Getting Rid Of Nitrate Options

[leogon]

For Koi keepers(who want crystal clear water), some reduce nitrate levels by using a protein skimmer and/or plant filtration(water hyacinth,pandan plants).
Not possible to change tons of water daily! Nowadays, can get protein skimmers that work for freshwater as well. These can be custom-made or bought off the shelf. Not sure whether any goldfish lover wants to try it out...

[YLD]

In a nutshell the answer is yes.

But I should make it clear it is not the direct cause.  You see, at low concentration (below 50 ppm) nitrate is relatively harmless (compared to ammonia and nitrite).  But long term exposure to high concentration will stress the fish out.  The fish won't die immediately but it will not be able to develop well.  A stunt fish is one where the body is short/small for its age but the eyes and finnage are large for its body size.

I think 3 of my ranchu has big and protruding eyes. Is there any cure beside apply green water?

[HappyBuddha]

I think 3 of my ranchu has big and protruding eyes. Is there any cure beside apply green water?

Unfortunately I don't think there's a cure. green water doesn't cure it at all; maybe it could promote a bigger wen to help 'cover' up the buldging eyes but that's just a trick.

Sorry.

[HappyBuddha]

For Koi keepers(who want crystal clear water), some reduce nitrate levels by  using a protein skimmer and/or plant filtration(water hyacinth,pandan plants)....

I didn't know we could use protein skimmer to reduce nitrate in fresh water. Are you sure? Hmm.....

There are actually many ways to reduce nitrate. Bro square and I were experimenting on various gadget and setup but I don't think either of us found the ideal solution.

trickle tower by bro square

coiled denitrator by bro cute

canister denitrator by bro sorcerer

For our goldfish tanks/tubs, nothing beats fresh clean water.

[YLD]

Unfortunately I don't think there's a cure.  green water doesn't cure it at all; maybe it could promote a bigger wen to help 'cover' up the buldging eyes but that's just a trick. 

Sorry.

Thanx for the reply.


Lesson learnt.

[Allan]

day 2
gosh ! up to 40 ppm in one day.....

Your stock load is definitely too high if your nitrate accumulates at an alarming 30 ppm per day! Do something about it. At this rate, I would have to change all the water on alternate days. If I wait for a week before changing water, the nitrate level would be 210 ppm! That's suicidal!

[white horse T1]

day 2
gosh ! up to 40 ppm in one day.....

Day 3
80 ppm. ouch!

a. looks like plant in sump not absorbing much nitrate,

b. got Seachem Matrix nitrates at hand to standby alr to place at the drip compartment i can squeeze in.

c. also got 1 miserable grass ball in tank for them to play and hopefully soak some more nitrate

[GF Lover]

After reading this thread, I got frighten and I went to Petmart today to buy 2 different brands of Nitrate test kit. I tested all the water where I keep my goldfish. Two tubs in the balcony and one fishtank. The fish tank and one of the tub where I use coral chip in my filter do not seems to register much nitrate reading. However in one of the tub where I do not use coral chip, it shows reading of 150 ppm. This tub has only 5 small ranchu of about 2 inches. My tank in the living room is the standard 2 ft tank with 2 orandas about 6 inches and 5 around 4 inches. I have not change the water in my 2 feet tank for nearly 4 weeks now. I have an ammonia alert which always shows safe. How come no ammonia and Nitrate problem? I use both test kit just to make sure. Both confirm very good. Is my fish OK. Can anyone help me on this??

[HappyBuddha]

Day 3
80 ppm.  ouch! 

a. looks like plant in sump not absorbing much nitrate, 

b.  got Seachem Matrix nitrates at hand to standby alr to place at the drip compartment i can squeeze in.

c.  also got 1 miserable grass ball in tank for them to play and hopefully soak some more nitrate

It's 10ppm higher than I predicted? Goosh!

Tomorrow it will be 110 ppm and it's only day 4 after water change. Siao leow.

1. Yeah... nobody really knows how much plants you need for a volume of water/stock level.
2. It probably will take a while (4 weeks at least) for it to start working.
3. You goldfish might tear them apart.

Your above contigency plan is flawed.

Have you figured out the right corrective action to take?

[HappyBuddha]

After reading this thread, I got frighten and I went to Petmart today to buy 2 different brands ....

What's your feeding pattern like?

Good water parameters with no water change for 4 weeks? You must tell us more about your setup and share your secrets!

[white horse T1]

It's 10ppm higher than I predicted?  Goosh!

Tomorrow it will be 110 ppm and it's only day 4 after water change.  Siao leow.

1.  Yeah... nobody really knows how much plants you need for a volume of water/stock level.
2.  It probably will take a while (4 weeks at least) for it to start working.
3.  You goldfish might tear them apart.

Your above contigency plan is flawed. 

Have you figured out the right corrective action to take? 

did another 20% change again last night after seeing the day 3 result.

yeah. contingency plan is flaw but chaim see tong first
100% change will have to wait till weekend.
meantime, will try to transfer a couple of ranchu to my green water project to reduce the ammonia load.

[white horse T1]

did another 20% change again last night after seeing the day 3 result.

yeah. contingency plan is flaw but chaim see tong first
100% change will have to wait till weekend.
meantime, will try to transfer a couple of ranchu to my green water project to reduce the ammonia load.

hey i ve not given up yet.

will cover all available surface in sump tank with water lettuce and water hycinth on top of the bamboo plants.

betw
duckweed $2 a tub (those plastic soup type) cheap or not?

[GF Lover]

What's your feeding pattern like?

Good water parameters with no water change for 4 weeks?  You must tell us more about your setup and share your secrets!

Hi HB. I have a 3 inches thick coral hip as my undergravel filter that is being operated by a powerhead. The water is being pump to an overhead filter and let to flow back to the tank. I feed my goldfish twice a day with Hikari. I am still very baffle at the reading.

Yesterday I put coral chip in my cannister filter for the tub with poor NO3 reading, and change 20% of the water. Last night when I return home, I did a check again and the NO3 reading was 2.5 ppm.

I have also noticed that the water in my tank turning slightly brown, which I think must be caused by using Hikari. I have still not change the water in my tank. Continue to check it for a little while more.

Has anyone tried using caral chip in their filter?

[mountain]

Hi HB. I have a 3 inches thick coral hip as my undergravel filter that is being operated by a powerhead. The water is being pump to an overhead filter and let to flow back to the tank. I feed my goldfish twice a day with Hikari. I am still very baffle at the reading.

Yesterday I put coral chip in my cannister filter for the tub with poor NO3 reading, and change 20% of the water. Last night when I return home, I did a check again and the NO3 reading was 2.5 ppm.

I have also noticed that the water in my tank turning slightly brown, which I think must be caused by using Hikari. I have still not change the water in my tank. Continue to check it for a little while more.

Has anyone tried using caral chip in their filter?

coral chips have NO effect on Nitrate/Nitrite. The only purpose of coral chips is to buffer the PH levels. Your tank would have suffer a super Low PH/PH crash anytime since 4 weeks with no water change. But u probably prevented it from happening with out 3 inch think coral chips. But most of us seldom use coral chips. instead we use baking soda. you can do a search and read up on this topic. It has been extensively discussed by the brothers here. Part of the Reason being, we change our water frequently and in large percentages.

Your brown water observance is from Hikari pellets. You can try shaking up the pellets in a seperate container with fresh tap water and then tell us if the water turn as brown as your tank water.

Would you mind if you take a photo of your 2 ft tank with 2 orandas about 6 inches and 5 around 4 inches?? I wanna take a look at your undergravel filter.. i presume there is really gravel?? by the way, ammonia alerts are good for a few month in a heavy tank and by then it should be replaced. how old is your ammonia alert? You should have also bought a ammonia test kit to double check your ammonia readings. The low nitrite/nitrate readings could be becaz there is high ammonia and no BB at all.. <-- errr .. sorrie.. brothers here can help me correct this statement if i am wrong hor..

[square_guy]

at 3" inch, the coral chips bed could possibly serve as a DSB to denitrify provided there is region of low DO in it.

Coral chips are also good habitat for BB.

However, knowing the way goldfish poo, it will be quite extraordinary if the coral chips bed is actually working well enough to keep nitrate at such low level!

best to check NH3/NH4, NO2 and NO3.