Nitrate removal product

[Dean]

As we all know, nitrates are the one thing we all try to Manage with shrimp tanks.

So when i was asked if i knew of a good product for removal i started looking around and found this.

"Macropore" by G & J Loyd jones.

I purchased a 2ltr bottle for the test.

so i gave it a go on the new system i have been building.

The system is 24 tanks that holds approximately 3600ltr

I used an API nitrate test kit for this test

the water at setup was reading nitrate of 80

i used the little bags they sell for this product

filled 2 of them up with 500g in each

then put 1 in each sump just over the intake of the return pump.

will test nitrate in 3 days to see how it goes :)

[Squiggle]

Great work dude, very interested to hear your results :victorious:

[BlueBolts]

Nitrates, the bane to shrimp hobbyist. Thanks for sharing the product/test. Curious to see a $ and efficiency comparison to it's competitor like Purigen, API Nitra-Zorb...

[honcho]

Ooooh thats a great experiment..

How much wi a 2L container set us back.. i use purige and its soooo expensive..!

Also can it be recharged...?

[Dean]

2ltr cost $120 plus shipping.

yes it can be recharged

"Macro-pore our newest product is a synthetic absorbent polymer that removes impurities from water and polishes it to a crystal clear clarity. It is active on Quartinary Ammonia groups like nitrates. It can be recharged with salt for freshwater use until it darkens to a point where Chlorine must be used to re-whiten, every three or four recharges.

1 litre of Macro-pore will treat 5000 litres"

[JohnH]

I've read about this stuff elsewhere and it is supposed to be pretty good. It will great to see the results from this test.

[jayc]

I use macropore! It's a great product. I haven't conducted a test like yours, since I add it to my filter from day 1. I don't see nitrates in my tanks.

Works great in conjunction with Supachlor, water dechlorinator when you need to recharge it. See my post in water parameters.

Would be good to see what impact it has on 80ppm water.

Made by an Australian company, so we are supporting local industries as well.

[Callan]

Any updates on how much the nitrates dropped, Dean?

[Dean]

Yes!! sorry only got to test for nitrates today and happy to say that the nitrate reading was <5

so all in all i am very happy with this product and its ability to remove huge amounts of nitrates fast :)

[JohnH]

wow that's pretty impressive.

[jayc]

Wowsa.

I knew it worked. Now I know how well it works.

Let us know when you start seeing Nitrates rising again, so we know how long this product is active for before needing to be recharged.

[shrimpstan]

Great results.. but if this test was done in the cycling phase wouldn't it mean that the nitrate's were possibly already on their way down? Would the test be better suited for a stable tank with high nitrates as opposed to a start up tank?

[jayc]

Are you getting Nitrites and Nitrates mixed up?

Ammonia -> Nitrites -> Nitrates is the nitrogen cycle.

So Nitrates is the end product in the cycle, and would never decrease without the aid of a water change or nitrate removal products.

Nitrate removal products do not work indefinitely however. Once it gets "full", Nitrates will slowly rise again.

[JPN07]

Tried the Macropore on my 300 Litres shrimp tank. Didn't change water for 3 weeks, Nitrate was 20+ ppm (A few shrimp deaths). Last Thursday i received my order of 2L Macropore, put 500-700g into the bag and into the sump it goes. Tested the Nitrate today (7 days) and it has gone done heaps to 0-5 ppm :) Shrimps looks much happier, colours improved and they are way more active then before.

So the product works and cheaper then Purigen as well. $80 for 2L. Value for money and it works!

[jayc]

So the product works and cheaper then Purigen as well. $80 for 2L. Value for money and it works!

Not to mention it's Australian made, so you are also supporting local industry. :encouragement:

[Squiggle]

Macropore is not manufactured in Aus, Graham has said this himself on another forum but his company is Australian

[jayc]

Ah. Thanks for clearing that up. At least we are still supporting an Aussie company.

[Squiggle]

Definitely agree, it is the only product in the G&K LJ range that is made OS, everything else is locally made. :victorious:

[BlueBolts]

Used purigen for the 1st time yesterday, and extremely impressed with the way it polishes the water ! Is there a downside/negative to Macropore in comparison to Purigen.... Does it need the fine bag like purigen ? Keen to give this product a go, as I'm never comfortable re-cycling with bleach/salt ?, and the cost savings is always appreciated .

[honcho]

Macropore and purigen both seem to work the same..

no real difference except for price, macropor is waaaay cheaper...!

Both products need same size bag , or it will escape out everywhere..

The only other real upside i found with both products is..

Purigen boxes changed boxes a lil while back ane maybe product..?!

I used to be able to recharge purigen with salt and warm water or with clorine..now box only states chlorine. And ive tryed recharging it with salt like i used to and it doeant recharge.. :sorrow:

Macropore on the other hand still can be recharges with salt.. which an upside as i dont loike the thought of accidently adding chlorine to my shrimp tank...

Hope that answers ur question BB...

[BlueBolts]

Yes it has, thanks honcho.. +1 chlorine scares the crap out of me....

[ninja]

I'm trying it ATM.

[ineke]

I use purigen and am very happy with it. I do use chlorine bleach until the black colouration is gone then rinse really well in water then soak it overnight in any water ager using 1 cup of the ager. if you can learn the smell of clean purigen- we have been here before about my smelling ability- the purigen takes on its usual smell when clean- to me it's a slightly pungent smell but I smell it even when in the ager once its ready.Hope that makes some sense;)

[ninja]

Isn't the ager expensive too???

[Squiggle]

Prime isn't the cheapest but you only use 1ml per 40L which is way less than any other so it works out even in the long run. Also, with ion exchange resins like macropore & purigen the only way to properly recharge them is to use bleach, using brine solution does clean them to an extent but only bleach will burn off any organic ions & completely recharge it to it's full potential. I have read the process of the ion exchange resins & "recharging" them with a brine solution just doesn't cut it on the ionic level. As I've already said, they will work but not to their full potential. :encouragement: