Central cichlids with nitrate

[Gourami Swami]

That scape looks very nice, I have done some of that style and always enjoy them.
Lots of bio-filtration could possibly be another route? Enough bacteria will theoretically bring the nitrate level down. And nitrate from the tap by itself probably isn't as harmful as when combined w the other products of fish waste that build up inside a tank. Problem I see with this is that it would make doing large water changes dangerous, because the bacteria would take time to process the nitrate.
Thoughts RD. ?

 

[Tripping Willow 91]

i really like your tanks some of the best i have seen on here very natural
i have like 18 tetras of 4 different kinds they are really pretty and school together
you could add like 20 neon tetras they would look good in one of those aquariums

l
Thank you, only the planted tank is mine and I'm closing it down, it's been fun and I love what I've achieved with it but it's time for a change. The other tank is am image I found online and is the kind of look I want to go for when I get my 4 foot tank

 

[RD.]

And nitrate from the tap by itself probably isn't as harmful as when combined w the other products of fish waste that build up inside a tank.

I tend to agree. It seems that much of the nitrates found in UK tap water originates from fertilizers used in agriculture, which typically should not be as harmful to aquatic organisms found in a closed system, where high nitrate creep usually equates to higher dissolved organic levels, higher pathogenic bacteria levels, and a reduction in mineral content, which can cause pH and conductivity swings.

OP - do you have any idea what levels of nitrates others in your area typically have in cichlid tanks? Perhaps if not too costly, some nitrate absorbing media in your filters? As far as added bacteria, this may possibly help some as well. The Use of Probiotics in Aquaculture | MonsterFishKeepers.com

 

[Tripping Willow 91]

That scape looks very nice, I have done some of that style and always enjoy them.
Lots of bio-filtration could possibly be another route? Enough bacteria will theoretically bring the nitrate level down. And nitrate from the tap by itself probably isn't as harmful as when combined w the other products of fish waste that build up inside a tank. Problem I see with this is that it would make doing large water changes dangerous, because the bacteria would take time to process the nitrate.
Thoughts RD. ?

You mean my scape with the plants or the other low light no plants scape? I was thinking maybe I could run both my canisters, use the 407 as my standard filter and then fill the tetratec with just filter floss and pond matrix but is matrix just snake oil? Can bio media in a canister filter actually reduce nitrates? I have no issue with doing big weekly water changes but obviously that's not gonna solve nitrate issues if I'm using my tap water and as you say any anaerobic bacteria are gonna take a while to process it

 

[Rocksor]

You mean my scape with the plants or the other low light no plants scape? I was thinking maybe I could run both my canisters, use the 407 as my standard filter and then fill the tetratec with just filter floss and pond matrix but is matrix just snake oil? Can bio media in a canister filter actually reduce nitrates? I have no issue with doing big weekly water changes but obviously that's not gonna solve nitrate issues if I'm using my tap water and as you say any anaerobic bacteria are gonna take a while to process it

What do you mean by snake oil? Reducing nitrates? Matrix is like any bio-media, once it gets clogged and the canister becomes anaerobic with low flow output, then denitrification can happen inside of it. The canister no longer works to process ammonia and nitrite, just denitrification of nitrate. So yeah, matrix can reduce nitrates but you have to provide the right environment for that to happen, which means extra work for you.

 

[Tripping Willow 91]

I tend to agree. It seems that much of the nitrates found in UK tap water originates from fertilizers used in agriculture, which typically should not be as harmful to aquatic organisms found in a closed system, where high nitrate creep usually equates to higher dissolved organic levels, higher pathogenic bacteria levels, and a reduction in mineral content, which can cause pH and conductivity swings.

OP - do you have any idea what levels of nitrates others in your area typically have in cichlid tanks? Perhaps if not too costly, some nitrate absorbing media in your filters? As far as added bacteria, this may possibly help some as well. The Use of Probiotics in Aquaculture | MonsterFishKeepers.com

Ok so it may not be as big of a problem as it first appears.

Sadly I don't have any fishkeeping friends ? but I will definitely ask on a UK cichlid group I've joined , I know my LFS keeps all there fish in the standard tap water, apart from fussy soft water fish like discus etc then they cut it with RO

What media would you recommend for this? I've never really known whether there is any truth in media in a canister being able to reduce nitrates. You read so many different things it's hard to know what to believe

 

[Tripping Willow 91]

What do you mean by snake oil? Reducing nitrates? Matrix is like any bio-media, once it gets clogged and the canister becomes anaerobic with low flow output, then denitrification can happen inside of it. The canister no longer works to process ammonia and nitrite, just denitrification of nitrate. So yeah, matrix can reduce nitrates but you have to provide the right environment for that to happen, which means extra work for you.

Yer I mean the whole matrix will remove nitrates thing is often said to be a marketing ploy and it's no different to any other bio media. I don't know though I've just read so many varying opinions on whether any bio media in a canister is able to remove nitrate, I read that anaerobic bacteria needs lights, the flow should needs to be no more than a trickle etc but I've not researched into it. I believe it's supposed to work in tandem with aerobic bacteria it's just that as you say it's a better environment for anaerobic activity once it's clogged up but there should still be plenty of aerobic bacteria on the surface of the media and the anaerobic bacteria is inside the media. At least that's what I've understood from reading about it

 

[Gourami Swami]

Yer I mean the whole matrix will remove nitrates thing is often said to be a marketing ploy and it's no different to any other bio media. I don't know though I've just read so many varying opinions on whether any bio media in a canister is able to remove nitrate, I read that anaerobic bacteria needs lights, the flow should needs to be no more than a trickle etc but I've not researched into it. I believe it's supposed to work in tandem with aerobic bacteria it's just that as you say it's a better environment for anaerobic activity once it's clogged up but there should still be plenty of aerobic bacteria on the surface of the media and the anaerobic bacteria is inside the media. At least that's what I've understood from reading about it

Matrix is just as affective as any filter media would be with a similar surface area. The more surface area = the more bacteria = better processing of wastes. Bio-media itself is definitely not a scam, it's essential to a stable setup imo. So I'm sure matrix is fine to use, but I doubt it's much better than something cheaper but equally porous.

 

[Ogertron3000]

Well there are plants and then there are plants.
Your current tank looks like a bit of a fussy high maintenance type of planted tank. For a cichlid tank it doesnt need to look so pretty or well maintained.
I just redid my SA cichlid and used java fern stuffed into gaps in the rocks with some val planted in 1 corner and some elodea and lace fern floating around.
Its a very different effect than your previous tank and I think it still fits the look you are aiming for so might be worth considering?

 

[Tripping Willow 91]

Matrix is just as affective as any filter media would be with a similar surface area. The more surface area = the more bacteria = better processing of wastes. Bio-media itself is definitely not a scam, it's essential to a stable setup imo. So I'm sure matrix is fine to use, but I doubt it's much better than something cheaper but equally porous.

Oh no for sure bio media itself is not a scam and plays a very important role in processing amonia into nitrate but I'm not sure if it's actually capable of processing nitrate into nitrogen like seachem and various other brands claim about some of their media. Another thing I've seen come up a few times is that having and deep sand bed (potential for toxic gas pockets) and also lots of lava rock in the aquarium will help as it will house a lot of denitrifying bacteria, this to me sounds like a much better environment for anaerobic activity than in a canister as there is obviously going to be a lot less flow on the bottom of the aquarium compared to in a canister filter