Hi guys, I currently have a 220 gallon freshwater set up with 2 18inch peacock bass and a 22 inch gar. I have been battling nitrate problems for a long time which seems to be very common among all of us. They sit around 80 ppm and I have tried everything in the book except plants, due to their high maintance. I am finally ready to give them a try but need help. I have done alot of searching around for what is best but thought I would just ask you guys with all the experience. I do have a 30 gallon sump tank underneath that is truly just there to catch debris from main tank and to hold my water heaters. I was thinking about filling with some type of plant. I have heard good things about moss balls due to their low maintance but how many would I need for this? I know there are java moss balls and other types. Maybe a different kind of plant? Should I just drop them in the main tank? Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks everyone!
Help with finding the right plants for nitrates
- Thread starter ksmith088
- Start date
A couple of Water-Sprites would do the job. If you notice the peacock bass and gar Tearing them up then get some frogbit or Red root floaters.
ok are those low maintance plants? Would only a few hours of light a day be enough for them? I am afraid of creating a whole new problem trying to maintain plants instead of the fish.
I think the moss balls could go in sump or tank,unless you feel the fish will tear them up.java moss would work in the sump.I would put it in a mess bag to contain it.I read in another thread about using low light,low maintenance house plants with just the roots in water,I tried it in a few of my HOB filters,seems to be ok,I don't measure nitrates
from cel
from cel
id recommend duckweed. its a tiny, tiny, tiny plant that floats at the surface. it multiplies like guppies and its commonly known as a nutrient hoard because it does such a good job with cleaning. i have some on a 10 gal with ZERO lights! that's right i don't even turn the lights on it just grows and adapts. its also multiplying like as previously stated guppies. and it does a damn good job at stopping algae in its tracks and providing ample shade for the fishes. just be careful some states in US its considered invasive but idk if its illegal. i also think watersprite would be a really good choice i highly recommend that one aswell. if you use moss balls be aware they grow EXTREMELY slow. actually i believe they ARE slower than molasses. so you'd need to start with lots of them or it wont get you anywhere which could potentially be expensive. the duckweed would be fine in that 220gal its one of the hardiest plants i know. its hardy enough that tinfoil barbs wont touch it. also because of its tiny size i doubt it could even be torn into shreds because the plants are like a few millimeters at most in size. the watersprite i wouldnt trust in the 220 i think that would need to go in the sump but then again you never know until you try.
Somewhere I read abt bamboo shoots, they r the best for nitrates. Am in the same ship 
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i am going to look into the duckweed and watersprite. The duckweed look so small that they will all fall down into my sump through the drilled holes in the tank. Should I just grow them in the sump? By how i hear they multiply, will they make their way to the main tank? I think the watersprite would be fine in the main tank. Looks really cool! How many would you suggest I buy??
duckweed is the Herpes of the plant world...unless you want to be constantly scopping cups out weekly I would suggest red root floaters. It is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to remove DuckWeed once established.
Both the plants I mentions are LOW maintaince plants
aquariumplants.com or AquaBid
Both the plants I mentions are LOW maintaince plants
aquariumplants.com or AquaBid