Nitrate Questions

[RadleyMiller]

Why do I keep hearing about filtration needing to be upgraded for fish that are sensitive to nitrates. The aerobic bacteria in on our biomedia in our sumps, canisters, and HOBs does not break nitrate down so why do I keep hearing "upgrade your filtration because your fish may not handle high nitrate levels. Correct me if I am wrong, but Nitrates in the tank are caused because our tanks are closed systems (except all of you with drip systems) and the only way to remove the nitrates is to use plants, refugiums, resins (such as Purigen) and most importantly water changes. The bacteria the break down nitrates are obilgate anaerobes so unless we have a DSB or live rock, we do not have this bacteria.

I am very confused why I keep reading why people are connecting filtration with nitrates. Can someone please clarify this for me?

Thanks,

Radley

(I do not mean to start anything with this, I just want to see what everyone has to say on this and find the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.)

 

[ewurm]

You can put an AC110 on a 5 gallon tank, won't do anything for nitrates.

 

[RadleyMiller]

You can put an AC110 on a 5 gallon tank, won't do anything for nitrates.

Thats what I'm saying! Ewurm, we are on the same page.

 

[dr_sudz]

I believe it is the type of filter that matters. If you under filter then you have a build up of wastes that are not going anywhere, the filter media is full quicker therefore you need to replace more often. The larger the capacity for filtration the better off the tank. I really hope this makes sense because I am tired and am going off to bed in a few minutes.

 

[Tongue33]

I like to suggest plants in this area... I especially like to suggest Pothos or devils ivy as it can be strung across the top and still looks good without having to worry about it being dug up ...

 

[ozz465]

I like to suggest plants in this area... I especially like to suggest Pothos or devils ivy as it can be strung across the top and still looks good without having to worry about it being dug up ...

anyone have there tank set like this??????

 

[CHOMPERS]

Why do I keep hearing about filtration needing to be upgraded for fish that are sensitive to nitrates. The aerobic bacteria in on our biomedia in our sumps, canisters, and HOBs does not break nitrate down so why do I keep hearing "upgrade your filtration because your fish may not handle high nitrate levels. Correct me if I am wrong, but Nitrates in the tank are caused because our tanks are closed systems (except all of you with drip systems) and the only way to remove the nitrates is to use plants, refugiums, resins (such as Purigen) and most importantly water changes. The bacteria the break down nitrates are obilgate anaerobes so unless we have a DSB or live rock, we do not have this bacteria.

I am very confused why I keep reading why people are connecting filtration with nitrates. Can someone please clarify this for me?

Thanks,

Radley

(I do not mean to start anything with this, I just want to see what everyone has to say on this and find the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.)

Radley, you brought up a good topic. First, let me start with that our hobby is plagued with internet myth, missinformation, and hear-say. Once a concept is generally accepted and enough people are repeating the same thing, it is hard to correct no matter how wrong it is. Another flaw in using the internet to get informaiton is you can not judge the person's credibility in who is giving the informaiton.

There are two sides to this story. One does not require evidence while the other does. Most filter types do not produce positive results, therefore it is easy to say and accept testimony that filters do not consume nitrates. On the otherhand there actually is evidence that some cultures in wet/dry filters and sumps do consume nitrates. There is active research in Japan involving ponds with wet/dry's in the consumption of nitrates. They have good results and they have been able to get repeatable results. The problem is taking a system that does not consume nitrates and getting it to consume nitrates. Either the system does or it does not. The jury is still out as to why. There is also the denitrators that are manufactured with the same principle as the wet/dry filters. The manufactures didn't do any research of their own and just produced units "that should do the trick". The problem with denitrators is that it is a craps shoot whether one will work or not. The manufacturers are only interested in making a sale, not whether their products work sufficiently (another problem in our hobby). So far it seems they are not interested in finding out why their denitrators only work some of the time.

click this and then scroll down.
http://www.koi.com.my/cgi-bin/koifo...forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;guest=7649346

 

[WyldFya]

Great find chompers. Talk about a big filter 1 ton filter!

 

[rallysman]

I'm glad this topic surfaced. If you have desireable water parameters, you're ok.

I feel that when people suggest that someone upgrades a filter it's usually because of the potential size of the fish they're keeping. It may be ok with filter "x", but as the fish grows it may require another filter "x" to keep up with that fish.

 

[RadleyMiller]

Radley, you brought up a good topic. First, let me start with that our hobby is plagued with internet myth, missinformation, and hear-say. Once a concept is generally accepted and enough people are repeating the same thing, it is hard to correct no matter how wrong it is. Another flaw in using the internet to get informaiton is you can not judge the person's credibility in who is giving the informaiton.

There are two sides to this story. One does not require evidence while the other does. Most filter types do not produce positive results, therefore it is easy to say and accept testimony that filters do not consume nitrates. On the otherhand there actually is evidence that some cultures in wet/dry filters and sumps do consume nitrates. There is active research in Japan involving ponds with wet/dry's in the consumption of nitrates. They have good results and they have been able to get repeatable results. The problem is taking a system that does not consume nitrates and getting it to consume nitrates. Either the system does or it does not. The jury is still out as to why. There is also the denitrators that are manufactured with the same principle as the wet/dry filters. The manufactures didn't do any research of their own and just produced units "that should do the trick". The problem with denitrators is that it is a craps shoot whether one will work or not. The manufacturers are only interested in making a sale, not whether their products work sufficiently (another problem in our hobby). So far it seems they are not interested in finding out why their denitrators only work some of the time.

click this and then scroll down.
http://www.koi.com.my/cgi-bin/koifo...forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;guest=7649346

GREAT LINK but no space for something that big, just a bag of Purigen and some 5 gal buckets for water changes.

I'm glad this topic surfaced. If you have desireable water parameters, you're ok.

I feel that when people suggest that someone upgrades a filter it's usually because of the potential size of the fish they're keeping. It may be ok with filter "x", but as the fish grows it may require another filter "x" to keep up with that fish.

That is how I feel, I just wanted to know why people always throw nitrates in there too. It didn't make sense to me. I have a 75 with 2 Biowheel 350s. Ammonia is 0 and Nitrite is .25. It is .25 because I just added a few 4 inch fish because the tank that we set up for them is not ready yet. You all may say that I am underfiltered but until I see a true increase, I am going to stick with my current set up.

Thanks everyone,

Radley