High nitrates from tap

[skjl47]

my 10 gallon is already heavily planted with floating hornwort, anubias, java fern, java moss, moss balls, and guppy grass.

Hello; My take about plants to remove nitrate is the need to promote new growth. There is also the need to remove dead or dying plant parts so they do not decay in the tank.

I have been harvesting live plants from my tanks for a while. The free floating plants such as hornwort have been growing back well.
The rooted plants are pulled to thin out the total mass. I have ben pleased that the remainder fill in the tank quicker than I had expected.

 

[deeda]

What is the expiration date on your test kit?

You can also try testing a bottle of water to see if the nitrate results are zero.

 

[Rocksor]

I live in Philadelphia (city). I found a product called nitrazorb by api that I’m thinking about. It’s a special filtration media that reduces nitrates for 2 months and then has to be replaced. Anyone use it before?

It will affect your BB colony since it will remove ammonia and nitrites. The best use for this product is as a pre-treatment for tap water for high nitrates. You would have to store the tap water in a large trash can, filter it with nitra-zorb for at least a few hours, and then pump that water into your tank. I think the resins for aquarium use replace the nitrate in tap water with chloride ions. Too much chloride ions can hurt fish according to this article

http://cels.uri.edu/docslink/ww/water-quality-factsheets/Chlorides.pdf

 

[Jez1992]

Here in the UK that is normal, I have very high tap nitrates and keep Rays and other delicate fish with no issues in the water without chemicals or anything else.

There are people on here who have kept Rays in 100-200ppm nitrates for many years and never had issues.

Whilst not ideal, my view on it is that it is worse to use chemicals and treatment to temporarily reduce the levels, than to just leave it and maintain a consistent level. At that sort of rate it shouldn't really affect your fish at all so I would just forget about it!

 

[dogofwar]

High nitrates in tap water aren't good for fish (or humans!)...

Some people dose vodka to tap water (or to tank directly) to reduce nitrates:

"the "vodka method" is a means to add inorganic carbon in the form alcohol to cause bacteria to grow. In boosting bacterial growth, nitrate and phosphate are incorporated by the bacteria, lowering these values in the water. The excess bacteria are then either removed through skimming or are consumed by other organisms, such as sponges."

A guy in our club had high nitrates in his tap as a result of agricultural runoff. He used this approach (I think in conjunction with a skimmer)...

Matt

 

[Rocksor]

High nitrates in tap water aren't good for fish (or humans!)...

Some people dose vodka to tap water (or to tank directly) to reduce nitrates:

"the "vodka method" is a means to add inorganic carbon in the form alcohol to cause bacteria to grow. In boosting bacterial growth, nitrate and phosphate are incorporated by the bacteria, lowering these values in the water. The excess bacteria are then either removed through skimming or are consumed by other organisms, such as sponges."

A guy in our club had high nitrates in his tap as a result of agricultural runoff. He used this approach (I think in conjunction with a skimmer)...

Matt

is this used in a denitrator to promote denitrification?

 

[fishblahblah]

Thanks for all the great replies. I did test the kit on bottled water and the results came out zero. A faulty test would be too easy of a fix i guess!!

 

[Rocksor]

Thanks for all the great replies. I did test the kit on bottled water and the results came out zero. A faulty test would be too easy of a fix i guess!!

Your test bottles should have an expiration date on it. If it doesn't, they will expire soon, like months if not already expired. A lot number instead of an expiration date will indicate the kit is close to 5 years old.

 

[fishblahblah]

The expiration is 07/2022 so it should b good.

 

[duanes]

I just googled the city of Philadelphia water quality report.
Drinking Water Quality Report - City of Philadelphia
The highest reading for nitrate out of the plant for 2016 was 4.30 ppm, but the average was < 1ppm.
As a former chemist in a similar water quality lab, I had to do testing for nitrate from the my cities plant daily, and generate and produce those same reports for the city.
Inaccuracy was not tolerated
I have a feeling they are accurate, and something is askew with either your test kit, your testing technique, or that you are not correctly rinsing glassware.
Or the plumbing in your residence has ground water intrusion.