Nitrate

[nfored]

Do you think I can stuff enough plants in a 24x16x12 tank to filter my 220 tank of nitrates? I already have a sump setup, and was going to add this 20 gallon as plant filter; but was not sure if it was worth the trouble as it might have been to small.

Tank normally runs around 40PPM Nitrate, and my tap is about 20PPM nitrates.

 

[JakeH]

Sure. you can just fill it with java moss & slap a clamp light on it, or you could go all-out with some really nice display plants. Either way, you will need a LOT of plant material. Algae scrubber may work better for a tank that size...

 

[nfored]

I would not go display since its in the back, I had thought about a massive java moss tank but didn't know about the uptake. I have heard that Algae scrubbers can be kinda stinky. So if this is a doable idea what type of plants should I look into?

 

[JakeH]

Java moss, java fern, etc. Anything low light with exposed roots should work, but anubias are a little too slow for my taste. You should see nc_nutcase's fuge/moss tank. Its like a giant 20g green spiderweb. I throw in some red ludwigia & wisteria too. You can try duckweed, hornwort or cabomba also if you're brave enough, but they shed a lot & are known to clog pumps...

 

[Outlander]

What fish do have in the tank? If you have lot's of fish, the plants won't be able to cope with the nitrates.

 

[nfored]

1 Oscar currently 6" 1 Texas Cichlid currently 4.5" 2 Bala Sharks 7" 1 Rainbow shark 5".

My guess is I will end up with 4 fish that are between 10 and 13 incs, and the lonely 5" rainbow.

 

[JakeH]

What fish do have in the tank? If you have lot's of fish, the plants won't be able to cope with the nitrates.

Can you clarify that a bit? Are you saying that high nitrates will harm the plants? Or do you mean that they just wont absorb it as fast as the fish make it?

 

[cudamaster13]

if u have a good light u could put mangrove seedlings as well as other plants u will just have to trim the mangrove seedlings every once in a wile i have 4 large ones in my 80 gallon brackish tank they take alot of nitrates out of the water and mine are in coral sand and i will also have two water sprite or sumatra fern and i have four fish and a fiddler in it right now but it will soon have 3 monos in it two but a small water change every once in a wile might work also

 

[cudamaster13]

nford wat type of rabbits are in ur avatar

 

[nfored]

Can you clarify that a bit? Are you saying that high nitrates will harm the plants? Or do you mean that they just wont absorb it as fast as the fish make it?

I am suggesting the fish would produce it faster then the plants can burn it.

nford wat type of rabbits are in ur avatar

Black and white is a Mini Rex, and the Tri color is a very fat holland lop.

I have heard else where man groves are good nitrate sponges, Any one have a suggestion on where to get them? I had planned to have the tank only half full of water so the water level would only b 6" so I am thinking I can get by with less lumens.