Removing nitrATES

[Red]

My tap water has a really high nitrATE level so I'm currently "borrowing" water in 12 x 5ltr bottles everytime I do a water change. Since I now have 4 tanks, 4ft, 3ft, and 2 x 2ft it's getting to be a bit of a hassle to transport.

What can I get that's cost effective and efficient to remove the nitrates from my water so it's fit for fishy consumption?

With the volume of water I'm dealing with here it would cost me a fortune and take ages with one of those little brita filter jugs.

 

[The-Wolf]

Hi Red
check out my water post, it may help you
Water

 

[yhbae]

Just out of curiosity, what level of nitrate do you have in your tap water?

 

[CFC]

The best way to get good clean water is to invest in a R/O unit which you can pick up a small one for about £100, it will need to permamently pumbed in and will need some basic tools and skills to fit.

There are a few other minor problems that come with R/O water in being that the water needs remineralising, buffering and oxygenating before it can be used but this is easily done with reclaim chemistry powders that can be bought from the LFs and a airpump&stone.

 

[Red]

Nitrate levels were off the scale on my test kit.

Wter post is very informative but what can I do about removing it from the tap water before I put it in the tank.

R/O - hmmmm, sounds expensive and hassle to be treateing water, then treating it again with other stuff.

Any one got any other ideas?

 

[yhbae]

Nitrate levels were off the scale on my test kit.

Wter post is very informative but what can I do about removing it from the tap water before I put it in the tank.

R/O - hmmmm, sounds expensive and hassle to be treateing water, then treating it again with other stuff.

Any one got any other ideas?

How could a tap water contain so much nitrates? Over 100ppm?

What kind of testing kit are you using?

 

[Red]

There is a sewage treatment plant near where I live and I think they may have a leak. Honestly Narayan saw the test result too. I tell you it was off the scale. It is the Freshwater Master Test Kit (green box) His water is practically zero he lives in the same town as me 1 mile away but at the top of a hill. I live at the bottom. Also I think it was warmer wather when I tested it (apparently people use more water and the nitrates in the supply rise). Yes I did it properly and followed the instructions.

 

[shrimpster97]

how much live plants do you have in the tank? and what size is the tank? live plant use the nitrate as food. so they get rid of it.

 

[yhbae]

For sure live plants do consume nitrates but still that level sounds insanely high! Is water healthy even for human?

I do have a platy tank with about 40 mixed size platies in a 15g with tonnes of java moss. I've never observed nitrate higher than 5ppm so far, so it is possible to use plants to control nitrates but I hope the situation you are facing is temporary...

 

[Red]

Thanks guys but none of this is helping me remove nitrates from water BEFORE adding it to the tank. When I first started out I was doing more harm than good with water changes - adding MORE nitrates instead of removing it.

However I have some good news - I tested my tap water last night and it seems to have lower levels now, so I used it for a water change and will test it regularly before I do any more water changes. Hopefully whatever was causing the high level has stopped.

And yes, I'm sure it's the tap water that's made me so strange! What else could it be!

 

[Lateral Line]

RO units are great, they get rid of all manner of crap in tapwater. I have used RO for the last 15 years.

As an aside, the regulatory limit for nitrate in tapwater in the UK, (and throughout the EU incidently), is 50ppm. If your water company is supplying you with water with a higher nitrate level then that, you should complain to...

Drinking Water Inspectorate,
Floor 2/A1, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DE
Tel: 020 7944 5956 - Fax : 020 7944 5969
E-mail: dwi.enquiries@defra.gsi.gov.uk

... excess nitrate in tapwater can lead to a number of health problems, in particular, a condition known as methaemoglobinaemia, or more commonly, "blue baby syndrome" which can kill young babies that are bottle fed with feed made from high nitrate tapwater.

I used to live on the Surrey/Hampshire border - I am well aware of the tapwater problems there.

 

[ad_smith]

maybe a denitrator would work... i'm only guessing

heres a link to some sites that have more info and plans to make one

linky

Ad

 

[njparton]

I have tapwater in the NW with about 40 ppm nitrate (albeit tested with a broad range test kit ). I've been using a 3 stage RO unit for the past year and the health of my fish has increased immesurably.

The RO product water has no measurable NO3 or PO4 in it, which is excellent for controlling algea!

I add 1/4 teaspoon of Seachem Equilibrium and 3/4 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate to the RO water and aerate it for a few hours. I replace 40L a week with a 50 gpd RO system.

The cheapest place for decent RO units in the UK is:

http/www.ro-man.com

It's your only option (as well as complaining about your tapwater as advised above).

 

[Red]

As an aside, the regulatory limit for nitrate in tapwater in the UK, (and throughout the EU incidently), is 50ppm. If your water company is supplying you with water with a higher nitrate level then that, you should complain to...

Drinking Water Inspectorate,
Floor 2/A1, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DE
Tel: 020 7944 5956 - Fax : 020 7944 5969
E-mail: dwi.enquiries@defra.gsi.gov.uk

... excess nitrate in tapwater can lead to a number of health problems, in particular, a condition known as methaemoglobinaemia, or more commonly, "blue baby syndrome" which can kill young babies that are bottle fed with feed made from high nitrate tapwater.

I used to live on the Surrey/Hampshire border - I am well aware of the tapwater problems there.

Thanks very much for that. I was shocked when I saw the reading although it seems to have settled down at moment. I'll always have to test it before doing a water change which is annoying. I wondered what it was doing to me (and kids) as well as the fish.

Surrey/Hampshire/W. Sussex border is exactly where I am.