Help, Nitrate Problems - Tta, Eagles, Flutter?

[the_lock_man]

http/www.scribd.com/doc/209570863/Zone-114-Salisbury
 
This is the link for the water test results from Wessex Water.
 

 
Which shows the nitrate level at (just) below the legal max, mean value was 42ppm, maximum test value at 48, so just about OK, you're on a par with my water.  (Dunno why, but I thought you were in Swindon, not Salisbury - at least I got the county right!)
 

I did just think I might've offended some people by not mentioning them in the title, it was literally the first three that came to mind, it wasn't preference!

 
Takes more than that to offend me. (not much more, though)

 

[KirkyArcher]

I did just think I might've offended some people by not mentioning them in the title, it was literally the first three that came to mind, it wasn't preference!

Well I could say that I know exactly what's going on but as I wasn't asked and so I didn't reply

but in truth I've got no idea what the issue is If indeed there is an issue at all other than a good fish keeper worrying needlessly in this instance!

 

[Sophie]

http/forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&p=200816#p200816

Posted elsewhere including updates from your answers here.


 
 

 

I did just think I might've offended some people by not mentioning them in the title, it was literally the first three that came to mind, it wasn't preference!

Well I could say that I know exactly what's going on but as I wasn't asked and so I didn't reply

but in truth I've got no idea what the issue is

If indeed there is an issue at all other than a good fish keeper worrying needlessly in this instance!

 

 
Oh I do just hope it's me being a drama queen!
 
 

 

http/www.scribd.com/doc/209570863/Zone-114-Salisbury
 
This is the link for the water test results from Wessex Water.
 

 
Which shows the nitrate level at (just) below the legal max, mean value was 42ppm, maximum test value at 48, so just about OK, you're on a par with my water.  (Dunno why, but I thought you were in Swindon, not Salisbury - at least I got the county right!)
 

I did just think I might've offended some people by not mentioning them in the title, it was literally the first three that came to mind, it wasn't preference!

 
Takes more than that to offend me. (not much more, though)

 

 
What do you do to combat the nitrates if you're on par with me?

Oh I do miss you guys!
Immi is rolling over all over the place, trying to get her crawl on.
Two teeth coming through at the bottom now too!
I cannot get five without her grabbing the keyboard off me or robbing the mouse, or even taking my phone out of my hand, gah!

 

[KirkyArcher]

Quick fix to lower nitrates fast is to use Seachem Purigen in your filter

 

[Sophie]

Quick fix to lower nitrates fast is to use Seachem Purigen in your filter

 
Wouldn't it be dodgy using it to lower it fast? The shock might kill them as they've been used to such high levels for about a year now?
http/www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Purigen.html

Am I reading it correctly? Lasts on average up to 6 months before you can then REUSE by putting it into a bleach solution.
Like some sort of unbelievable miracle product??

Sucks.. My canister (FX6) is full to the brim with media, mostly biomax ceramic stuff..
I always feel unsure about removing media, just incase I remove too much..

 

[KirkyArcher]

My mate has a FX5 for his heavily stocked Malawi cichlids and just puts a standard 100ml sachet in his filter, He has two, one in the filter and one regenerated and ready to replace, you would only have to remove at most about twelve Biomax hoops for it to fit in. When I said fast, it will take over 48 hours to show any significant reduction, but yes it's reusable

 

[Sophie]

My mate has a FX5 for his heavily stocked Malawi cichlids and just puts a standard 100ml sachet in his filter, He has two, one in the filter and one regenerated and ready to replace, you would only have to remove at most about twelve Biomax hoops for it to fit in. When I said fast, it will take over 48 hours to show any significant reduction, but yes it's reusable

 
Each of the three baskets has a large bag full of ceramics. When I changed tanks and filter, I put all of the media from old into the new and didn't take any new out so it's pretty packed to the point the flow is slightly reduced (good thing too as it allows a slower flow over the media).

Will have to gradually remove half of one of the bags to fit another bag along side I reckon.

Reckon I could just take half of the bag out in one go? The bags are able to be opened and then closed again so it's not like I'm ripping any netting apart.

 

[KirkyArcher]

If you watch this vid and start at about 6 minutes in you'll miss all the rubbish advice but it gives you an idea of how much space is require for a 100ml pouch

https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjDkx7yQpzk

 

[Sophie]

If you watch this vid and start at about 6 minutes in you'll miss all the rubbish advice but it gives you an idea of how much space is require for a 100ml pouch

https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjDkx7yQpzk

 
So here is a response to my post on loaches.com. Apparently Purigen doesn't work on tap nitrates? But Nitra-Zorb will?
 
 
"Ways of getting rid of NO3:
1) Do not let it get in there to start with.
a) treat the tap water ahead of time, running it into a large enough bin that you can treat it. One way to do this is to run a small aquarium filter stuffed with the right media, such as NO3 removing media.
b) Treat the tap water ahead of time with water purification such as Reverse Osmosis. (good for the family, too. Nitrates are not good for people, either)
c) Set up a separate tank for pre-treating the water. This tank will have lots of plants, both under water and growing out of the tank. I have several house plants growing in my tanks (with Clown Loaches and other fish) and the NO3 is too low, I need to add some for the plants. I have Epipremnum (Golden Pothos) in the tanks. You would run the water into this tank, wait until the NO3 is significantly lower then use it to refill the fish tank. Then refill this treatment tank with tap water.
2) Treat the water after it is in the tank with method a and c from above list.
Here is an example of nitrate removing media. I do not know if this company ships to UK, but at least you know there is media like this.
http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4136+10473+4205&pcatid=4205
 
Purigen might help by removing other sources of nitrate from the water, it has a great affinity for the organic sources of nitrate, removing them before they can decompose into nitrate. Won't help with the tap water nitrate."

Can you refresh Nitra-Zorb like Purigen?

Yes it can.. (Looked it up, duh)

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Yes- but what did they say about the fish themselves. To me they looked fine and I did not feel you had nitrate issues. What did they say re how they looked on loaches.com?

 

[Sophie]

Yes- but what did they say about the fish themselves. To me they looked fine and I did not feel you had nitrate issues. What did they say re how they looked on loaches.com?

That's all Diana wrote so I guess the red gills are me being hysterical?
I showed the pictures to another lfs yesterday and they said the Clown rosey cheeks are normal..

 

[malfunction]

If you definitely want to reduce your tap nitrates then I'd agree that nitrazorb is useful. My tap water is similar to yours - usually around 30-40ppm, but occasionally higher. I reduce my tap nitrates by storing the water in a container for a day or two with a nitrazorb pad. The last time I tested, the nitrazorb pad was reducing my nitrates to 20ppm when left in the container for 24 hours. Recharging is pretty simple too...literally just leave it in saltwater for a couple of days. I've been using the same pad to treat my water since October and it's still working fine.

 

[Ruskull]

My mate has a FX5 for his heavily stocked Malawi cichlids and just puts a standard 100ml sachet in his filter, He has two, one in the filter and one regenerated and ready to replace, you would only have to remove at most about twelve Biomax hoops for it to fit in. When I said fast, it will take over 48 hours to show any significant reduction, but yes it's reusable

 
 
Purigen is the real deal, I have it in all my tanks for water clarity alone.  The difference is shocking............
 
To be honest I think your Clown Loaches look fine, especially if they're eating, pooping, and carrying on like normal.  No shame in being cautious either though, better to be safe than sorry.  It never hurts to do an extra water change every now and then.