Poly Filter

[fry_lover]

trying to research this on internet, but keep just getting "stock" responses, saying it "purifies" water and removes ammonia, nitrite, nitrate amongst other things.

Questions

1. How effective is it in reducing NitrAte, will i notice a difference in a heavily stocked malawi tank?

2. Is it practical and cost effective to use it as a nitrate remover, how much will i need to use, how often does it need replacing?

3. If it is any good for this purpose, where's the best place to get it from?

Thanks

I am in the UK

 

[marcan]

Poly filter doesn't remove nitrate, it removes very small particles like sand.

I think the best way to remove nitrate is still by doing water change

 

[Lateral Line]

Nitrate is not the only pollutant removed by water changes. Chemical treatments to remove nitrate are no substitute for water changing, if that was the goal.

Some people have high nitrate levels in their tapwater however. If that is your problem, then RO is a way forward.

Beware of ion exchange resins that you can "recharge" with salt. Ion exchange is aptly named, the resins work by taking certain ions out of the water and putting others in their place - if you are recharging with salt, then that means Sodium and Chloride ions, undesirable in a freshwater tank. This is the reason domestic water softeners should not be used for tanks, (or drinking).

 

[fry_lover]

Nitrate is not the only pollutant removed by water changes. Chemical treatments to remove nitrate are no substitute for water changing, if that was the goal.

Some people have high nitrate levels in their tapwater however. If that is your problem, then RO is a way forward.

Beware of ion exchange resins that you can "recharge" with salt. Ion exchange is aptly named, the resins work by taking certain ions out of the water and putting others in their place - if you are recharging with salt, then that means Sodium and Chloride ions, undesirable in a freshwater tank. This is the reason domestic water softeners should not be used for tanks, (or drinking).

i am not looking to cut back on water changing and thanks for the feedback on ion exchange mate, didnt realise that, cheers