Assorted Questions

1. I want a cheap way of lowering nitrates in my tank using live plants. It only needs to be temporary, as I’m upgrading my overstocked tank soon. Would a DIY algae scrubber work for this?

2. Should I own an airstone and check valve, just in case? I already have a pump and airline tubing that came with my tank, but that’s it.

3. Does anyone have fish food recipes that don’t require cooking invertebrates or anything containing them? My younger siblings want to make some fish food (I’ve shown them too many King of DIY videos) and I want something they can make fairly easily.

Thanks.

 

Well doing weekly water changes is the best way to lower nitrates, more than a week may be necessary. I have plants growing in my HOB filter, I use sweet potatoes, they grow pretty fast. If you want to make your own fish food, depending on what type of fish you could try cucumbers. Though you might have to try blanching them.

 

Well doing weekly water changes is the best way to lower nitrates, more than a week may be necessary. I have plants growing in my HOB filter, I use sweet potatoes, they grow pretty fast. If you want to make your own fish food, depending on what type of fish you could try cucumbers. Though you might have to try blanching them.

Yeah, I do 40% water changes twice a week. My nitrates are stable at around 20 with that, it’s just a lot of water changing and I wanted to reduce it. Sweet potatoes sound interesting. Do I just dunk an eye into the HOB?
I’ve done cucumbers before, but the kids really wanted to try something exciting (by which they mean something that needs a blender). They’ve been pestering me about it for a week now, so it seems like time to do some research.

 

1) Add a pothos root and any aquatic plant that takes nutrients from the water column.
2) Yes
3) You can use my recipe of fish food goop.
Peas
Carrots
Green Beans
Romaine Lettuce
Garlic
Worms
Shrimp
Tilapia

 

Well the way I planted the sweet potato is I just left it out in my kitchen until they sprouted, hey I left them in water until they grew roots, then I put them into the filter.

 

3) You can use my recipe of fish food goop.
Peas
Carrots
Green Beans
Romaine Lettuce
Garlic
Worms
Shrimp
Tilapia

1. Is there any risk of introducing something nasty to my tank if I take a bit of someone else’s pothos?
3.Would the recipe still work without the shrimp and worms?

 

1. Is there any risk of introducing something nasty to my tank if I take a bit of someone else’s pothos?
3.Would the recipe still work without the shrimp and worms?

There is a chance of cross contamination but a short course of bleach dips should cleanse the pothos.
The recipe will work without the shrimp and worms but you will need more tilapia to get a good protein content.

 

Also any white meat fish and most insects could work for protein.