that i have yet to find an answer, i read somewhere that it is not advisable to use any extra aeration systems if using the EasyCrystal filter but i was wondering is this really true as i would like to add an air pump.

Many thanks i advance.
 
Why do you want to use API's Nitra-Zorb? It's not needed in a properly cycled tank and will actually inhibit the cycling of a tank when used. Make sure your filter system doesn't have any Zeolite or other ammonia absorbing media in it or that will also hurt your cycling.

Did you fishless cycle your tank or are you stuck with cycling with fish?

Tell us what size tank and how many fish and what size, if you do have fish.

Also, how long has the tank been set up and do you have a Master Test Kit for testing your water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, GH and KH? (or at least the first four tests)

On my blog, I have a page called "A to Z of Fish Keeping" and at the top of that page, I have link to two different and FREE fish keeping tutorials. If you are new to fish keeping, I suggest you take one or both of these free tutorials. They will go a LONG way in getting you ahead of the game.
 
The tank which is 15 gal is nearing the end of cycling with 6 zebra danios and 2 siamese flying foxes to keep the algae under control.
Yes i do have a master test kit
I am using a little crushed coral (a couple of table spoons) in the substrate as i live in a very soft water area and with such a low KH the Ph was trying to plummet, this i have now got under control with PH stable at 6.8
I have intruduced a couple of Swordplants (Echinodorus cordifolious) and (Echinodrus Aquartica) An Anubias of some description and a few Dwarf Hygrophilia.
Despite the cycling everybody seems pretty happy in there, with the danios already having spawned (i didn't really want any additional danios so i just let them eat the eggs and fry) and the foxes are happily doing their thing.

The reason i wanted to use Nitra-Zorb was to keep the nitrates under control and as it is such a small tank which has the obvious issue of fairly rapid fluctuations in water chemistry, i thought the 'zorb might also be useful when introducing new tank mates etc and just as a general back-up.
 
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Nitra-Zorb will NOT be needed. Once your plants start growing... give them a couple of weeks to get establish... they will start using up a LOT of the available nitrogenous compounds (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) so it definitely won't be needed then.

I'm presuming you have been getting help with your cycling issues out here or somewhere, otherwise I don't know what you mean by nearing the "end of cycling". The nitrogen cycle NEVER ends in an aquarium. Fish constantly create ammonia which is converted into nitrite which is converted into nitrate. It's a never ending cycle. I'll presume you mean the end of your ammonia/nitrite spikes?

What are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings?

Once your tank has an established nitrogen cycle, the way you control your nitrates is with plants and frequent and regular PWC's (partial water changes). Also, doing proper filter cleaning and maintenance and gravel vacuuming to remove detritus.. so that detritus doesn't have a chance to break down into even more nitrogenous waste.

Your 15G tank isn't really big enough for the Flying Fox, since they grow to 6" and are fast swimming fish from fast flowing streams. They should be in at leat a 48" long tank... like a 55G or larger. You should rehome them sooner rather than later. http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Epalzeorhynchus_kallopterus.html

Of course, since you called them "Siamese Flying Fox", you might want to make sure of what you have. http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/ There are Flying Fox, Siamese Algae Eaters (SAE) and then there are False Siamese Algae Eaters... all looking very similar but still all growing to around 6". There is also the Chinese Algae Eater (CAE) which grows about twice as large.

If you want an algae eater that would be suitable for a 15G tank, a Clown Pleco, and hopefully if you get one, you'll get one of the species that only grows to around 3" instead of 5"... but either would be OK since they are not big time swimmers so they don't need the longer tank.

http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Peckoltia_pulcher.html http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=734

I have one of the 3" Clown Pleco's in my 65G goldfish tank and he does a good job of keeping it clean of excess algae.

With six or more (maybe up to eight or nine) Zebra Danio's and the Clown Pleco, you would be at the full recommended bioload on your 15G tank... so you won't have to worry about nitrogenous waste spikes when adding new fish. Right now, you are WAY overstocked when considering the expected adult size of your current fish load.

As far as keeping Nitra-Zorb as a backup, I guess that would be OK, although the only time I ever used Zeolite or Nitra-Zorb was for the two weeks without power and five weeks without water after Hurricane Katrina. Most normal people would have evacuated and let their fish die. LOL
 
Nitrazorb is a total waste! Take the money you'd spend on it, and instead spend it on a good quality water conditioner. Use the water conditioner to make more frequent water changes and your water quality will be far better than if you had used the Nitrazorb.
 
I used Nitrazorb in the past when I had a 15g tank. I couldn't control nitrates. The level was always around 40 ppm. Once I started to use Nitrazorb, it was constantly below 5 ppm.

Since the TatraTec EasyCrystal 300 is an internal filter, I doubt you can add additional filter media.
 
Sorry chap, what i mean't was near the end of the 36 day maturation period, or as you said ammonia/nitrite spikes.
ammonia is at 0.25ppm, Nitrite is at 0.50ppm and nitrate is around 20ppm
When i said Siamese Flying Fox i mean Crossocheilus siamensis, i have 14 books on fishkeeping and a good friend of mine is an expert fishkeeper and runs an aquatics store, none of which have told me that i need any more than 24x12x12 to keep Crossocheilus siamensis! i do however plan to get a 50gal tank which i will probably move them to when they get a bit bigger.
 
Chrisk-K said:
I used Nitrazorb in the past when I had a 15g tank. I couldn't control nitrates. The level was always around 40 ppm. Once I started to use Nitrazorb, it was constantly below 5 ppm.

Since the TatraTec EasyCrystal 300 is an internal filter, I doubt you can add additional filter media.
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Thankyou mate, that was the kind of answer i was looking for!
 
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