Experiment replacing Papyrus w Hydrcoyl as a nitrate sponge

[duanes]

I have been using Papyrus for about a decade or so as a nitrate sponge.
But lately it has been eating up a lot of space in my 125 sump/refugium, so its time to experiment with something else, somewhat more aesthetically pleasing (at least to my eyes)
( I don't switch out fish much, I prefer changing and comparing filtration methods.

As you can see, the Papyrus on the right, spreading to almost half the 6 ft sump.
My nitrate levels always remain undetectable, but it'll be interesting to see if another fast growing plant will do as well.

One of the local guys has been bringing Hydrcotyl from one of the Poza's (bog like pools) in the forest every couple days, so now is a s good a time as any to experiment with it.

So a little while ago I yanked out the swath of Papyrus, and replaced it with Hydrcotyl.
Todays Hydrocotyl delivery above.

I expect somewhat of a spike of nitrate, because the Papyrus was so massive, but hoping as the Hydrcotyl takes hold it will pick up the slack.
The sump does have a healthy growth of Vallisneris, as does the main tank, and has lots of other terrestrials groeing from the surface, so I'm not expecting a drastic spike.
The fish load is light 5 adult Andinoacara coerleopunctatus (5-7") a 6-7" Panamanian Pleco, and 2 Roeboides tetras @ 4".
The sump has a large population of Macrbrancium shrimp of minute size to about 3".
Total water volume for both tank and sump, is about 300 gallons.
Main tank on the left

 

[duanes]

After first yanking out the Papyrus, a lot of dust an detritus was kicked around, making it impossible to see even an inch into the sump.
Now 2 hours later it is beginning to clear, the Porrett foam mechanical action catching a lot of debris on the opposite side of the sump, and just normal settling. The area where it was, now quite naked, waiting to be filled in and occupied by the Hydrcotyl

Where the Papyrus hadn't spread, still a lot of Vallisneria.

 

[FJB]

Interesting. I am sure both will work in the long run, but it is certainly hard to know what to expect from the effect of removal of the established papyrus to the time when the Hydrocotyl is fully established. However, as you say, relative to the total water volume, you have a lot of other plants and fairly low fish load. So, possibly very little disturbance. I guess you will find out and share your experience...

 

[FINWIN]

I've never heard of this Hydrocotyl ! Is it similar to pothos?

 

[duanes]

Hydrocotyl is the genus name for plants also known as Pennywort, Dollar plant and a number of other names.
There are a number of species (over 30) depending on what country they are endemic.
The north American species ranges fro Mexico and Central America as far north as north eastern Canada
There are aquatic and semi aquatic (bog forms), unlike Potho's which is a terrestrial species.
The ones I would see in Wisconsin along riverbanks and ponds had half dollar size leaves.
Some I've been given here in Panama are almost the diameter of a soft ball.

 

[duanes]

After only 24 hours, the Hydrocotyl is sending shoots above the water line.

I have also anchored a few in the substrate to see how they do.

 

[duanes]

Its been about 7 days since I pulled the Papyrus, and replaced it with Hydrcotyl, so I figured it was time to measure nitrate and pH, just to see if there has been any change.
The Nitrate sample, still turned out undetectable, and pH in the same ballpark as before, between 8 and 8.2.
I have maintained my 30%to 40% every other day water changes.
And I'm sure the terrestrial plants growing on the surface of the main tank take up a lot of nitrate slack.

 

[duanes]

Full tank shot, of the 6 ft sump with Hydrocoty on the right endl.

 

[Rocksor]

Any fish or other aquatic creature(s) in that sump?

I'm also curious if the TDS value has stayed relatively low or gone lower than the source water that you use, meaning that the plants consume minerals, etc.

 

[duanes]

Any other aquatic creature(s) in that sump?

The sump has maybe 100 local shrimp, anywhere from quarter inch to 4 inches.


They tend to scavange broken plant chunks, and detritus that falls in the sump from the surrounding foliage from clogging the Matten filter pad, and/or ending up on the substrate.

I have not been able to get a TDS test unit, yet in Panama