Best Nitrate Remover?

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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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).
 
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?
 
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.
 
red mangrove

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.
 
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