How many plants needed?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
N

nzafi

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Mar 14, 2008
2,185
1,244
179
USA
I know this is an impossible question, but I was wondering how many plants do you really need to impact the nitrates in a tank. Right now I have a 75 gallon with a single 10in rhom. I have added 9 stalks of lucky bamboo to help with nitrates and hopes it will help me get to doing a water change once every two weeks. I just added the stalks about 2 weeks ago and they are starting to grow, but not sure they are making a huge impact.

Also, I am guessing as the plants get bigger and bigger they will absorb more nitrates? The stalks are infants and just starting to sprout, so I am guessing that instead of adding more stalks, I should just let these grow.

Thoughts?
 
Fast growing plant have higher demand for nutrients such as nitrate slow growing plants such as lucky bamboo need less. The only way to know is to test for nitrates until you have established a system that works for you.
 
there is a very common houseplant that I cant remember the name of, but can be grown emerged and it soaks up nitrates very well. To get a decent impact of lets say..40% decrease in nitrates, I think your current set up will do, once the plants become established and start growing. Faster growing plants = faster nitrate uptake.
 
Pothos. You only submerge the roots or take clippings and place the ends in the tank, like cloning. I use these in both my planted tanks and while I dont recall the exact numbers they definitely made a nice dent.
 
Where is everyone buying their pothos at? Thinking of doing a sump with some in it.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
Thanks for the replies. I was trying Pothos on my other tank and it just was not growing at all, not sure why. I have some left over so I will add it onto this tank and see how it does. Love the look of the bamboo, but mixing with pothos could look pretty nice too.
 
Aquaticfan said:
Where is everyone buying their pothos at? Thinking of doing a sump with some in it.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...

You should be able to find it anywhere that sells house plants. My wife had one so I just cut some off and stuck the ct ends in the tank.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom