Anyone know about any of these products that claim to reduce nitrates? One of the called algone is actually an AC sponsor. They claim to reduce nitrates, algae, and give you crystal clear water. Are these products any good and do they have any side affects? Do they change ph?
Nitrates
- Thread starter graysilm
- Start date
I'd stay away from nitrate removing products. The best way to remove nitrates is by doing water changes.
When you do a water change, you are not only removing nitrates, but you are also removing DOCs (Dissolved Organic Compounds) and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids).
Excessive TDS can cause osmoregularity problems in your fish -- keeps them from being able to adjust to changes in pH and water chemistry. You've probably heard the term "osmotic shock" before.
Dissolved organics is something we can't even test for -- unless you are exceedly rich and can afford a gas chromatographer -- and those need to be removed from the tank as well.
You may want to read this article that RTR wrote:
http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/water/waterchangemath.html
Roan
When you do a water change, you are not only removing nitrates, but you are also removing DOCs (Dissolved Organic Compounds) and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids).
Excessive TDS can cause osmoregularity problems in your fish -- keeps them from being able to adjust to changes in pH and water chemistry. You've probably heard the term "osmotic shock" before.
Dissolved organics is something we can't even test for -- unless you are exceedly rich and can afford a gas chromatographer -- and those need to be removed from the tank as well.
You may want to read this article that RTR wrote:
http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/water/waterchangemath.html
Roan
I agree that regular water changes are the best way to remove nitrates. Also, keeping easy to grow live plants is great too!
Your tap is at 20ppm, right? Right after I posted I remembered someone has posted about high tap nitrates and I wasn't sure if it was you or not.
I'd try the plants first, personally. A few plants might handle the load nicely. As for nitrate removers -- I'll pass on an opinion, if you don't mind. I've never used any and don't know enough about them to have an educated opinion. Someone like happychem or daveedka or RTR or some other knowledgeable person would be the right one to ask. I'd wait a bit and see if any of them offer a comment.
Roan
I'd try the plants first, personally. A few plants might handle the load nicely. As for nitrate removers -- I'll pass on an opinion, if you don't mind. I've never used any and don't know enough about them to have an educated opinion. Someone like happychem or daveedka or RTR or some other knowledgeable person would be the right one to ask. I'd wait a bit and see if any of them offer a comment.
Roan
I'd say try some floating plants. Some are really good nitrate absorbers and because they float they are right under the light so grow even if you dont have any special lighting.
I do not, have not, and likely never will use any nitrate removing commercial product in my tanks. I have tested a number of such, and while some actually do what they advertise, there are other downsides in modification of water chemistry, elevated TDS, etc. I have used live plants and certain bacterial techniques for nitrate reduction, and plants are IMHO & IME far the easiest and most reliable where tap water supplies are high in nitrate. RO is another option, but more expensive and to me more troublesome.
RTR, have you ever tried a coil denitrator in freshwater or know of any successful FW use? I know a few people who use them on reef systems and swear by 'em.
Mark
Mark
Roan Art said:
Didn't you try the Purigen? Its a nitrate remover in a sense. Might be just what he needs.
I understood that it didn't remove nitrates? It certainly doesn't remove mine. My levels and the rate at which they are consumed haven't changed since I put Purigen in my filter.IceH2O said:
Roan