Nitrates
- Thread starter -Oscarmon-
- Start date
I have always obsessed over clean water, a healthy obsession I think in this hobby. Early on I used nitrates as a measuring stick for overall nastiness, higher nitrates in a fish tank generally means higher levels of dissolved organic compounds, higher levels of bacteria, and with time a reduction in minerals, often accompanied with the overall acidic build up, a potential lowering of pH.
Is there a reason why anyone would want to run a system with elevated nitrate levels? Maybe I've been missing something all these years.
Is there a reason why anyone would want to run a system with elevated nitrate levels? Maybe I've been missing something all these years.
But even in a balanced aquaponics system, there would not be elevated levels of nitrates.
But to be more specific, I wasn't thinking of feeding anything secondary, more along the lines of the average aquarium. Is there a reason why anyone would want to run an aquarium only system with elevated nitrate levels?
Fish tanks are like toilets, the more you flush them with fresh water the better it is for the overall health of the fish.
But to be more specific, I wasn't thinking of feeding anything secondary, more along the lines of the average aquarium. Is there a reason why anyone would want to run an aquarium only system with elevated nitrate levels?
Fish tanks are like toilets, the more you flush them with fresh water the better it is for the overall health of the fish.
I like the flushing toilet scenario, similar to my fish urine soup analogy, but much more comprehensive.
As to phosphate toxicity, I believe we do and should obsess over it, but before the fish start dying, we usually notice its tendency to promote excessive algae growth. Before phosphate detergents were banned around the great lakes, the shores of Lake Michigan yearly became a stinking sty of rotting algae.
With both phosphate and nitrates the "cure" is the same, frequent large water changes, and plants that consume both substances.
As to phosphate toxicity, I believe we do and should obsess over it, but before the fish start dying, we usually notice its tendency to promote excessive algae growth. Before phosphate detergents were banned around the great lakes, the shores of Lake Michigan yearly became a stinking sty of rotting algae.
With both phosphate and nitrates the "cure" is the same, frequent large water changes, and plants that consume both substances.
Only theory on my part, but many anabantids (including Betta splendins) (and snakeheads )commonly live and breed in rice paddies or waste laden ponds where nitrates from water buffalo dung and other waste is high.
Of course they are also able to bypass these conditions and supplement by breathing air.
Of course they are also able to bypass these conditions and supplement by breathing air.
I was thinking the same thing, especially during the dry season when ponds become puddles. Labyrinth fish are a perfect example, they are capable of sticking their head out of the toilet and gulping some fresh air.
When I was a soldier in Viet Nam I was amazed at some of the anabantioids I'd see, living in some pretty foul looking and smelling rice paddies and similar places.
Some like climbing perch, were able to walk away to cleaner ditches, when things became intolerable
Some like climbing perch, were able to walk away to cleaner ditches, when things became intolerable
