Best Nitrate Remover?

[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]

Water changes may not lower nitrate levels

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.