Removing Tap Water Nitrates with Nitra-Zorb (Experiment Results)

[gwand]

My nitrate binding filter that is plumbed into my sink binds about 50 grams of nitrate before it reaches capacity. The filter cannot be recharged.

 

[Fryboy2024]

My nitrate binding filter that is plumbed into my sink binds about 50 grams of nitrate before it reaches capacity. The filter cannot be recharged.

So, very approximately, how much life are you getting out of it, in terms of water changes, if you can articulate that in a meaningful way? To give me some idea...

 

[gwand]

It will filter about 1000 gallons of my well water with a nitrate level of ~30 ppm. I use about 30 gallons a week for water change.

 

[AJ356]

I'm still using the API Nitra Zorb, but want to run it a few more times before updating this thread

 

[blyatboy]

These are my results today @blyatboy for API Nitra-Zorb

Using the API nitrate testing kit. I used the Nitra-Zorb resin in about 25 litres of tap water. I didn't have an internal filter large enough to hold the resin, so I used a powerhead directed toward the resin in the 25 litre bucket

The nitrate started reducing from 30 minutes. Every hour after that, the nitrate would reduce until it became time for me to go to bed now, or soon.

In total, I had the powerhead and the resin in the bucket for about 7 hours

The picture shows you the start (right hand side) a few hours in (the middle) and about 7 hours in (the left)

I tested GH and was equal
KH was reduced by 1 drop (1 degree) in the resin treated water
pH was a fraction higher in the resin treated water, maybe it was 7.8 instead of 7.6

I'm not reading too much into the KH and pH differences, because they are quite subtle and we know our test kids are not laboratory standard

What I've found is sometimes, if I don't position the pouch of resin correctly (e.g. pack it down too tight under the pump), it significantly affects the time it takes for nitrate to go down.

I've also found that it seems to be losing efficacy in general. Seems to be taking longer for nitrates to go down now.

Did you remove the zeolite? Or did you keep it in?

Cobalt Total Nitrate

Thank you very much for this, I will have to check it out.

 

[AJ356]

What I've found is sometimes, if I don't position the pouch of resin correctly (e.g. pack it down too tight under the pump), it significantly affects the time it takes for nitrate to go down.

I've also found that it seems to be losing efficacy in general. Seems to be taking longer for nitrates to go down now.

Did you remove the zeolite? Or did you keep it in?



Thank you very much for this, I will have to check it out.

At the moment, I am having to recharge the resin after every two uses, which isn't ideal, but is quite easy to do. I'm now filtering a container that holds about 40 liters of tap water, and I leave it running overnight with the powerhead directed at the resin bag.

I'm getting the tap water down from about 25-30ppm to about 5ppm. For me, if i am reducing tap nitrate by 20-25ppm, it's worth it. However, I am wondering if the resin is losing a bit of efficiency and now only taking it to down to around 10ppm or lower. I am not sure.

Instead of trying to take photo's of results, I kept a bottle of one of my earlier samples of tap water after being treated in resin, to compare nitrate results with the current batches. I'm starting to see a difference (i.e. the new batches are a slightly darker shade of orange on the API liquid test after being treated overnight in the resin). However, not enough, to make me want to buy more resin.

I've not removed the zeolite, I've kept the pouch intact, in it's original form.

 

[gwand]

At the moment, I am having to recharge the resin after every two uses, which isn't ideal, but is quite easy to do. I'm now filtering a container that holds about 40 liters of tap water, and I leave it running overnight with the powerhead directed at the resin bag.

I'm getting the tap water down from about 25-30ppm to about 5ppm. For me, if i am reducing tap nitrate by 20-25ppm, it's worth it. However, I am wondering if the resin is losing a bit of efficiency and now only taking it to down to around 10ppm or lower. I am not sure.

Instead of trying to take photo's of results, I kept a bottle of one of my earlier samples of tap water after being treated in resin, to compare nitrate results with the current batches. I'm starting to see a difference (i.e. the new batches are a slightly darker shade of orange on the API liquid test after being treated overnight in the resin). However, not enough, to make me want to buy more resin.

I've not removed the zeolite, I've kept the pouch intact, in it's original form.

After you recharge the resin in salt water do you rinse with nitrate-free water?

 

[AJ356]

After you recharge the resin in salt water do you rinse with nitrate-free water?

Good point. I thought about that, but it's not cost effective, because I would have to use a lot of bottled water. So, I don't feel I have any choice but to rinse it with tap water (25-30ppm Nitrate). I know that rinsing it out as thorough as I do after a re-charge, I am already adding to the total nitrate burden for the freshly re-charged resin. When I leave it in salt solution for 2 hours, or overnight, I will use water that the resin has already partially "de-nitrated", but that still leaves in sitting in water that is 5ppm (at least), but I think less than 10ppm nitrate.

Unless I am missing something obvious, and not thinking straight, I can't think of a way to rinse it in nitrate free (or nearly free) water. Well, I could use bottled spring water which comes up as nearly undetectable nitrate on the API test, but it would be a significant financial impact, because I am re-charging the resin most days, and I like to rinse out the resin bag REAL thorough to make sure all the salt is off.

All this faffing does take me closer to moving to the RO/Tap option, (I live in hard water + high nitrate), because my dream is to get more into dwarf cichlids like you. Well actually, German Blue Rams are first on my list, followed by some of the smaller Acara species. But I will be moving home in anything between 3-6 months time, and don't want to mess with the plumbing yet, and there is the cost of RO waste water to consider.

Consider this is a bit dumb, I don't blame you, but I am not too keen on nitrate filtration that involves anything to do with plumbing right now, no matter how straight forward it might be. I am also not to keen on adding nitrate reducing agents to my tank directly, perhaps paranoia, perhaps sensible? There was a good review by @MaloK on here about Tetra Nitrate Minus, I think it was @MaloK

I heard good things about Seachem Matrix, I mean proper geeky (which I love) reviews on other forums, not just gossip. Matrix is marketed toward the whole nitrogen cycle burden, but apparently, the media design is very receptive to nitrate reducing bacteria, regardless of water flow levels through the filter. Seachem De-nitrite, I believe, relies on slower flow.

My plants I have been ordering over the last month are mostly all taking off, quick growers like hornwort, salvina natans, najas grass (think it's still settling in, deciding if it's going to flourish), hygrophila difformis and some elodea densa (think that might be on the way out, although it might now be adapting to 74 F). I've also got some pothos in one tank to see how I get on with that. Early results on nitrate levels, the jury is out, possibly too early. As things stand, I think I might just fall in love with the hornwort, as I like the shade of green, it's doing well, and it can float. I use TNC lite fertiliser as recommended by the late and great Byron, as it apparently does not add additional nitrogen like others.

What do you think about the recharging and nitrate free water issue to recharge/rinse? Just grin and bear it, I think.

 

[gwand]

Good point. I thought about that, but it's not cost effective, because I would have to use a lot of bottled water. So, I don't feel I have any choice but to rinse it with tap water (25-30ppm Nitrate). I know that rinsing it out as thorough as I do after a re-charge, I am already adding to the total nitrate burden for the freshly re-charged resin. When I leave it in salt solution for 2 hours, or overnight, I will use water that the resin has already partially "de-nitrated", but that still leaves in sitting in water that is 5ppm (at least), but I think less than 10ppm nitrate.

Unless I am missing something obvious, and not thinking straight, I can't think of a way to rinse it in nitrate free (or nearly free) water. Well, I could use bottled spring water which comes up as nearly undetectable nitrate on the API test, but it would be a significant financial impact, because I am re-charging the resin most days, and I like to rinse out the resin bag REAL thorough to make sure all the salt is off.

All this faffing does take me closer to moving to the RO/Tap option, (I live in hard water + high nitrate), because my dream is to get more into dwarf cichlids like you. Well actually, German Blue Rams are first on my list, followed by some of the smaller Acara species. But I will be moving home in anything between 3-6 months time, and don't want to mess with the plumbing yet, and there is the cost of RO waste water to consider.

Consider this is a bit dumb, I don't blame you, but I am not too keen on nitrate filtration that involves anything to do with plumbing right now, no matter how straight forward it might be. I am also not to keen on adding nitrate reducing agents to my tank directly, perhaps paranoia, perhaps sensible? There was a good review by @MaloK on here about Tetra Nitrate Minus, I think it was @MaloK

I heard good things about Seachem Matrix, I mean proper geeky (which I love) reviews on other forums, not just gossip. Matrix is marketed toward the whole nitrogen cycle burden, but apparently, the media design is very receptive to nitrate reducing bacteria, regardless of water flow levels through the filter. Seachem De-nitrite, I believe, relies on slower flow.

My plants I have been ordering over the last month are mostly all taking off, quick growers like hornwort, salvina natans, najas grass (think it's still settling in, deciding if it's going to flourish), hygrophila difformis and some elodea densa (think that might be on the way out, although it might now be adapting to 74 F). I've also got some pothos in one tank to see how I get on with that. Early results on nitrate levels, the jury is out, possibly too early. As things stand, I think I might just fall in love with the hornwort, as I like the shade of green, it's doing well, and it can float. I use TNC lite fertiliser as recommended by the late and great Byron, as it apparently does not add additional nitrogen like others.

What do you think about the recharging and nitrate free water issue to recharge/rinse? Just grin and bear it, I think.

I can buy distilled water for .99 cents per gallon and RO/DI water from my lfs for .65 cents per gallon. Before I plumbed in the nitrate filter I rinsed NitroZorb that way. I still purchase RO/DI water for my a. cacatuoides tanks. I mix it 50/50 with my tap water to lower the GH from about 200 ppm to 100 ppm.

 

[Back in the fold]

It could be worse. Before physicians could measure sugar in urine to make the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, they would taste the urine sample for sweetness.

No wonder doctors make so much money .

 

[gwand]

No wonder doctors make so much money .

It’s a skill you don’t want to depend on.

 

[MaloK]

Good point. I thought about that, but it's not cost effective, because I would have to use a lot of bottled water. So, I don't feel I have any choice but to rinse it with tap water (25-30ppm Nitrate). I know that rinsing it out as thorough as I do after a re-charge, I am already adding to the total nitrate burden for the freshly re-charged resin. When I leave it in salt solution for 2 hours, or overnight, I will use water that the resin has already partially "de-nitrated", but that still leaves in sitting in water that is 5ppm (at least), but I think less than 10ppm nitrate.

Unless I am missing something obvious, and not thinking straight, I can't think of a way to rinse it in nitrate free (or nearly free) water. Well, I could use bottled spring water which comes up as nearly undetectable nitrate on the API test, but it would be a significant financial impact, because I am re-charging the resin most days, and I like to rinse out the resin bag REAL thorough to make sure all the salt is off.

All this faffing does take me closer to moving to the RO/Tap option, (I live in hard water + high nitrate), because my dream is to get more into dwarf cichlids like you. Well actually, German Blue Rams are first on my list, followed by some of the smaller Acara species. But I will be moving home in anything between 3-6 months time, and don't want to mess with the plumbing yet, and there is the cost of RO waste water to consider.

Consider this is a bit dumb, I don't blame you, but I am not too keen on nitrate filtration that involves anything to do with plumbing right now, no matter how straight forward it might be. I am also not to keen on adding nitrate reducing agents to my tank directly, perhaps paranoia, perhaps sensible? There was a good review by @MaloK on here about Tetra Nitrate Minus, I think it was @MaloK

I heard good things about Seachem Matrix, I mean proper geeky (which I love) reviews on other forums, not just gossip. Matrix is marketed toward the whole nitrogen cycle burden, but apparently, the media design is very receptive to nitrate reducing bacteria, regardless of water flow levels through the filter. Seachem De-nitrite, I believe, relies on slower flow.

My plants I have been ordering over the last month are mostly all taking off, quick growers like hornwort, salvina natans, najas grass (think it's still settling in, deciding if it's going to flourish), hygrophila difformis and some elodea densa (think that might be on the way out, although it might now be adapting to 74 F). I've also got some pothos in one tank to see how I get on with that. Early results on nitrate levels, the jury is out, possibly too early. As things stand, I think I might just fall in love with the hornwort, as I like the shade of green, it's doing well, and it can float. I use TNC lite fertiliser as recommended by the late and great Byron, as it apparently does not add additional nitrogen like others.

What do you think about the recharging and nitrate free water issue to recharge/rinse? Just grin and bear it, I think.

I still add Nitrate minus every 6 months or so... Do regular yearly water changes, use carbon every months and maintain clean mechanical filtration...

The only thing I test now is nitrate, hardness and add calcium as required. For an invertebrate tank. All inhabitants are doing great and thriving, If the Nerites are going well... Shrimps too. And there's a lot of them.

At this point I cant tell about Nitrate Minus effect... But it sure kicked start the process... And hope that it helps maintaining it. The tank always tests very low... So I tend to believe it does...

 

[AJ356]

I still add Nitrate minus every 6 months or so... Do regular yearly water changes, use carbon every months and maintain clean mechanical filtration...

The only thing I test now is nitrate, hardness and add calcium as required. For an invertebrate tank. All inhabitants are doing great and thriving, If the Nerites are going well... Shrimps too. And there's a lot of them.

At this point I cant tell about Nitrate Minus effect... But it sure kicked start the process... And hope that it helps maintaining it. The tank always tests very low... So I tend to believe it does...

Do you remember the product advising to dispense the granules to a low flow area of the tank? From what I can make out, online, the product is designed to be randomly poured into the tank. I've spent hours lately researching nitrate reduction methods, and Tetra Nitrate Minus has, on the whole, very good reviews.

 

[MaloK]

Do you remember the product advising to dispense the granules to a low flow area of the tank? From what I can make out, online, the product is designed to be randomly poured into the tank. I've spent hours lately researching nitrate reduction methods, and Tetra Nitrate Minus has, on the whole, very good reviews.

Yes, the instruction stipulates to seed the substrate so it can reach slower movement area.

 

[gwand]

I can’t obtain Tetra Nitrate Minus in the US. But I can buy Instant Ocean Natural Nitrate Reducer. Have you heard of this product? It also has bacteria that convert nitrate into nitrogen gas.