juwel aquarium & nitrate

K

KenLoach

AC Members
Jul 10, 2006
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juwel rio125, 125ltr, 2x18w (10hr/day), Am 0ppm, NO2 0ppm, Ph 6.7, NO3 20ppm and climbing every day, 30% weekly water change,
7 neons, 4 guppies, 4 head&tail tetra, 2 mollies

hi

can anyone help, we have had our juwel aquarium for nearly 4 months and we can't seem to keep nitrate levels down any more, up until about 4 weeks ago everything was fine stable at 5-10ppm, now levels increase by over 20ppm over the week in between water changes.

we haven't replaced either of the fine green filters yet, although we have changed both the carbon and nitrate filters, could this be something to do with it?

would really appreciate hearing from anyone with experience of juwel aquariums; was wondering if the replacement nitrate filter we put in could have been faulty?
 
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personally I've never heard of a nitrate filter, so I can't help you there. however, I can offer this bit of knowledge:

first, if it's still going up even with 30% water changes, I suggest checking your tap water right out of the tap for nitrates. I had some similar problems a little while ago with nitrates and it turned out my tap water contained roughly 10ppm straight from the faucet!

second, you could add some nutrient-sponge type live plants. hornwort and anacharis can be purchased for failry cheap, and will use a fair amount of your nitrates. the more you get of them the more nitrates they will use. they don't require special lights or CO2 or anything to do their jobs, especially the hornwort.
 
thanks I'll try to find the plants you suggested; the plants we have already are suffering from hair/beard algae! I have been testing the tap water prior to water changes and it has always been 0ppm

I have found Nitra-zorb on the web - has anyone used it? is it safe? does it work?
 
you don't need nitrazorb, you need to do bigger water changes.

50% every week
 
budrecki said:
you don't need nitrazorb, you need to do bigger water changes.

50% every week
Click to expand...

50% is excessive, 20% will be fine. I would follow the previous suggestion of more plants. I have a Rio 240 planted with 40 Vallis now, 3 Swords, a lily and some floating plants.

Forgot about floating plants - they're very good nutrient absorbers too, but can block out the light to lower plants.
 
thanks Pugwash

have you ever had problems with climbing Nitrates in your Juwel? I thought the green nitrate sponge was supposed to do the business! I wondered if the fact that we haven't ever changed either of the fine blue filters could be part of the problem?
 
Nothing takes the place of good old fashoned water changes to keep nitrates down and to keep good overall water quality.I do 75% per week water changes on both of the tanks that I have and I have exellent water quality.

P.S. Don't forget a quality water conditioner when preforming water changes,I myself use Prime.
 
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