Situation: Water comes in at 10ppm nitrate, weekly 30% water changes, by end of week we are at 80-100ppm nitrate. Question: Has anyone checked the ppm count from adding these pothos plants. I am considering the filter box idea, and would be curious how much nitrate 1 pothos plant would suck out of a 75g tank?
Nitrate Suckers?
- Thread starter crazyk213
- Start date
Well, the size of the plant, light available, and water flow are going to control how much nitrate are utilized by the pothos. But, I will tell you from my experience they work better than expected.
But, I want to ask a couple of questions about your system. What size tank is this, what is the stock list, and what is the filtration? My reason for asking is you have one of three situations. You are not doing enough water changes (or a big enough water change) to remove nitrates, you have a major source of nitrate in your tank that you aren't taking care of (dead fish, detritus build up, filters need cleaning, etc.) or you are WAY overstocked.
Pothos can help, but there may be a larger issue at hand.
But, I want to ask a couple of questions about your system. What size tank is this, what is the stock list, and what is the filtration? My reason for asking is you have one of three situations. You are not doing enough water changes (or a big enough water change) to remove nitrates, you have a major source of nitrate in your tank that you aren't taking care of (dead fish, detritus build up, filters need cleaning, etc.) or you are WAY overstocked.
Pothos can help, but there may be a larger issue at hand.
To reduce nitrates, you would be better off with a fast growing plant such as duckweed or water sprite.
Plants help somewhat, but I don't think they will with nitrates that high. How often do you clean your filter?
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Someone mentioned duckweed. If you don't have a ton of surface agitation, it is the best plant filter there is. I have a tank that I raise crawdads and snails in to feed my puffer. They produce a TON of waste. I never ever clean it, just add water and it is pristine. It is filtered by duckweed and a sponge that gets squeezed out when I remember. I throw out about a pound a week of this stuff.
I think the key there is the sponge filter. I used to have duck weed and it destroyed my filters. I hate that plant
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I like duckweed. I have tanks with duckweed and tanks without it. It doesn't jump from one tank to another unless you let it. LOL!
Have you checked your source water for nitrates before adding? A lot of tap water has high nitrates already so water changes don't do anything. My tap is like 20-40ppm. I have pothos it works great.
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Re checked the tap last night. Something has changed in our tap water. Used to come in at 10, now apparently it's coming in at 40, maybe a bit higher, hard to get exact. Any easy way to change that, or should I make the tank and jungle?
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