FireMedic's hydroponics idea - success fail stories

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Does anybody use this as a main source of bio filtration to remove not only nitrates, but also ammonia? I got some pothos-like plant from HD yesterday and my mom has some lucky bamboo that are probably 3 feet tall. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if I took one or two ;)

Also: Are these plants actually really eating up 75% of the nitrates, or are they largely removing ammonia so that it never even becomes nitrate at all?
 
I have also wondered if they are eating up the ammonia or the nitrates. I guess it doesn't really matter as long as my nitrates go down.
 
i think i have read where they do indeed take some ammonia away as well. not 100% sure but thinking i read it
 
Nitrate is a common source of fertiliser in farming but to my knowledge they do not use ammonia, plant only keepers dose nitrate and not ammonia so I think they will take up the nitrate and it is not the ammonia being taken up in any large amount.

I think that 3 feet high lucky bamboo is not the way to go, it is the growing plant that is the key, we want prolific new growth ( I think?)

I am yet to see any reduction myself despite a lot of growth.

I personally would not filter a tank in this way only as the bio load is massive but who knows.
 
Plants actually prefer ammonium to nitrate, however I'm pretty sure the beneficial bacteria will beat the plants to the ammonia source. Another benefit to plants is the root systems actually make fantastic surfaces for beneficial bacteria. So not only will they suck up nitrates, but provide an ideal spot for bacteria to grow.
 
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