Im having a problem with Nitrates, I do water changes, but my tap H2O had about 30ppm. I was told by my LFS that Phos-X would help lower my levels of Nitrate. Nitrite, PH, Ammonia are at 0. Does anyone know about or used Phos-X? Thanks in advance, Rich
High NitrAte and Phos x
- Thread starter richm20
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Fast growing plants seem to take care of the Nitrates. What I do is age my water and while it ages run a sponge filter with a nitra-zorb pouch in the water. That should take care of those nitrates just make sure you recharge it every 2 weeks or so. Don't run the pouch in your main tank because the organics will foul up the media and you also run the risk of starving your biofilter.
Sorry, my PH is 7.0, my bad.
Thanks for your input, I put "phos-X" in the filter, and I will let you know how it works, it claims to absorb Nitrate & Nitrite, lets see. Any more ideas would be great, thanks for your input!
I have lost 2 stingrays, for no reason. I can only assume that it was the Nitrates that got them.
Thanks for your input, I put "phos-X" in the filter, and I will let you know how it works, it claims to absorb Nitrate & Nitrite, lets see. Any more ideas would be great, thanks for your input!
I have lost 2 stingrays, for no reason. I can only assume that it was the Nitrates that got them.
Look for something around the lines of a Nitrate Sponge, or Nitrate Absorber. They make specific products, I think Seachem, Kent, and Coralife make similar products. I have the Coralife at hand in case it anything gets outa hand. I can just toss some in monthly in my canister filter and take care of the problem if need be. If you have the equipemnt to setup a seperate clean water tank you can put the stuff in a filter and let it run on your make-up water as well to help out.
Nitrates
Fast Growning plants will certainly help keep down nitrates. If this problem in a fresh water aquarium try using wisteria (Hygrophilia difformis) and Anacharis (Egeria densa). You will need lots of them. It's imprtant to realize that plants can only do so much. If I had that problem I would try to find a differnt water supply. In some communities the water supply may be contaminated with nitrates only in the winter months. There are also other factors that can cause elevated nitrate levels. How long has your tank been populated and cycled? Have you done a large water change and or clean your media recently. Just be careful of the additives that you introduce into your tank. Nitrites get reduced to Nitrates and that is it, Nitrates can't be reduced to anything more fundamental so removal is the only option. You can add a chemical reagent that may tie up and lock the nitrates temporarily. I am not convinced that is the way to go since the problem will just come back. Everything you put into your tank stays there in one form or another unless you remove it. As previously mentioned I agree that it's a much better idea to do what you can to remove the problem from the water before adding it to your aquarium or finding a new source of water.
It doesn't make sense to add problamitic water and then try to fix it afterwards. If you do that your fish won't like you. Remember, be patient and Good luck.
Fast Growning plants will certainly help keep down nitrates. If this problem in a fresh water aquarium try using wisteria (Hygrophilia difformis) and Anacharis (Egeria densa). You will need lots of them. It's imprtant to realize that plants can only do so much. If I had that problem I would try to find a differnt water supply. In some communities the water supply may be contaminated with nitrates only in the winter months. There are also other factors that can cause elevated nitrate levels. How long has your tank been populated and cycled? Have you done a large water change and or clean your media recently. Just be careful of the additives that you introduce into your tank. Nitrites get reduced to Nitrates and that is it, Nitrates can't be reduced to anything more fundamental so removal is the only option. You can add a chemical reagent that may tie up and lock the nitrates temporarily. I am not convinced that is the way to go since the problem will just come back. Everything you put into your tank stays there in one form or another unless you remove it. As previously mentioned I agree that it's a much better idea to do what you can to remove the problem from the water before adding it to your aquarium or finding a new source of water.
It doesn't make sense to add problamitic water and then try to fix it afterwards. If you do that your fish won't like you. Remember, be patient and Good luck.
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House plants
You can use common house plants to lower nitrates also. Philodendron, the common vine with green and white heart shaped leaves that secretaries always seem to have in an office does fine, just trim off a length and stick it in the tank, drape it so it gets some sunlight or good lighting. Roots will grow from the nodes of the vine and as it grows it will use up nitrates.
You can use common house plants to lower nitrates also. Philodendron, the common vine with green and white heart shaped leaves that secretaries always seem to have in an office does fine, just trim off a length and stick it in the tank, drape it so it gets some sunlight or good lighting. Roots will grow from the nodes of the vine and as it grows it will use up nitrates.