Zero Nitrates, no water change,. This is aquarium 2021.
- Thread starter markstrimaran
- Start date
I was crunching the numbers, as I get it for free. It is commercially available for $3.50 per gallon/ 3 pounds per gallon. In 20 gallon sacks shipping included.
I will check monday on which type it is. Its sold on Ebay, under Arti.
I have not used it long enough to really know how long it will last, depends on how many fish per gallon of water, and feeding amounts.
16 oz by volume, per 130 gallons brought my top tank from 40 ppm to 0 in about 30 days. I have not run it long enough to answer too many questions.
It's experimental, kind of like running 100 watts of 640nm leds verse 10 watts of 660nm, with piranha in one and tilapia in the other. Comparing algae srubbers.
Anybody open to trial run the stuff. I am in it figure out a 100,000 Gpd solution to waste water runoff, with about a billion $$dollar per day fine/lawsuit. Against farmers growing food.
Thx for the detailed response. Keep us updated as the the experiment continues. I may try it after you’ve gathered more info. Very cool to see someone thinking out of the box
I found this article. Looks like it could be a great helper and seems relatively inexpensive.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Nitrate sorption to biochar following chemical oxidation - PubMed
Biochar amendments can reduce nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub>) leaching in agricultural soil. It has been hypothesized that functional groups on the biochar surface from oxidation can increase NO<sub>3</sub> sorption. This study evaluates the effect of chemical oxidation of biochar on NO<sub>3</sub>...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Agreed. Nitrate readings are simply one easy way that is used as a gauge to assist one in keeping their overall tank parameters in check, between water changes.
Nitrate tests/levels are a good way for the average hobbyist to gauge the overall condition of their tank water, but there is sooooo much more to be considered if one is considering their complete aquarium water quality. This is where fresh water via water changes come into play, such as the overall bacteria count, the water alkalinity, which in turn can affect the pH, the TDS, conductivity, mineral levels, etc. So while reducing ones nitrate levels to zero may seem like a significant achievement, in and of itself, is it? I don't think so. I haven't bothered to check nitrate levels in any of my tanks in several decades. Water changes are always going to be important to the freshwater hobbyist.
Sucks that you have such a poor local water supply, but from the sounds of what you stated above nitrate levels would be the least of your concerns. For numerous reasons, marine set ups are an entirely different discussion.
...... and then you have those that believe that nitrates at any level are not even an issue. lol 
Water Changes...Unnecessary? | MonsterFishKeepers.com
Water Changes...Unnecessary? | MonsterFishKeepers.com
You are correct on so many points, I can not argue. But Hybrid African Cichlids are expendable. The Mississippi water shed is not.
The little jar is 9.2 PH, Ammonia ++10, and We get about 100,000 gallons per day.
I found this article. Looks like it could be a great helper and seems relatively inexpensive.
Nitrate sorption to biochar following chemical oxidation - PubMed
Biochar amendments can reduce nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub>) leaching in agricultural soil. It has been hypothesized that functional groups on the biochar surface from oxidation can increase NO<sub>3</sub> sorption. This study evaluates the effect of chemical oxidation of biochar on NO<sub>3</sub>...
I was really hoping I could convert a pound of biochar into graphene and then retire. With carbon and so many molecules nothing is just that easy.
I do have about 5 different types of algea growing in my up flow algea scrubber, It is very interesting how they can out compete each other based on water parameters, and the type of light they receive. The red stuff I got from a Walmart 5 years ago is particularly interesting. It's the stuff that turns water blood red under certain conditions.
