Adding Fuel to the Nitrate Debate: Why Water Changes DONT Reduce Nitrates

[dr_sudz]

First I have never seen an engineer on the jobsite, second they aren't in charge of safety and third I have met alot of engineers that have the common sense of a tree stump. Also to answer your joke an engineer that couldn't cut the mustard is a fast food employee.

Mc Donands burger engineer!

 

[ewurm]

Water changes don't reduce nitrates? LOL

Next issue: Fish don't actually produce the waste, the gravel does! LOL

 

[DeLgAdO]

Water changes don't reduce nitrates? LOL

Next issue: Fish don't actually produce the waste, the gravel does! LOL

lol, where did that ocme from?

 

[Lil_Stinker]

z/n waterchange every <Time Period> = n/z * <Time Period> waste max

assume 1/43200 ths change per second & 10 parts polutants added per week and do the math.

You will normalize at about 1/2 your daily waste production with a variance of 1 seconds waste production.

Daily Waste = 1.428571428571428571428571<bar>428571</bar>

Normalize at 0.714285714285714285714285<bar>714285</bar>


Remember changing the frequency and the amount in proportion will only change the variance not the normalization so changing 1/12th every hour will still be the same just a difference variance. you will fluctuate 1 hours waste over the normal line.

Okay, the headache is gone. the above line should read you will fluctuate 1 hours waste under the normal line.

Also with 100% change per week (constant flow) You will normalize at 1 weeks pollutants not 1/2 weeks pollutants.

Previous confusion not intended.

 

[HarleyK]

Guys,

This discussion of yours is going nowhere and it is not contributing anything beyond what has already been said. I think the point has been made that water changes are our friends. I am now going to close both threads in order to maintain the friendly, supportive and constructive environment MFK stands for.

Remember: It's not necessarily about being right, it's about inspiring others to do the right thing
HarleyK

 

[crazy clowntang]

I would need more proof.

 

[mdb_talon]

hehe clowntang are you hoping that more "proof" has been developed since this post died in 2006

 

[12 Volt Man]

water changes don't reduce nitrates?

and in other news, aliens just landed in New York..

 

[mdb_talon]

water changes don't reduce nitrates?

and in other news, aliens just landed in New York..

Well his math was correct he just reached the wrong conclusion.

Pretty sure aliens been in NY for awhile though.

 

[12 Volt Man]

but the problem with the math is that it assumes that the source of the nitrates remains constant.

it doesn't.

it is a flawed way of looking at the system.

when you do a water change, you are not only removing water that has a given concentration of nitrates, and then diluting what is left in the tank, you are also removing detritius/ammonia etc that would have been eventually broken down into nitrates later on...

thats why saltwater folks use protein skimmers for example - get the wastes out before nitrates have a chance to be formed in the first place...

the math does not take this into account..