Nitrate Sponges,

[nessar]

I have high nitrates in my tank, and so whilst in Pets at Home, I saw a fluval nitrate sponge, a green sponge, had no explanation or instructions as to how it works. I asked the staff but they obviously didnt know, and suggested zeolite as they thought I shouldnt use the sponge in a non-fluval filter. Obviously I dont want to use zeolite as it absorbs ammonia.


So anyone know how the sponge likely works, if its any good, or if not anything I can use to safely lower nitrates.

I have naturally high nitrates in the tap water, have planted my tank and do a 65% water change every 5-7 days.

 

[Liverbird36]

What filter do you currently use ??

 

[MewMew42]

This suggests that it is at least partly made up of zeolite...

how high are they?

 

[nessar]

It is a Hagen Elite Stingray 15 filter, but I have space where the zeolite cartridges are meant to go, so could cut it to fit in there.

Hmmm yeah it does seem to absorb nitrate as well, Im guessing its the same type of thing. Don't know how much it could disrupt my cycle.

Nitrates are between 25 and 50 in the tap water, and seem to climb to between 50 and 100 after a week. I'm guessing I'm a bit overstocked but dont think its too bad.

4 adult platies, 1 baby platy, 1 molly, 3 neon tetras, 1 bristlenose pleco (some sort of dwarf kind apparently), 3 apple snails, a few ramshorn snails, 2 ghost shrimp and a dwarf african frog in a 63 litre.

actually im pretty sure it was this one, juwel, not fluval, not that it makes much difference. http/www.cascadebitz.com/Filter-Foams-Media-And-Refills/Juwel-Filter-Sponge-Nitrate-p-735.html

 

[Liverbird36]

I Have an interpet filter and use Fluval sponges, I just cut them to fit. You say you are worried about disturbing your cycle....are you currently doing a fish-in cycle ??

 

[nessar]

no the cycle is complete, did it fishless in february, just worried about disturbing it, for example if it takes away ammonia as well and starves the bacteria or something.

hmmm i found this thread (didnt come up on this forums search, but weirdly did on google) and Wilder doesnt seem to think its any good.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/291348-jewel-nitrite-sponge-causing-nitrite/

Also I've noticed the water going a bit yellowy after about 4 days, could this have something to do with the nitrates or do i simply need to sort this all out the old fashioned way and do more water changes?

 

[Liverbird36]

You need to upgrade your filter as the amount of stock you have means your filter is running at around 43% efficiency. You need the efficiency score to be over 100% to maintain appropriate water parameters. This is most likely why you are having problems with your Nitrates along with over stocking your tank. Putting a Nitrate removal sponge in will not solve these problems. You are over stocked with very inadequate filtration. Fluval U2 is a great filter from what I have read on here. But I think even with the upgrade to the U2 you are still under filtration for the stock you have.

 

[nessar]

hmm are you sure the filter cant cope? It was doing 8ppm ammonia in 12 hours whilst I was fishless cycling.
for the last 2 weeks I've had a sponge filter in there too, and I havent seen any difference in nitrates.

Would a better filter remove nitrates then? I thought nitrates were what the filter bacteria produced, not ate. Now im confused.

 

[Liverbird36]

When your tank is over stocked then you can get problems with very high Nitrates. I have read a few comments on the Stingray not being the best of filters but that doesn't mean it doesn't work for some. I entered your stock levels into the site I sent you and it came up as being severely under filtered. If you have to much stock then your Nitrate levels are going to become a problem. You can try the sponges but eventually the problem will return. You have a lot of stock producing a lot of Ammonia which the bacs turn into Nitrite and eventually Nitrate. Huge amounts of Ammonia will inevitably become huge amounts of Nitrates. I'm convinced that's the problem, but i'm sure someone will correct me if wrong.

 

[Mikaila31]

what is your water change schedule?

 

[nessar]

about 2/3rds of the tank every 7 days, sometimes every 4 or 5 days if its looking dirty or I have time.

Yes youre right about the stocking being the problem , but I think changing the filter wouldnt help. Unfortunately my fish are too common for anyone to want enough to bother picking up or paying for postage, and they arent going back to the lfs so Im stuck with them.

Hmmm, what I want is an easy way of fixing nitrates without more water changes, anyone have any ideas? It takes me a good hour, sometimes two to do a water change.

I know its lazy, but its a pain to do.

 

[Liverbird36]

You could try the sponges. I know which ones you mean. No reason why you can't cut them to size although may be a bit fiddly. Won't have an adverse effect on anything else. It may help in the short term.

 

[Bignose]

You need to upgrade your filter as the amount of stock you have means your filter is running at around 43% efficiency.

How did you arrive at the 43% number?

 

[Liverbird36]

You need to upgrade your filter as the amount of stock you have means your filter is running at around 43% efficiency.

How did you arrive at the 43% number?

Put in all her details in the site i'm not allowed to mention. Put in her stock and tank size and filter brand and thats what it came up as the level her filter was running at. Not sure how acurate but it came up as being seriously under-filtered for the level of stock she has. Not sure how accurate the site is but lots on here seem to use it.

I remember when compiling my stock list it said that when you put in all the details it comes up with a percentage number for your filtration. It says that for your filtration to be considered as adequate the higher the percentage is over 100% the better. When I put in all her details it said hers was running at 43%

 

[Bignose]

I am not sure that the number means anything, really. If there is no ammonia, then the filter is handling the bio-load. Filters should turn over the entire tank volume around 7 times per hour. (i.e. a 20 gallon tank should have around a 140 gallon/hour filter). But, this is just to increase the mixing so that the ammonia goes through the filter quickly.

Stocking level alone as almost nothing to do with the size of the filter necessary. The bacteria colony size respond to the bio-load presented them. If there is no room to grow in the filter, they will grow someplace else.

Also, it has no consideration for other habits of the fishkeeper. Are there thriving live plants? How often are water changes performed? etc.

In short, as I wrote above, I am not sure that that number means much of anything, really.