Removing nitrate

[Opcn]

If you want to tell me to change my water just dont bother posting. I know that there are devices that remove them but they are overly expensive there are reportedly two ways to remove them with biologiccal filtration. Would a very DSB work? Is there any way I can build a device to remove them?

Opcn

 

[Aulonochromis]

I have heard DSBs dont work that well with freshwater. You might check into building an algae scrubber which is basically a sump with a bright light and a bed of algae consuming nutrients. Live plants can really reduce nitrates if your lighting is bright enough.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Or you could add algae instead of the plants. Algae could be used as fish food as well as a way to get rid of nitrates. All you have to do is place some big stones in a jar of water and place the jar in sunlight. You should get lots of algae in a week or so.

I think plants are better, though, but I wanted to add something that hadn't been mentioned.

 

[akhtar]

alge would be a good idea, until it grows out of control and ur whole tank is filled with ALGE



( that means go with plants )

 

[Opcn]

I have a few plants but I dont think that they are removing all of my nitrate (I still don't have a test kit for it yet ) ) Will a hevily planted tank keep nitrates at 0?

Opcn

 

[Bol]

Under certain conditions (fairly high light, plenty of CO2) a heavily planted tank might test 0 for nitrates, but that would be a Bad Thing for the plants. In fact, to save your plants in that situation, you'd probably need to add nitrates to your water manually.

Out of curiosity, why do you want your nitrates at zero?

 

[ste2k3]

what you really need to do is to do 20% weekly waterchanges as this is the best way o......... oh sorry

what you could do is get a smal tank drilled with a 3/4" hole and sit it above at the back of the main aquarium. light it with a single tube or better still, put it on a window ledge. then have a small powerhead feeding water in and have a clay based gravel and maybe a co2 system. you will need fast growing plants for nutrient export. such as valis or java moss etc.

ste

 

[Sanj]

My waterchanging regime is not brilliant, like 10% every fortnight, its very hard to carry buckets and store enough treated water. Does anyone use some kind of pumping device.

Anyhow, both my aquariums are densley planted from the outset and nitrate is pretty low ~5ppm. I think you need a densley planted aquarium 9in my experiance).

 

[Bol]

Does anyone use some kind of pumping device.

Yep. The Python No-Spill. edit: I think there's a UK "version" of this product called "Lee's", but I'm not sure.

Most likely the best $25 I've ever invested in the hobby.

 

[Opcn]

I want Nitrate at zero because that will be healthier for the fish Also I want to eradicte alge from my tank My lighting is soo good that I get dense alge on my tank walls in a week and my OTTOS are USELESS

Opcn

 

[Aulonochromis]

Maybe some Nitrasorb would work. If your tap water doesnt require treatment you could always have a constant replenishment or whatever it's called where you have an overflow and a constant drip in the tank.

 

[Corp000085]

You can get a gravel siphon for like $5. That and the cost of water for regular water changes is way cheaper than any new filtration system or chemicals to remove stuff from your water. Sorry, but sumps/algae tanks/carbon bags/etc. seem like a waste when all you need is a hose, bathtub and bucket.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi opcn

I found this link for a denitrator system and put into favorites even though I didn't think I'd ever find it useful:

http/www.aquaripure.com/

Is this the sort of thing you are thinking about?