Coral Chips and Nitrates, In Sump Tank, NO3 Options

[GoldfisHub]

Hi Guys,

I am in the mist of setting a goldfish tank, for the sump tank, I intend to place lots of coral chips so that I can achieve the effect as in the marine tank and hopefully that can get rid of NO3. However, with lots of coral chips, will it affect the water condition and hence affect the grooming of goldfish, like pH, Calcium not sure what else. Anyone has any experience or thoughts to share?

[CP]

Do a search on "coral chips" and "pH buffer" and you should get most of your answers.

It will NOT get rid of nitrates.It is basically used as a pH buffer; ie to prevent the pH from dropping during the nitrification process.

[The Matrix]

Hi Guys,

I am in the mist of setting a goldfish tank, for the sump tank, I intend to place lots of coral chips so that I can achieve the effect as in the marine tank and hopefully that can get rid of NO3. However, with lots of coral chips, will it affect the water condition and hence affect the grooming of goldfish, like pH, Calcium not sure what else. Anyone has any experience or thoughts to share?

Calcium increase your gH. Coral is not easy to "dissolve", probably takes years to do so. The chemical breaking down from the coral will help you buffer your kH and gH.

Dun expect it to do wonder unless u put in a lot.

Anyway, coral dun remove NO3. How did you got this info ?

[GoldfisHub]

Calcium increase your gH. Coral is not easy to "dissolve", probably takes years to do so. The chemical breaking down from the coral will help you buffer your kH and gH.

Dun expect it to do wonder unless u put in a lot.

Anyway, coral dun remove NO3. How did you got this info ?

Actually, I am thinking of putting a lot in the sump tank, like almost fill up so that I can creat a region with no or little oxygen. Hopefully, this will encourage anaerobic BB to grow and get rid of NO3. Do you think this works?

Hi CP, thank you. I read thru quite a few. Umm.. thinking of this so that I can be a little lazy and hopefully only change little water at lower frequency.

[goldrush]

where in the world did you get info that corals neutralise NO3 and worst you want to encourage anaerobes growth thro their colonisation....only to killyour fish!!!!!

[The Matrix]

Actually, I am thinking of putting a lot in the sump tank, like almost fill up so that I can creat a region with no or little oxygen. Hopefully, this will encourage anaerobic BB to grow and get rid of NO3. Do you think this works?

Hi CP, thank you. I read thru quite a few. Umm.. thinking of this so that I can be a little lazy and hopefully only change little water at lower frequency.

hmmmm .... theoretically, chemically speaking, you might consider it will work.

If nitrification cause end product of nitrates, what are the end product of denitrification with your stated method ?

[GoldfisHub]

hmmmm .... theoretically, chemically speaking, you might consider it will work.

If nitrification cause end product of nitrates, what are the end product of denitrification with your stated method ?

Actually following the idea of denitrifying unit, water flow is very slow in the unit, the area passing through is low in oxygen, anaerobic BB grows, these will strip the oxygen off the NO3 in order to survive, leaving only N2 gas. If can work, it acts as buffer, calcium supply, get rids of NO3, hee hee, better water condition, lesser water change frequency, wow ideal situation.

Hi Goldrush, pardon me, I am still learning, how does anaerobic BB affect or cause the death of goldfish? Appreciate your sharing.

[goldrush]

Now I get what you mean.
Aerobes are nitrifying bacteria which we are familiar with and we are taught to promote its striving and anaerobes are de-nitrifying ones which are incorporated in reef and marine tank setup. Before one want to try a denitrifying filter read up on the subject as such anaerobic filters, if not used carefully, can do more harm than good if added to an already-established aquarium as most anaerobes are facultative opportunist and pathogenic in nature.So proceed with caution.

[Sabine]

A thread about this topic has just recently started here:
http://www.goldfishparadise.com/forum/phpB...der=asc&start=0
Seems to be a hot topic at the moment - but I rather stick to frequent large water changes! There is more to water changes than just the nitrate accumulation, IMHO.

[gohks]

Actually following the idea of denitrifying unit, water flow is very slow in the unit, the area passing through is low in oxygen, anaerobic BB grows, these will strip the oxygen off the NO3 in order to survive, leaving only N2 gas. If can work, it acts as buffer, calcium supply, get rids of NO3, hee hee, better water condition, lesser water change frequency, wow ideal situation.

Hi Goldrush, pardon me, I am still learning, how does anaerobic BB affect or cause the death of goldfish? Appreciate your sharing.

Your proposal should work. As mentioned before, I have a congested tank with UGF and NO3 is not a problem for me. However, I have a 2 ft bare tank and NO3 is always creep out of spec. If you provide enough coral chips and just do the refilling without cleaning it often, NO3 should be kept in check.
I read somewhere NO3 is always a problem for bare tank but not one for coral bed or sump tank with water flowing thru.

[GoldfisHub]

Hi Guys,

Thank you for sharing your feedback, suggestions and link. I will be setting up the tank in the next 2 weeks. I have an old chiller, lots of coral chips and metal halide from my ex-marine tank. Will try to setup in the next few weeks and will let you know the result.

[gohks]

It will be good if you can have some pictures too

[GoldfisHub]

It will be good if you can have some pictures too 

Will take some pics along the way. My tank will be coming next week.

[Kinder]

Has anybody heard from Goldfishub on this topic?

[goofy1984]

Hi everyone,

I need some advise from bros here with regards to the above-mentioned:

PH : 5.5
Ammonia : 0
Nitrite : 0
Nitrate : 50 mg/l

Have been having this problem for 2 weeks liao, still cannot resolve low ph and high nitrates problem. Nitrates can go up as high as 100 mg/l in a week. My current setup is a 500 litre tub (outdoor) serviced by 2 cannister filters loaded with biohome only and a 13w UVC. In the tub are 9 ryukins and 1 tosakin. Pls. advise how can i up the ph and reduce the nitrate build-up. Water change is about 50% a week. Thank you in advance.