too much nitrate

[zennzzo]

test your water with some test kits and let us know the results.

I'm sure if he uses a trickle system he'll get lower nitrates...I found it interesting that the Doc. stated that anything under 18" of Bio-ball height was less efficient.

(**me looks at recently built wet/dry systems and smiles**)

 

[xrtg]

I'm sure if he uses a trickle system he'll get lower nitrates...I found it interesting that the Doc. stated that anything under 18" of Bio-ball height was less efficient.

(**me looks at recently built wet/dry systems and smiles**)

what's your configuration? yours should be at least 18" high rite?

 

[benefit]

I like in Lakewood so not too far from you. Personally i highly doubt your 'trates are 80 straight out the tap. Call your local water company and ask for their water params. Try a different test kit from a different store. Most So Cal water runs about 20 ppm out the tap and around 7.5-8.0 ph. Either invest in a R/O unit or do frequent large water changes. Stay away from any water altering products. If this is done you can do large frequent water changes up to 75% no problem. That way the your tank params will closely match your tap. I have never had a problem keeping any fish including sensitive fish such as rays here in So Cal doing so.

 

[zennzzo]

what's your configuration? yours should be at least 18" high rite?

Well xrtg...I started with a coarse foam pre-filter and 1.25" drain that dumps into a dual layer floss filter after it passes through a ball valve.
I used a .125" drill bit to make holes that makes the water defuse over the entire area from about 2" away.
Then I found this plastic container that fit perfectly under the strainer for the floss that I lined with 1" fine foam. It has a round bottom that I drilled out with the same .125" drill bit and it allows the water to be sprayed finely over the Bio-balls from 2" above them.
Next this mechanical sub system is placed over 18" of bioballs (5 gallons of 1.25")
1" holes were then drilled all around the top cercumfrence on the vertical for the release of the nitrogen off the bio-balls. A 50 micron felt is setting under that with 1" of air space between the bio-balls and the bottom screen
This all sets in a 20 gallon tote.
The return is also plumbed with 1.25" PVC. Circulatioin is handled by a Pentair Quiet one 4000 through a ball valve and back into the tank...
I can adjust the flow into and out of the filter system to fine tune the flow.

I used this fishless method http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-fishless-cycling.htm

150 gallons were cycled in just 8 days to zero amonia/zero nitrites/10ppm nitrates...
I haven't got a test for desolved O2 yet but I am confident in this system enough to use it for my 50 fry, Arowana nursery...

I have a full spread with pix I am preparing to post.
best part is, I have less than $200usd invested.

 

[xrtg]

Well xrtg...I started with a coarse foam pre-filter and 1.25" drain that dumps into a dual layer floss filter after it passes through a ball valve.
I used a .125" drill bit to make holes that makes the water defuse over the entire area from about 2" away.
Then I found this plastic container that fit perfectly under the strainer for the floss that I lined with 1" fine foam. It has a round bottom that I drilled out with the same .125" drill bit and it allows the water to be sprayed finely over the Bio-balls from 2" above them.
Next this mechanical sub system is placed over 18" of bioballs (5 gallons of 1.25")
1" holes were then drilled all around the top cercumfrence on the vertical for the release of the nitrogen off the bio-balls. A 50 micron felt is setting under that with 1" of air space between the bio-balls and the bottom screen
This all sets in a 20 gallon tote.
The return is also plumbed with 1.25" PVC. Circulatioin is handled by a Pentair Quiet one 4000 through a ball valve and back into the tank...
I can adjust the flow into and out of the filter system to fine tune the flow.

I used this fishless method http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-fishless-cycling.htm

150 gallons were cycled in just 8 days to zero amonia/zero nitrites/10ppm nitrates...
I haven't got a test for desolved O2 yet but I am confident in this system enough to use it for my 50 fry, Arowana nursery...

I have a full spread with pix I am preparing to post.
best part is, I have less than $200usd invested.

50 arowana frys

one heck of a filter for all your frys.

 

[the_deeb]

xrtg: that wet/dry link you provided was very interesting. It runs counter to most of the info you find on reef sites where they claim that bioballs can ultimately become a "nitrate factory". Everyone know that W/D filters are extremely efficient at converting ammonia and nitrite to nitrate, but it was thought that the only way to elimitate nitrate from the system (besides plants) was to have anoxic areas where anaerobic bacteria would convert the nitrate to atmospheric nitrogen.

But the discussion on that koi forum suggests that it's the aerobic that are accomplishing this process, which is quite confusing. The dramatic decrease in his nitrate levels are pretty compelling, but I'm interested to know the science behind how exactly this is supposed to work. His very brief explanation is completely unsatisfactory:

"the large increase in the good bacteria together with its bacterial reaction and O2 *takes* away the nitrites during the conversion process(ie from NH3 to N02). The end resutlt is no or little nitrites is left for Nitrobacter reaction after going thro' the trickle resulting in no or little nitrates"

 

[xrtg]

glad that somebody looked into the link.

from the examples, most of the w/d filters those users used are pretty huge. i feel that good bacteria that converted ammonia into nitrate exist in the early part of the filteration system. these bacteria used up all the o2 and the it results in the culture of bacteria that consumed nitrate at the later portion of the filteration. these bacteria thus lowering of nitrate in the system.



i'm keen in trying out the system but the limitation of space in where i live does not allow that as it requires huge space for the filteration alone.

 

[baracuda]

The water straight from the tap was not 80ppm because i tested it again but it was still higher than most places i heard of. I heard that nitrate does not affect the fish directly but i still dont want it in there. Ive lost a few arowanas but i didnt know why. Nitrites and Amonia were always 0 but nitrates were high so i thought maybe this was the problem.

P.S. thanks for all the helpful replies.

 

[jamesqwang]

Try the Seachem De Nitrate Product.
It eliminates nitrate by grabing on to it, need changing every now and then.

For me self, I don't use anything that grabs on, because the nitrate is still in water, media that's too exhausted may relase nitrate back into water in large ammount.

So, instead I use Seachem Matrix. It's a biological media that cultivates both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The anaerobic bacteria is known and used by many scientists to denitrify waterways which have excess nitrate. It readily converts nitrate into nitrogen gas. So you are really solving the problem by getting the nitrate out of the water, full stop, no more nitrate in water what so ever, all turned into nitrogen gas.

My 55G with a baby jardini has ammnia 0ppm nitrite 0ppm and nitrate 0ppm.
Works well for me

Strongly recommended

 

[xrtg]

Try the Seachem De Nitrate Product.
It eliminates nitrate by grabing on to it, need changing every now and then.

For me self, I don't use anything that grabs on, because the nitrate is still in water, media that's too exhausted may relase nitrate back into water in large ammount.

So, instead I use Seachem Matrix. It's a biological media that cultivates both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The anaerobic bacteria is known and used by many scientists to denitrify waterways which have excess nitrate. It readily converts nitrate into nitrogen gas. So you are really solving the problem by getting the nitrate out of the water, full stop, no more nitrate in water what so ever, all turned into nitrogen gas.

My 55G with a baby jardini has ammnia 0ppm nitrite 0ppm and nitrate 0ppm.
Works well for me

Strongly recommended

thanks for the info. will try to get my hands on this product.