Alternatives to pothos for nitrate removal.

[duanes]

Not that I think Pothos isn't great, but because of the availability of other tropical plants here, I've been trying other species over the last year.
The nitrate readings on my 180 have been less than 5ppm using Dieffenbachia and a few others.
Below hanging in the tank.

This morning I pulled a few out to get a perspective on root growth and the size of the plant

The tank is 24" tall, about the length of the roots.
On the other end of the tank a few other plant species and new cuttings of Dieffenbachia.

And in the sump there is Umbrella palm (Papyrus)

 

[tlindsey]

Not that I think Pothos isn't great, but because of the availability of other tropical plants here, I've been trying other species over the last year.
The nitrate readings on my 180 have been less than 5ppm using Dieffenbachia and a few others.
Below hanging in the tank.
View attachment 1423521
This morning I pulled a few out to get a perspective on root growth and the size of the plant
View attachment 1423522View attachment 1423523
The tank is 24" tall, about the length of the roots.
On the other end of the tank a few other plant species and new cuttings of Dieffenbachia.
View attachment 1423525
And in the sump there is Umbrella palm (Papyrus)
View attachment 1423526
View attachment 1423527

Wow that is awesome Duane. What is your wc schedule?

 

[Jacob92677]

2nd pic is amazing!!!

ive recently tried a few 26 inch sticks of
tall bamboo so far I’m seeing more roots coming out looks nice too

 

[fishhead0103666]

Dieffenbachia.... Ordinary dumb cane was able to achieve this I see, quite interesting. I shouldn’t make assumptions actually. Did you find this growing outside or did you get this? If you did get it then it was labeled as dumb cane yes?

This is particularly interesting to me since I have been wanting to do an experiment with various plants to see which one is best for nitrate removal given the mass, volume, growing speeds, and light needs for various plants.

 

[duanes]

Wow that is awesome Duane. What is your wc schedule?

Its actually funny, the De-Sal plant has been down for almost a month, so the only water changes I've been able to do are when it rains, averaging only about 5 or 6 gallons per day. (practically nothing on a 180 gal)
When I need to flush a toilet to conserve, I take a couple gallons out of the tank, and replace them with rain water, caught in a barrel.

 

[duanes]

Dieffenbachia.... Ordinary dumb cane was able to achieve this I see, quite interesting. I shouldn’t make assumptions actually. Did you find this growing outside or did you get this? If you did get it then it was labeled as dumb cane yes?

This is particularly interesting to me since I have been wanting to do an experiment with various plants to see which one is best for nitrate removal given the mass, volume, growing speeds, and light needs for various plants.

The Dieffenbacia grows wild here, most of the island is jungle, and uninhabited, and hard to get around in (outside of our little pueblo on the shore).
A friend who lives on the edge of the forest, and unemployed by the Covid isolation, brings me any plants and shrimp from the stream he thinks I might be interested in. I usually give him $5 a trip, so he can buy food.

 

[TheWolfman]

That is a Monster plant! I wonder how much nitrate you would have if you weren't planted? I could see the plants stalling the nitrogen cycle completely with growth like that.

 

[jamesucla]

Very cool results. I was interested in trying water hyacinth in my sump for nitrogen export. Any data points on that plant?

 

[duanes]

I have had a hard tkeeping Water Hyacinth alive indoors, and even outdoors when not in full sun.
No data, but I used it in ponds and tubs in full sun, so grew so much that I had to compost clumps weekly.

 

[twentyleagues]

Very cool results. I was interested in trying water hyacinth in my sump for nitrogen export. Any data points on that plant?

I have had a hard tkeeping Water Hyacinth alive indoors, and even outdoors when not in full sun.
No data, but I used it in ponds and tubs in full sun, so grew so much that I had to compost clumps weekly.

I had the same experience with water hyacinth. I have had way better luck indoors with water lettuce and frog bit.