Best Nitrate Remover?
- Thread starter henkychif
- Start date
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.
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!
)
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
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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
http://www.aquariumlife.net/articles/aquarium-care/16.asp
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!
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!
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
