Plants will help lower nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia. If you have a tank 70 percent planted with high light and C02 injected you will see a reduction in nitrates. I used to know a big aquatic plant guru, his tank was 80 percent planted, and overstocked. He did a 50 percent wc once every 6 months. He had 0 ammonia, nitrites, and his nitrates were at a steady 20. He did have hundreds of dollars of plants though.
Fresh Water Refugium
- Thread starter Riv D
- Start date
Dr Joe;1804040; said:
yah dr joe is right but still 100%wc no need for that just dont go nuts with stocking
There's a lot of experiences on here, but not a lot of advice... let me see if I can help.
1) 100% w/c will not restart the nitrogen cycle. Nitrobacter, Nitrosomonas, Nitrospiros and hundreds of thousands of other nitrifying bacteria like dark places with good O2 content... the water column is not one of them. If you did it right 100% w/c might work, but there are too many variables that could go wrong IMO. Primarily Temp, pH, and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids: the part of water chemistry that determines the fishes rate of osmoregulation). The only way to get this 100% right is with a couple of lab grade meters.
2)If you plants are dying, you might not have enough/the right spectrum light over it. If you are talking about a species of sp. impatiens... I don't think they are really big light hogs, so a good amount of 5k-7k lighting would be fine.
3) Many things govern growth of plants. You need to make sure that their macro/micro nutrient intake is in line with the lighting and carbon supplementing. If you don't have a lot of Carbon, but a lot of light and nutrients then the plants won't grow as much (then you see problems like too many free floating nutrients in the water that can cause algae).
4) Have you tested your water out of the tap? If it comes out with high nitrates then that problem could be solved by using a dechlor that takes care of nitrates (prime by SeaChem is the most popular... can be found at any pet store... hopefully).
Planted refuges do work, but can be a PITA to make work properly. Tell us how much light you have over the plants and go get a co2 test kit and check that out. The higher everything is the higher rate of photosynthesis, thus more growth and nutrient absorption.
1) 100% w/c will not restart the nitrogen cycle. Nitrobacter, Nitrosomonas, Nitrospiros and hundreds of thousands of other nitrifying bacteria like dark places with good O2 content... the water column is not one of them. If you did it right 100% w/c might work, but there are too many variables that could go wrong IMO. Primarily Temp, pH, and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids: the part of water chemistry that determines the fishes rate of osmoregulation). The only way to get this 100% right is with a couple of lab grade meters.
2)If you plants are dying, you might not have enough/the right spectrum light over it. If you are talking about a species of sp. impatiens... I don't think they are really big light hogs, so a good amount of 5k-7k lighting would be fine.
3) Many things govern growth of plants. You need to make sure that their macro/micro nutrient intake is in line with the lighting and carbon supplementing. If you don't have a lot of Carbon, but a lot of light and nutrients then the plants won't grow as much (then you see problems like too many free floating nutrients in the water that can cause algae).
4) Have you tested your water out of the tap? If it comes out with high nitrates then that problem could be solved by using a dechlor that takes care of nitrates (prime by SeaChem is the most popular... can be found at any pet store... hopefully).
Planted refuges do work, but can be a PITA to make work properly. Tell us how much light you have over the plants and go get a co2 test kit and check that out. The higher everything is the higher rate of photosynthesis, thus more growth and nutrient absorption.
ps. If this ends up not working for you, the best "nitrate" sponge I have seen is mangroves... check them out and read up on them.
"If you plants are dying, you might not have enough/the right spectrum light over it. If you are talking about a species of sp. impatiens... I don't think they are really big light hogs, so a good amount of 5k-7k lighting would be fine."
I'm using a CF 13watt 7100k.
I'm using a CF 13watt 7100k.
cassharper;1804910; said:
I am very intersted in this, have done the reading but not tried it yet.
If they're low light plants and you have very high lighting that could be it. It would also happen if they're not getting enough nutrients.
JLad10687;1804154; said:
No just correcting the previous quote.
I don't recommend 100% water changes except in emergencies and very specific situations.
Have you backed off on the lighting?
Dr Joe
.
Too Late, My Plants are TOAST.
I'm going to pick up another plant and start over again with a lower Wattage.
Also,I just threw a wrench in this experiment by throwing another filter onto my tank.
BUT...
I tested My Nitrates and They're down to 20ppm after 5 Days , that can't be right???
I'm going to pick up another plant and start over again with a lower Wattage.
Also,I just threw a wrench in this experiment by throwing another filter onto my tank.
BUT...
I tested My Nitrates and They're down to 20ppm after 5 Days , that can't be right???
