Plants and/or nitrate removers

[Donny417]

So, I just did a 33% water change, and my nitrate is still reading 30-40ppm for some reason.

My nitrite is zero, and my ammo is zero.

I can't get rid of this damn nitrate and I want it completely gone. I was thinking of loading my entire sump with bio balls up to the surface of the water and planting hundreds of plants down there and put some lighting down there. Would that help? If so, what type of plants should I try?

If not, what is another solution? RO would cost a fortune for one large enough.

I have a 150 gallon tank.

Any help would be awesome, and thank you!

 

[Donny417]

I hate water changes. OMG I HATE THEM! Freakin' ice chest and water and hoses and crap.

Is there an easier way to doing this or am I simply screwed by my love for aqua pets?

 

[Yanbbrox]

Polysperma does great in my oscar tank, no issues

 

[ShadowBass]

Did you make sure your tapwater doesn't have nitrates?

If you have a sump you can grow water lettuce in it, that's a good nitrate remover.

 

[ShadowBass]

Well you can grow water lettuce in your tank too but your fish might eat it.

Also, bioballs won't help with nitrates, they just convert ammonia and nitrite to nitrate so it will make your problem worse if they build up detritus. You already mentioned 0 nitrite or ammonia, so more bioballs shouldn't be necessary for you.

Make sure all your filter pads and biomedia don't have a bunch of gunk in them and your substrate is clean. That could be leading to your nitrate problems.

 

[FSM]

How long does it take you to do a waterchange?

 

[Donny417]

I fixed it I think. First, I cleaned out the bottom of my sump (and threw up in the process). Then, I went to Lowe's and purchased everything I needed to run water from my tap into my sump and then from my tank into my back yard and I managed to do a 50% change in an hour! Big improvement.

My tap water is awesome. No chlorine, no nitrates, no nitrates, but hard as hell. We're all well water in this area.

I will try growing water lettuce in my sump! Thanks!

 

[ShadowBass]

I cleaned out the bottom of my sump (and threw up in the process)

Sounds like you found your problem.

Good luck!