Stupid Plant Newbie Q About Nitrates

[sadguppy]

I have never seen nitrates in any of my three tanks, apart from one during the fishless cycle process. Although I do regular changes, I would expect to see some Can the plants eat up the nitrates entirely??

I have three tanks - 200l, 23l edge and a 20l fry tank, all of which have been cycled and have seen the relevant rises and falls in ammonia and nitrites as tested with an API liquid test kit. Each one is planted with a variety of plants that looked pretty at the time, but seem to be doing well. The smaller tanks have a mixture of water wisteria and cabomba. In the 200l there are about 15 plants, and around 30 small fish. What's going on? The answers on the main tropical forums are non-commital so I thought I would try the experts.

I really enjoy gardening and had not previously considered that I could translate my love of plants to the aquarium but it looks very involved! Much like my garden, my tanks are likely to become a mishmash of anything I think is pretty regardless of whether I have the space or they actually 'go'!

 

[SO19Firearms]

Can the plants eat up the nitrates entirely??

In theory.
I'd probably try a different test kit*




*That's not really true, I'd bin it and continue adding Nitrates into the tank. But that's just me.

 

[sadguppy]

Can the plants eat up the nitrates entirely??

In theory.
I'd probably try a different test kit*




*That's not really true, I'd bin it and continue adding Nitrates into the tank. But that's just me.

Well this has been verified by a strip test and by a second batch of liquid tests, so I know it's not the testing kit... I am just baffled! Maybe I have some very hungry plants...

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Plants can and do consume nitrates. I have been adding potassium nitrate to my high tech planted tank for years along with the rest of the ferts. If you plant load is heavy and your stocking level is light, then you can have no nitrates in lower tech tanks as well.

 

[sadguppy]

Thank you.

I assume though that I still need to conduct weekly water changes, despite the lack of nitrates, to replenish vitamins etc and retain a stable PH. Is that correct? I assume there is no such thing as an entirely closed system but just imagine if there were...

Another quick question... I tend to hoover up clown plec poop quite often for aesthetic reasons - is there any advantage in leaving it in for the plants as it's primary diet is bog-wood, and on garden plants this would constitue fertiliser! Just a thought

 

[SO19Firearms]

I assume though that I still need to conduct weekly water changes, despite the lack of nitrates,- is there any advantage in leaving it in for the plants as it's primary diet is bog-wood, and on garden plants this would constitue fertiliser! Just a thought

Water changes in a planted tank aren't to reduce nitrates, that's a notion left over from the old testament (IMO) Because, as you have rightly said, if it were that simple you'd have your closed system. The fact is fish don't wee and poop stuff that companies can make money out of by selling you test kits (they do happen to increase along with nitrates tho...imagine that ) Equally plants don't just excrete Oxygen (again, no money to be made with test kits...)

The moral of the story, do plenty of water changes, keep adding nitrates and phosphates to keep your plants healthy.

IMO

 

[ian]

Planted tank keepers do not trust off the shelf nitrate test kits. In fact, we don't really find much use for test kits full stop. The best place for the nitrate kit is in the bin.

 

[sadguppy]

Planted tank keepers do not trust off the shelf nitrate test kits. In fact, we don't really find much use for test kits full stop. The best place for the nitrate kit is in the bin.

This is interesting, I only test for nitrates occasionally and when this test kit runs out I am not sure I will replace it, as I will be doing regular changes regardless. I would love to have a proper planted tank but I think it is probably more commitment than I can give right now!

 

[ian]

it doesn't have to be if your lighting is low enough.

 

[sadguppy]

it doesn't have to be if your lighting is low enough.

You'll have to explain this one I am afraid - I thought I needed the lighting on to make tha plants grow. I am more than happy to have the lighting for fewer hours and/or change the bulbs.

 

[ian]

The lower the lighting, the less need to mess around with plants. Light makes the plants grow...the higher the light the faster they grow. In turn they need more in the way of C02, nitrate, phosphate, and the macro ferts. So if you have low light, you don't have to mess around with the plants to much.

 

[sadguppy]

Ah I get you. Hmmm... watching them grow is part of the fun for me (given that my sig pic was only taken a few weeks it looks like a different tank now!) and given the state of my garden (and I class myself as quite a keen gardener!) aquarium gardening is probably something I should stay away from - I am constantly digging things up and re-planting them in other places and my garden is more like a colourful jungle with no real themes or any order at all... Maybe I am not disciplined or patient enough - although your tanks are lovely and if I ever start from scratch with another tank, I will certainly be taking more time over the planting.

 

[SO19Firearms]

and when this test kit runs out I am not sure I will replace it, as I will be doing regular changes regardless.

That's good, but while we're on a roll know that you're not changing your water because of the Nitrates (a la the old testament) - If it was just that we wouldn't have to bother in a planted tank. It's more for all the other nasties that they haven't worked out how to sell you a test kit for......

IMO

 

[stu40]

go on, give it a go, i think you should.Don't worry if it turns out to be a 'colourful jungle' at least you'll have learnt more about growing different types of aquatic plants.
Then when the time comes for a new tank/scape you'll only have to worry about the scaping aspect (what to put where), because you'll already know that you can grow the plants that'll you're going to use.
There are some good looking/excellent tanks on here, but we all got to start somewhere (me included), and i'm sure you'll do a good job of it.

As stated, it doesn't have to be too time consuming.On my main tank, i don't overdo the lighting and have got it down to a 30% water change once a week & then add ferts for the next week ,no Co2.
It's a bit of a mess/jungle style wise but stuff grows ok, and the fish are happy.

Be warned though, if you go down this road, there's no turning back.It will grab you

@SO19. I may be wrong, but i'm getting the feeling, that you don't like test kits?

 

[SO19Firearms]

@SO19. I may be wrong, but i'm getting the feeling, that you don't like test kits?

I can see why you'd think that. I'd be lying if I said I don't own one. It's the old ideas surrounding them that I don't like. The way they're peddled as some kind of answer - That in it's self might not be so bad if you could even rely on the answer... I'd normally go into a monologue now on the ridiculousness of thinking you know what shade of pink you have on a scale of clear to red and what that would mean if you changed the colour of the room you where standing in...but I got annihilated on PFK with it so I won't

Balance, ratio and algae get me more. And a classic - heat+ferts+light=algae..... I feel a blog coming on....