Sick of nitrates

[dogofwar]

Even in systems with regular water changes and regular gravel vacuuming, shatty filter media is a prime source of nitrAtes.

Part of my regular maintenance is to change the fluff (I use pillow batting) in filters. It makes a difference. I guarantee that a canister that's been running for YEARS without being changed is producing a bunch of nitrates.

I don't use canister filters because I know that I won't change the fluff in them frequently enough to keep them clean. For canister filter fans, using a pre-filter sponge is a way to keep gunk out of the filter while maintaining the bio capacity. You just need to change the prefilter regularly.

 

[Bud8Fan]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the whole idea is for them to produce nitrates through the nitrogen cycle.

Shatty filter media is a source for the crap to break down causing ammonia then well you know the drill.

The bacteria is only going to produce nitrates based on how much nitrite it consumes.

 

[oscarluvr]

hmmm, i dont believe i will be shopping for fish in his store, maybe he is over paid lol

 

[japes]

Well thats correct but filters don't necessarily need to be cleaned, it's all about what they're sucking in. For example my tank is currently underfiltered (3 1/2 turnovers an hour) and my intakes suck up very little fish feces and other gunk. Probably a bad thing for people who do little maintenance, but because I'm in there with the gravel-vac once or twice a week and my substrate is sand I'm getting rid of most of it during the water change.

If you're lazy, and your filters are sucking up feces and gunk constantly, it's going to be breaking down in your mechanical filter media instead of being removed from the tank every week. This isn't a big deal at all, but will give you increased Nitrate levels unless your filters are cleaned regularly as the buildup stays in the tank and continues to create Ammonia > Nitrites > Nitrates until fully broken down.

Personally I haven't cleaned either of my filters for around 6 months; with my water change and vacuum schedule there is no need until there is a noticeable slow down in flow/output. I'm running Eheim Classics which are notorious for their simple design and little need for maintenance