Nitrate Problem - Customised Filter?

[JMcQueen]

Ok, bit of background. Im currently cycling a 120L Juwel Rekord 800 and just waiting for the nitrites to drop. I know from checking my water supply at the tap and from a smaller tank that I ran previously that I have a comparitively high nitrate level in the water (tap water is 30ppm). This doesnt give me a great deal of head room to maintain a low level of nitrates in the tank.

I intend to add a few plants to the tank once the cycle is complete to help but I also thought of another idea today.

I have a fluval mini going spare and since I didnt use the filter that came with the tank (Im using a Fluval U4). I also have the green nitrax foam filter going spare. So, I was thinking, what if I cut the nitrax filter down to size and installed it in the Fluval mini and used it as an additional nitrate filter.

Does anyone think this would make a difference or is it really too small to show any marked improvement in a tank this size?

 

[raptorrex]

Ok, bit of background. Im currently cycling a 120L Juwel Rekord 800 and just waiting for the nitrites to drop. I know from checking my water supply at the tap and from a smaller tank that I ran previously that I have a comparitively high nitrate level in the water (tap water is 30ppm). This doesnt give me a great deal of head room to maintain a low level of nitrates in the tank.

I intend to add a few plants to the tank once the cycle is complete to help but I also thought of another idea today.

I have a fluval mini going spare and since I didnt use the filter that came with the tank (Im using a Fluval U4). I also have the green nitrax foam filter going spare. So, I was thinking, what if I cut the nitrax filter down to size and installed it in the Fluval mini and used it as an additional nitrate filter.

Does anyone think this would make a difference or is it really too small to show any marked improvement in a tank this size?

dont bother with the Juwel sponge. it does nothing.
apart from using RO. maybe a nitrate reactor may help, with high tap readings.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree completely, the little nitrate sponges (usually green I think) do nothing really and are really just a "sponge," doing the same things as plain sponges, so no harm, no help. WD

 

[ian]

unless you're keeping really sensitive fish i would be bothered about nitrates of 30ppm. I also wouldn't 100% trust a nitrate test kit. I would be asking the water board about nitrate levels in water (if you're keeping sensitive fish)

 

[JMcQueen]

unless you're keeping really sensitive fish i would be bothered about nitrates of 30ppm. I also wouldn't 100% trust a nitrate test kit. I would be asking the water board about nitrate levels in water (if you're keeping sensitive fish)

I only plan on keeping fancy goldfish. I've checked the water authority report for my area and its 29ppm. At that level its not a major concern, its just that it doesnt give much headroom once the nitrogen cycle kicks in and starts generating more nitrate.

I also have some SeaChem De*Nitrate that I never got around to using. I could fill a filter bag with it and put it in the Fluval mini or even replace the ceramic media in the centre chamber of the main filter (U4) if that would be better.

 

[OldMan47]

Try another approach if you wish to reduce the nitrate levels in your water. I have water in my tanks that has not been changed in months. By any traditional thinking, I should expect those tanks to show very high nitrate levels. Instead I find the water has nitrates of only around 120 ppm right before my 2 or 3 times a year water change in the tank. What is very different about that tank to the ones that get far more frequent water changes is that the low nitrate tank is just loaded with plants. The plants seem to think that nitrates are a fertilizer and use up all they can get hold of which results in very low nitrate levels in a heavily planted tank. If you find that you are having problems with high nitrate levels, try simply adding enough plants to consume the nitrates in the water.

 

[raptorrex]

Try another approach if you wish to reduce the nitrate levels in your water. I have water in my tanks that has not been changed in months. By any traditional thinking, I should expect those tanks to show very high nitrate levels. Instead I find the water has nitrates of only around 120 ppm right before my 2 or 3 times a year water change in the tank. What is very different about that tank to the ones that get far more frequent water changes is that the low nitrate tank is just loaded with plants. The plants seem to think that nitrates are a fertilizer and use up all they can get hold of which results in very low nitrate levels in a heavily planted tank. If you find that you are having problems with high nitrate levels, try simply adding enough plants to consume the nitrates in the water.

the odd thing is, plants then convert the nitrate to ammonia, before they use it. (this happens, inside the plant, of course.) they cannot consume nitrates, directly.

this leads to the fact that, tanks can run with no more than mechanical filtration. leaving the plants to consume any ammonia created by your fish. personally, I'm still concerned about trace element, depletion, with long interval water changes. but fish are so adept at adjusting to environment problems, its hard to get a clear picture.

 

[waterdrop]

By the way Raptor, I heard the following question/answer session you might be interested in:

Q: What is a Nitrate?

A: Cheaper than the Day Rate.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[JMcQueen]

By the way Raptor, I heard the following question/answer session you might be interested in:

Q: What is a Nitrate?

A: Cheaper than the Day Rate.

~~waterdrop~~

dear oh dear (slaps forehead)

 

[raptorrex]

By the way Raptor, I heard the following question/answer session you might be interested in:

Q: What is a Nitrate?

A: Cheaper than the Day Rate.

~~waterdrop~~

Te He, Te He. but, you will never guess? I disagree. lol. surly nitrate should be more than day rate.

 

[RadaR]

I wouldnt say you had a nitrate problem at all. Wouldnt worry about it.