Looking for ways to lower nitrate

So i noticed awhile back my nitrates getting high fast. Two tanks over stocked because of breeding fish. I sell or trade them out as soon as they are big enough. I kept wondering why I couldn’t get lower than 20ppm in nitrates after every water change. Mind you one of my tanks is planted. I tested my tap water and it’s 20ppm straight out of the tap. I like my local water because it’s high in ph 8.2. Perfect for my cichlids.

I’ve been looking at ways to build a denitrifying filter out of seachem denitrate. I also saw a YouTube video where a guy melted a water bottle full of denitrate and poked holes in it and put it inside his canister filter. Hoping only a little water would go through to help the bacteria that likes Anaerobic conditions or anoxic Conditions, to denitrify the water. I was wondering if that would work. I have spare pvc and could cut it and fill it with denitrate and seal the ends and stick it in my fluval 207. Just a thought. Any opinions would be appreciated. I’ll send what I have written down on one of my tanks but will fill in the rest after work since my lunch is over.

first tank is 32 gallon fluval flex with extra ceramic media in filter socksI also connected a fluval 207 for added filtration since I like debris free water. Here’s some crude drawings to explain my setup.

Forgot to add pics

 

How high do the nitrates get before your regular water changes? I'm asking because it's my understanding that nitrates won't harm most fish until they get well over 40 ppm.

 

I e been watching for 40ppm so whenever I test and it’s right on or over. I think I do water changes maybe once every six days or so. About 30 percent. I tend to test two days after a water change to make sure prime isn’t messing with my tests.

 

If it's not getting much over 40 ppm between routine water changes I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Well, some less complicated ways that im sure you are aware of, would be, keeping a bottomless tank, "no gravel" and getting a larger tank.

 

Well, some less complicated ways that im sure you are aware of, would be, keeping a bottomless tank, "no gravel" and getting a larger tank.

But if my tap water is already at 20ppm, wouldn’t a bottomless or bigger tank both start out at 20ppm? Either way I’d be in the same boat as I am now sans decorations. Which for this tank is just pool filter sand, escargot shells, and some flagstone.

 

Add some plants that feed through the water like java moss. Floating plants. How big of water changes are you doing?

 

I am sure there are other ways but the only way I know of to lower/remove the nitrates in your source water before using it is to run it in a container with nitra-zorb in a filter for a few days before time to do a water change. Nitra-zorb should remove most if not all of the nitrates. Nitra-zorb may not work for all but it worked for me.

 

But if my tap water is already at 20ppm, wouldn’t a bottomless or bigger tank both start out at 20ppm? Either way I’d be in the same boat as I am now sans decorations. Which for this tank is just pool filter sand, escargot shells, and some flagstone.

Add some plants that feed through the water like java moss. Floating plants. How big of water changes are you doing?

i thought about it but since my cichlids dig and it’s mostly a rock tank with just an aquasky light I wasn’t sure how good it would do. I have some crazy java moss growing in my wife’s tank of tetras I could harvest and try out.

I am sure there are other ways but the only way I know of to lower/remove the nitrates in your source water before using it is to run it in a container with nitra-zorb in a filter for a few days before time to do a water change. Nitra-zorb should remove most if not all of the nitrates. Nitra-zorb may not work for all but it worked for me.

I’ve been thinking of nitra-zone for that tank, but was unsure if I should try it in my planted tank. I haven’t fertilized in awhile for fear of adding more nitrates. I use easy green and easy iron in that tank. Would nitra-zorb make my fertilizers useless?

 

I can attest to Pothos as a great nitrate eater. Really any plant whose roots are submerged but leaves are above water. They access the co2 of the air, but benefit from the high nitrogen in the water.

 

I’ve been thinking of nitra-zone for that tank, but was unsure if I should try it in my planted tank. I haven’t fertilized in awhile for fear of adding more nitrates. I use easy green and easy iron in that tank. Would nitra-zorb make my fertilizers useless?

I don't know if they would be useless. What I suggested was removing the nitrates from the source water before pouring it in the tank instead of running it in the tank.

 

I second the motion on Nitazorb!! It works for our tanks!

 

I think your fine. For better results change 50% water every week instead of 30.

 

I can attest to Pothos as a great nitrate eater. Really any plant whose roots are submerged but leaves are above water. They access the co2 of the air, but benefit from the high nitrogen in the water.

I really want to try pathos but my stupid cat keeps eating our aloevera we have in the kitchen. I’m sure he’ll try to eat pathos which I heard can be very toxic to cats. That was my first thought. Anyone have any other plants that may work that would be safe for cats?

I don't know if they would be useless. What I suggested was removing the nitrates from the source water before pouring it in the tank instead of running it in the tank.

How would I do that with nitra-zorb? I use the python water change system. Will running the water in reverse with a bag shoved in it help? Would running water be too fast?

 

I agree I would do 50% water changes, and I would also suggest using nitra-zorb.

I used that in a planted tank with no problems.

 

How would I do that with nitra-zorb? I use the python water change system. Will running the water in reverse with a bag shoved in it help? Would running water be too fast?

If you find that the nitrates are a problem you could use the python to remove the water but use a submersible pump in a container big enough to hold enough water for a water change to replace the water. Just run a filter with nothing but nitra-zorb in it in the container. You may have to run the nitra-zorb for a couple of days each time before using the water. I don't know that it will take that long to remove all the nitrates but it might.

I know it requires an extra step but I can't think of another way to remove the nitrates from the source water. I really don't think the level you are seeing in your water is a problem but if you feel it is then you might want to try this method to remove it.

I don't think just running the water through the nitra-zorb would have time to remove it. The only way to know for sure is to try it.