Nitrate removal in sumps

[Matty]

Hi guys,

I was just wondering what people were doing to lower thier nitrates in sumped system apart from water changes?

I recently noticed I had quite high nitrates going, so I've done my water changes but also added a Pothos in my sump. This is a plant that needs very little light, and on other forums has been mentioned to be really effective at nitrate removal. So far I can read a noticable decrease in my nitrates after water changes but even more with the Pothos in the sump. I think long term it will really help keep nitrates low, but only time will tell.

The cost was cheap too, considering the plant was $10 at bunnings and all I did with it was clean all the soil and everything off the roots then put it in a plastic container with holes all through it and place it in with a heap of bio noodles I had spare.

If anyone is interested I can put some pictures up, would like to hear other peoples experiences if they use pothos or any other type of nitrate removal :)

Cheers

Matty

[Squiggle]

Yeah Pothos are awesome for nitrate removal, have seen this done before with awesome results, good thing is, if it's not removing enough just add another one, simple & very cheap :encouragement:

[BlueBolts]

Great info and thanks for sharing. Please do post pics.....

[OzShrimp]

Great info and thanks for sharing. Please do post pics.....

ditto to what marcus said :)

[Matty]

Here is the pothos in my sump, so people can get an idea of what it is. Also bunnings staff might not know what it is if you look around, they were inside on the massive sort of cake stand things. I will see how it goes over this time, great thing is the pothos wont get heaps of light were it is sitting and that is good for the plant. I want to eventually build a small rack into my 2fter with yellows in it to contain a pothos to control nitrates in it, but that will be later down the track.

I really thing this has the potential in any set up, its a low tech low expense way to avoid having to water change a million times a week if you have huge issues with overstocking and such. Leaving more time to sit and enjoy :) Hopefully I will see over the next few days a real different to validate this method. Once that is established I will look for at a way to clip the plant and place into my 2fter, to help further reduce the nitrates there.

[OzShrimp]

does it need nutrients like flourish and stuff tho ?

[ineke]

Is it shrimp safe to put a piece in a tank?

[Matty]

From what I have read no, because it uses the fish water for its nutrients, basically instead of just converting nitrates into another form harmless to fish and shrimp it actually exports it into the air so complete removal while using the nutrients from the fish water. However, this is only on what I have read, I'm not an expert on these matters just trying to wrap my head around more efficient ways of doing things. Seriously though it needs next to near no light, and it is very hardy, another person using one says he has to trim his every two weeks because it grows so fast, I'm assuming thats just in a tank with fish no plants etc.

[Matty]

Is it shrimp safe to put a piece in a tank?

Couple of days in and my red cherries seem to be doing fine?, I guess the only worry would be if they started actually eating the roots? Not sure but I guess will find out when I finally get around to testing it solely on my 2fter with yellows in it.

[MrShrimp]

I've seen these plants growing in water pot/jars but I never thought about using them in a sump. I guess we learn some thing new every day. Great thread mate.

[ineke]

please keep us informed I can't seem to get my nitrates below 5 in one of my tanks the shrimp are happy enough with that but I have this plant and I could easily clip it on the side and just have the roots in the water.( pretty sure it's over feeding :redface-new:)

[Matty]

I've seen these plants growing in water pot/jars but I never thought about using them in a sump. I guess we learn some thing new every day. Great thread mate.

Cheers' date=' just trying to help this forum go as far as it can :) I think its the best forum in Aus, great people on here and no trolls :).

please keep us informed I can't seem to get my nitrates below 5 in one of my tanks the shrimp are happy enough with that but I have this plant and I could easily clip it on the side and just have the roots in the water.( pretty sure it's over feeding :redface-new:)

I would assume its overfeeding, I have the same problem :/. The Pothos could even be placed in something like a sudo breeder box to keep it out of the tank away from the shrimp while still going through the water? But that might be too expensive for just lower nitrates for someone. Will keep everyone informed as to how the tanks are going :)

[JPN07]

Awesome tip/advise Matty :encouragement:. My nitrate in my setup with sump is around 10. Will have to try this method.

Thanks

[al4n]

Abit of a thread hijack, sorry!

Are you guys using API test for nitrate? mine always shows 0ppm just wondering if I'm doing it correctly?

[JPN07]

Ya Alan, i am using the API test kit. I rinse the test tube with tap or RO water first to clean it. Then i put the tank water and follow the instructions.

[Aquathumb]

I have used golden pothos shoved in the back of my hang-on filters in 3 of my 3ft tanks for years. They work a treat for nitrates and help to clean the air in your house too. But they do grow a lot faster if they get decent light, near a window or if you give them there own light fixture. Never had any shrimp of fish negatively affected by them. Its basicly Aquaponics :)

[Dean]

What is a "golden pathos" ? and how does it reduce nitrates?

sounds interesting

[ninja]

I Googled it and its poisonous to dogs, cats and kids, think I'll wait to see if it affects shrimp. I do have lots in the garden, be careful buying it as it might be treated for bugs.

[CNgo2006]

Yep also kills turtles...as my friend recently lost one after nibbling on pothos plant.

[Squiggle]

What is a "golden pathos" ? and how does it reduce nitrates?

sounds interesting

These are the plants I was talking about at the BBQ on Wayne's boat, they substitute the need for light by sucking up nitrates to grow so they are perfect for a sump situation, just gotta make sure they are clean :encouragement:

[Aquathumb]

What is a "golden pathos" ? and how does it reduce nitrates?

sounds interesting

Golden Pothos is the plant that in the picture that Matty posted. like all plants it uses nitrates to grow and if you can make it happy it will grow fast. it has thick leaves and uses a lot of nitrates to fill out its structure.

I have never had the roots or leaves exposed directly to fish or shrimp as they are in my filter but it certainly wont release any poisons into the water or I would have lost many fish/shrimp by now.

[ninja]

Hi Aquathumb, have you used it in high quality shrimp tanks, like TB's or PRL or just cherries. I have used it before on fish only tanks without problems.

[BlueBolts]

Hi Aquathumb' date=' have you used it in high quality shrimp tanks, like TB's or PRL or just cherries. I have used it before on fish only tanks without problems.[/quote']

Ninja, be great if you could test them on your prized shrimps, and report your findings on the forum.....take one for the team ? :encouragement:

[ineke]

Oh BB you are awful ! :anonymous:

[Matty]

I would not reccomend putting it where anything can really get a bite to it, however, a HOB is perfect or even this filtering systems that come up to the top of the tank such as in the aqua one tanks would be perfect for a Pothos grow out. Besides if its in the sump, dont think you'll be getting any problems with it. Here is a picture of the tag that comes with it, along with scientific name etc, I must point out I gave it a really good clean all over before putting it into my sump with multiple buckets of water, and I only have the roots submerged not the whole plant.