Plants for Lowering Nitrates?

[ZZ5150]

Hi,
What's the thinking on using plants(plant on outside of tank; letting its roots go into tank) in a fish only tank to lower nitrates((use a pothos plant). Its a freshwater practice but didn't know if had been tried for salt.

 

[nonstophoops]

Hi,
What's the thinking on using plants(plant on outside of tank; letting its roots go into tank) in a fish only tank to lower nitrates((use a pothos plant). Its a freshwater practice but didn't know if had been tried for salt.

You can do this in a refugium type setup outside of the tank. Macroalgaes of all kinds will work like Chaeto, caulerpa, etc.

 

[m1ste2tea]

Hi,
What's the thinking on using plants(plant on outside of tank; letting its roots go into tank) in a fish only tank to lower nitrates((use a pothos plant). Its a freshwater practice but didn't know if had been tried for salt.

pothos work very well for a number of reasons for this:

1. they grow fast = good nitrate consumption

2. they are hardy and will grow in various light conditions

3. they find their own best light source if given the chance

4. they are long, the tank can be across the room from the light source.

5. the vines make it versatile in terms of decoration in the house.



I have started a planter with two vines of pothos in my tank, its been growing very well, my nitrates are almost 0 all of the time. I don't have any powerful lights nor do I take advantage of light from the outside but it is still working out well for me...

here is a video of the setup
[YT]KoZslAs7lO0&hd=1[/YT]

 

[lnelms2]

I don't know if pothos will grow in SW since it's not a SW plant. Might have to stick with chaeto or caulerpa like hoops said.

 

[cudamaster13]

put mangrove seedlings in the sump if u have one with a light for them i am going to do this for my tank, also wat are some alages that one could put in a saltwater setup that dont take up the whole tank or compete with corals and can handle being in a tank with tangs?

 

[Chefken]

You can do this in a refugium type setup outside of the tank. Macroalgaes of all kinds will work like Chaeto, caulerpa, etc.

Could i use a HOB filter as a grow spot for pothos? I was going to add a filter and run it plants only.....

 

[cudamaster13]

put mangrove seedlings in the sump if u have one with a light for them i am going to do this for my tank, also wat are some alages that one could put in a saltwater setup that dont take up the whole tank or compete with corals and can handle being in a tank with tangs?

mangrove seedlings can be in saltwater freshwater and brackish

 

[ZZ5150]

Thanks for the feedback. Since I had a pothos plant, I'm trying a cutting to see if it will grow.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Could i use a HOB filter as a grow spot for pothos? I was going to add a filter and run it plants only.....

Sure thing, I think JK47 has done that with his 10g.

 

[sbuse]

Thanks for the feedback. Since I had a pothos plant, I'm trying a cutting to see if it will grow.

don't waste your time. i have tried this. pothoes, bamboo ect. will not grow in saltwater. you need to do some of the listed plants like manggrove or nonstophoops plant list.

i use plant hydroponics on my freshwater tanks. i am looking for some mangrove for my salt tank.