Hagen Green-x

[clairebear76]

I've just had a rummage in the bottom of our tank cabinet and found a pack of Hagen Green-X which is supposed to remove nitrates, nitrites and phosphate, therefore stopping the growth of green algae. Now, we've had high nitrate forever and was wondering if this will do the trick. The only snag is we've got quite a few loaches/suckers so I'm assuming this is going to affect the growth of their yummy algae. Am I assuming right?
If we can't use this stuff has anyone got any suggestions to get the nitrate down. Its at around 80ppm at the mo but it's been like that for months. Ammonia and nitrite are both at zero though

 

[SharonCC]

The only reliable way to remove Nitrates is by doing water changes. How often do you do changes and how much do you change? 80ppm is a bit high...I like to keep mine below 20ppm. Do you have any nitrates in your tap water?

 

[doresy]

80ppm nitrate is not a problem for most fish. Check you tap water nitrate level and if it is below that then frequent water changes will help.

My tap water is 40ppm and I do weeky, 30% changes. My nitrate is at a constant 40ppm and noone complains

 

[clairebear76]

I've not checked the tap water yet but like you said doresy I wasn't too concerned as the fish seem perfectly happy and they have done for a while now. I'd just like it to be a bit lower.
As for the Green-X, does anyone know if I can't use it cos of my algae eaters?

 

[rabbut]

You can use it, but not safely.

It removes nitrite, so will mess with the filters nitrite oxidising bacteria... Besically, it will un-mature your nicely matured filter. As a short-term thing, couple of days max, it would be OK, but anymore and you risk putting yourself into a mini-cycle or even a nitrite cycle (not a full one as the AOB won't be affected) with fish in the tank.

As said, waterchanges would be better

HTH
Rabbut