How high are your nitrates

[Danger_Chicken]

Just to clarify on the trace thing, that is below the measurable amount on a standard reagent test kit. For mine that is below 1ppm (I think)

That's what I assumed when reading trace.

 

[Toby_H]

Man... some of you guys will argue withn anyone about anything... even the people that are agreeing with you... it doesn't make for a very welcoming atmosphere...

 

[Bderick67]

Plants use VERY little nitrate, you'd need a jungle of plants before you could say your plants keep them at trace levels, that's alot of rubbish i'm afraid. Literally 3/4 of the tank would need to be plants and even at that, no space of water between the leaves.

Very true. I've tried telling people that before and thought I was going to be kicked to the door. You'd have to pack the tank so full of plants you wouldn't have room for fish. On another websight I read a thread where a guy did an experiment to prove plants don't make a dent in nitrates. The end result basically was that you'd have to jam-pack the tank full of plants to get even a 1 ppm difference weekly in nitrate readings.

Wrong, so very wrong. My planted tanks have always ran much lower levels then comparable non planted tanks. I even had a planted tank that would show no levels of nitrates whatsoever.

Twisted P could you rpovide a link to that website which you refered?

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

I have read alot of articles about how plants do not consume very much nitrate. But as a planted tank owner myself I see that there is something going on that makes my nitrates very low. On a AQuarium pharmacueticle kitthey do not read below 5.0ppm. i see anything below 5ppm as trace because of my test kit. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I also beleive if plants consume ammonia and nitrite readily there will be nothing to turn into Nitrate and that is something that the articles fail to mention.

 

[Toby_H]

I also beleive if plants consume ammonia and nitrite readily there will be nothing to turn into Nitrate and that is something that the articles fail to mention.

Now there's a detail worth repeating...

 

[cassharper]

I have read alot of articles about how plants do not consume very much nitrate. But as a planted tank owner myself I see that there is something going on that makes my nitrates very low. On a AQuarium pharmacueticle kitthey do not read below 5.0ppm. i see anything below 5ppm as trace because of my test kit. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I also beleive if plants consume ammonia and nitrite readily there will be nothing to turn into Nitrate and that is something that the articles fail to mention.

Now there is a piece of truth to this, the last part at least. Plants will aid in the consumption of ammonia and nitrite before bacteria can convert it. You can't expect plants to do this for all of the liquid waste however. You will have less of a biofilter in heavily planted tank, as there is not enough free moving waste to support it.

It is still absurd to think that plants will not use nitrate as fertilizer.

There are 3 major "macro" nutrients required for any plant growth. Potassium, Iron, and Nitrogen. While most all plants can take their Nitrogen in the ammonical form, they will readily accept any form.

Ammonium Nitrate
Calcium Nitrate
Potassium Nitrate

All commercial fertilizers used every day. This isn't just aquariums, it's plants.

P.S. I wouldn't take any "test" that it's main source of reporting is a forum too seriously. He probably had no real grasp of what he was doing. The key element to plants effectively using any nutrient, is that balance of the other elements of life (carbon and light)

 

[sterling_mcdaniel]

i keep mine below 40 ppm

 

[bigspizz]

It's a figure of speech! All respect intended.

I'd never insult someone who tried to make this place better, especially someone as dedicated to it as you.

Cool man....

Why so combative? I was agreeing with you on the plants

But to answer your question, yes I was assuming missed it - You said it was a stretch that he could keep nitrates low on 20 unplanted tanks. He didn't say trace he said 5ppm on Oscar tankd and 7-8ppm on the others. If they are understocked and getting regular water changes it's not a stretch at all. Without going back and reading every post I think it was the people with planeted tanks that said trace readings. I guess that would depend on the definition of trace.

Combative? I asked a question, and in bold you answered it. Looks like I was right, not combative....Where did the combat start? I did not appreciate being called a kid, and at almost 30, that is certainly my right to feel as such...



The post I was referring to, said the water was changed on the other 18 tanks, when they reach 7-8 ppm.. I assumed there is/was some lower number up until then, and that is what I called trace amounts (anything under 5ppm ) And also that is what I said was stretching it (seeings as we are calling each others posts "rubbish").......


Lastly, a debate and an argument are separated by RESPECT....Considering following proper parly pro is not required here, I do not feel as if I deviated too far from the unspoken rules to posting on mfk....Now running your mouth, and calling names makes for a "not fun place to be"...Not the guy who will help you start a thread trying to locate a specific fish (tetracanthus)...Thanks, and you kids have fun duking it out....

 

[Danger_Chicken]

You don't like being called a kid yet you just did that same thing to everyone.

 

[bigspizz]

You don't like being called a kid yet you just did that same thing to everyone.

You have got to be kidding me.........Wow...