Best DIY nitrate 'filter'?

[zoee323]

ok....from my exp. fludised bed filters are excellent for nitrate removal..the key is to not use sand at all..instead biodegradable polymers (polymorph , PCL ,PLA) or you can simply buy bio pellets..i would recommend adding a ball valve to control flow to pellets..you want the pellets moving continuously but low enough to allow bacteria to grow on pellets..also i would direct the outlet of the FBO towards the skimmer for best results...this is the best method of carbon dosing (imo)..and all you do is add more pellets when needed..DO NOT GET RID OF THE FILTER..ITS A NITRATE REACTOR...

 

[zoee323]

ok....from my exp. fludised bed filters are excellent for nitrate removal..the key is to not use sand at all..instead biodegradable polymers (polymorph , PCL ,PLA) or you can simply buy bio pellets..i would recommend adding a ball valve to control flow to pellets..you want the pellets moving continuously but low enough to allow bacteria to grow on pellets..also i would direct the outlet of the FBO towards the skimmer for best results...this is the best method of carbon dosing (imo)..and all you do is add more pellets when needed..DO NOT GET RID OF THE FILTER..ITS A NITRATE REACTOR...​

 

[professor_rob]

Before water changes on my 650 gallon tank it was not uncommon for my tank water to get to 50+ ppm nitrates. (changes occur around 1-2 weeks)

A few months ago I got a cat litter tray (new) and drilled holes in it and popped it above my tank (not visible when looking at tank) bottom of the tray is a few cm below water line so is visible. Popped a few pothos plants in there and some elodea. I also put sone peace lillys in my weir overflow. My UV filter out goes into the cat litter tray for water movement that flows through the drilled holes into the tank pass all the roots.

I measured my water before my last water change Monday night. The nitrates were 0. I could not believe it. Had to measure it again to make sure. I was expecting around 40ppm. I have tried lots of different things to get nitrates down so am very happy I found a cheap solution. Pothos and other plants can work wonders. I don't have a lot of plants in there, i do have bright lights though, and nitrates read 0.


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[pikachux3]

planted refugiums is less work than a maintenance on algae scrubber so my votes on planted refuge : )