Nitrate experiment

[smokeythebair]

40 is alot better then 60 which is my well water The plants are working im just doing little water changes during the week so im not adding to much nitrates. I want to find the balance where the plants lower the nitrates to 15.

 

[smokeythebair]

I also just bought another pothos plant so now i have two up top and 5 plants in the water. By friday i would think the nitrates should be lower. I did a 15g wc sunday

 

[Laticauda]

Invest in more pothos, and a tub/basin/trashcan to age your water change water with, having the pothos in that, before you add it to your aquarium

 

[smokeythebair]

Ya thats a good idea. I can get a 55g drum from work. I might try that in summer and try keeping it outback. I just need to make sure to have a lid and only let the roots in so i don't get misq and other insects. I would try it now but it will be a pain getting the water up to temp all the time. ty for the idea.

 

[Laticauda]

I just keep a heater in the tub that I age/aerate/salt my brackish tank's water change water with. It works well, keeps the water the same temp as the tank, so I can just remove water, then replace it with the stuff in the tub.

Also, have you thought about using a rain barrel, and catching some water to use for water changes?

And as for mosquitos, you can add paradise fish to the barrel if you must keep it inside, but I keep my water change tub inside the house.

 

[smokeythebair]

Ya thats a good idea. getting ice and rain tonight to bad i don't have the barrel lol. I would heat it i just don't want it being to big of a project.

 

[Laticauda]

Ya thats a good idea. getting ice and rain tonight to bad i don't have the barrel lol. I would heat it i just don't want it being to big of a project.

I just use a spare heater, and keep the thermostat set once I find the temperature being what I want it to be.

Just throw it in the tub with a few bubble sticks/stones, and it's good to go.

 

[smokeythebair]

I will def use the air stone though to keep the water moving

 

[smokeythebair]

I have two pothos plants in my community tank with great results. My nitrates are lower then ever and the plants are growing huge. I want to put pothos plants in my other tanks but the roots would get eaten up. Best way to get rid of nitrates by far.

 

[smokeythebair]

I just have the plants hang off the side and never had problems no sump