We all know that feeding amount, number and size of fish in the tanks, and regular maintenance are the most important factors in Nitrate Buildup. However, assuming the number and size of fish is the same and keeping good maintenance habits, let's explore ways to reduce the NITRATE buildup rate.
The benefit of reducing the Nitrate could be a 1 week extension between water changes without creating stress to the fish. This is a nice reward for most aquarists.
Acceptable levels of Nitrate also vary from fish type but in general less than 60 for many and less than 40 for more sensitive fish like Angels, and more demanding fish require lower levels.
Here are a few things I have tried and the results I got. Please add to the thread with your own experience and or comments so we all learn from each other:
1. Using FW Nitrate Reducer product from Aquamarine. This product is expensive, it is a powder that falls into the gravel and requires an undergravel filter.
Results: I did notice a diference during the first year that I used this product. I was able to extend my 30% water changes a whole week. Nitrates went 20 to 40 in 2 weeks and I performed gravel cleaning once per month on the top 1.5 inches of the gravel. After a year, I noticed a reduction in its effectivity. I also had to perform a massive gravel cleaning in four stages 2 weeks apart of each other because of the accumulation of the Nitrate Reducer and the Aquarium Clean powders I used over the year.
I also noticed that the Nitrate consuming bacteria is very sensitive with any kind of medicine. Even Melafix affects it.
2. Using Poly Filter Pad. This pad works best in a canister filter but it can also be used with many power filters. It absorbs Ammonia, metals, disolved proteins, medicines, and also serves as a mechanical media trapping small pieces of food etc.
Results: Although the Poli Filter doesn't absorb NITRATE, it reduced its buildup rate because it absorbs disolved protein and also absorbes Amonia (remember the cycle: Ammonia to Nitrite, and Nitrite to Nitrate).
By using both Poli Filter and Nitrate Reducer I observed a further decline in the build up rate of NITRATES.
3. Nitrate absorbing media. There are several variations and multiple brands of this type: pouches, little stones with resine, and then Seachems' Denitrate and Matrix products.
Results: I didn't get good results with any of these. Basically, I didn't see a reduction in the buildup rate of Nitrate. I still use the Matrix in my canister filter because it is a great bilogical media. The Denitrate product from Seachem apparently needs a very slow flow to work, and this also means the filter is filtering less. Therefore, I didn't get the results I was looking for. If you had a positive experience with these types of products, please let us know. Perhaps I didn't do something right when I tried them.
4. I am currently testing a product called "ALGONE" available at www.algone.com. I found out about this product trough the commercial link list in our myfishtank.net.
If you have used ALGONE or know something about this product please let us know. I have used it for 2 weeks and it is too soon to make any judgement about it.
Sorry the message is long but the replies can be very short.
Thanks
*thumbsups
The benefit of reducing the Nitrate could be a 1 week extension between water changes without creating stress to the fish. This is a nice reward for most aquarists.
Acceptable levels of Nitrate also vary from fish type but in general less than 60 for many and less than 40 for more sensitive fish like Angels, and more demanding fish require lower levels.
Here are a few things I have tried and the results I got. Please add to the thread with your own experience and or comments so we all learn from each other:
1. Using FW Nitrate Reducer product from Aquamarine. This product is expensive, it is a powder that falls into the gravel and requires an undergravel filter.
Results: I did notice a diference during the first year that I used this product. I was able to extend my 30% water changes a whole week. Nitrates went 20 to 40 in 2 weeks and I performed gravel cleaning once per month on the top 1.5 inches of the gravel. After a year, I noticed a reduction in its effectivity. I also had to perform a massive gravel cleaning in four stages 2 weeks apart of each other because of the accumulation of the Nitrate Reducer and the Aquarium Clean powders I used over the year.
I also noticed that the Nitrate consuming bacteria is very sensitive with any kind of medicine. Even Melafix affects it.
2. Using Poly Filter Pad. This pad works best in a canister filter but it can also be used with many power filters. It absorbs Ammonia, metals, disolved proteins, medicines, and also serves as a mechanical media trapping small pieces of food etc.
Results: Although the Poli Filter doesn't absorb NITRATE, it reduced its buildup rate because it absorbs disolved protein and also absorbes Amonia (remember the cycle: Ammonia to Nitrite, and Nitrite to Nitrate).
By using both Poli Filter and Nitrate Reducer I observed a further decline in the build up rate of NITRATES.
3. Nitrate absorbing media. There are several variations and multiple brands of this type: pouches, little stones with resine, and then Seachems' Denitrate and Matrix products.
Results: I didn't get good results with any of these. Basically, I didn't see a reduction in the buildup rate of Nitrate. I still use the Matrix in my canister filter because it is a great bilogical media. The Denitrate product from Seachem apparently needs a very slow flow to work, and this also means the filter is filtering less. Therefore, I didn't get the results I was looking for. If you had a positive experience with these types of products, please let us know. Perhaps I didn't do something right when I tried them.
4. I am currently testing a product called "ALGONE" available at www.algone.com. I found out about this product trough the commercial link list in our myfishtank.net.
If you have used ALGONE or know something about this product please let us know. I have used it for 2 weeks and it is too soon to make any judgement about it.
Sorry the message is long but the replies can be very short.
Thanks
*thumbsups
