Nitrate

[samthefishman]

My Nitrate is still on 20ppm. I did a 50% water change yesterday and a 25% 2day! how can i get it to nil?!?!?

 

[The-Wolf]

HI Sam, good to see you

I have used and stil will if needed, Hagen Green-X
buy the large pack, rather than the small teabag ones.
here is a pic of the box so you know what to look for

 

[samthefishman]

thanks man.
Is there a natural way i can rid it of my tank?

 

[The-Wolf]

Only be continual water changes, which IMHO stress the fish too much.

 

[FishDan]

What is the nitrate level of your change water? It is possible for the water (either out of the tap, or from a well) to have nitrates in it. Thus, changing water will do nothing, and in cases of some heavily planted tanks, may actually raise nitrate levels. Plants, especially ones that grow quicky, are a natural way to reduce bitrates. However, having said that, it is pretty rare to have nitrate readings of zero. And there is nothing wrong with nitrate readings, so long as they remain within a range of about 40-60. The lower the better, but most fish we keep will tolerate that level without ill effect.

\Dan

 

[Fawke]

I agree, i wish my Nitrates were at 20. Mine are permanently at 30-40ppm due to our tap water.
I share the same concern. I am gradually adding more plants to my tank to combat it naturally. We also use something called Kent Nitrate Removal media, that sits in my cannister as a media.

Another consideration we have been thinking about was the use of RO water. An RO unit that removes everything out of the water.
The only issue here is, you will have to replace the correct amount of wanted minerals etc. But this will eliminate any nitrates in your tap water.

Good luck, i think plants are the most effective and natural way forward, providing your tap water isn't higher in nitrates

 

[blue_ram]

Option 1: fast growing plants + medium-high lighting + CO2
Option 2: denitrator

IMO, neither are really worth it. Option 1 is pretty nice, only if you want to keep plants. I've actually had to ADD nitrate into water, because it was nearly undetectable. But it's got its own problem and it's another thing to worry about.

I've never used denitrator, but from what I've seen, it's probably more dangerous than helpful. It can pump back partially decomposed nitrate/byproduct (nitrIte or hydrogen sulfide) back into the water, if the condition isn't right.

Any reason why you want it to be zero? It's pretty unnatural for nitrate concentration to be zero in freshwater.