nitrate eaters...

[Paul_MTS]

are there any plants out there that will make a difference to the nitrates?

cheers.

 

[Lateral Line]

All plants including algae use nitrates as part of their biological process, so "yes" is the only answer I can give.

 

[George Farmer]

The faster the growth, generally the more nitrates consumed. Floating plants are a great example - they extract CO2 from the air and due to their proximity to the light source grow very quickly.

 

[Paul_MTS]

ah ha, could you recomend a good floating plant to do the job?

only problem is the covers on the tank only leave about 1inch(maybe less) of space from water surface to covers.

i'm getting new glass covers today which might improve the problem a bit, it's down to the weir for the sump being built to high.

i thought hornwort(elodeo densa?) was well known for lowering nitrates?

oh and if i load the surface up with plants will O2 be reduced in the night due to them?

i seem to have this problem in another tank, it's well planted with alot of towering plants which i don't bother clipping, all's fine at night but in the morning when i turn the lights back on my tyre track eel is panting away (lucky he's only growing out in this tank though).

cheers.

oh and congrats on the new mod possition gf225

 

[Mr Miagi]

Duck weed would suite you if you have limited space under the hood. Its a proficient grower but removing it with a net once a week isnt very hard. Im sure gf225 can help you with your other questions.

 

[Lateral Line]

I'm wondering about this weir you mentioned. Very small floating plants like duckweed are probably going to be washed over the weir. Any floaters are going to get pushed to the weir. We can't see the design, so you must decide what will and won't work.

Anyway, Hornwort, (Ceratophyllum demersum by the way), left floating, is a fast grower, so is Indian Fern/Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides), can also be left floating and would also be a good choice.

I suppose a lot of floating plants could cause gas exchange to drop, but I've never experienced that, or heard of it really.

 

[Paul_MTS]

duckweed i can't stand and would block up the wier grid.

very true i think all gloaters would be a bad idea now actually,

i guess i'll track down some hornwort and root it instead.

cheers.

 

[gale]

Would it be possible to use some fishing line to tie the floaters to a suction cup (like those used to secure airline) and stick it to one side of the tank? I did this with fake horwort in case my molly has babies, but it seems like it would work with real floating plants too.

 

[Paul_MTS]

i don't really want to use fishing line as i'm sure my arowana would have great fun ripping it down then letting someone get caught up with it.

i had thought of restricly it with something but to be safe and effective is hard.