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02-09-2013, 08:33 PM #1
Junior Member
Guppy
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What is the best plant to use in a refugium to reduce nitrates in 55 gallon tank?
I'm looking to find a more self-sustainable method to reduce nitrates in my 55 gallon tank. The tank is heavily stocked with cichlids, and I want to find a plant to help reduce the nitrate levels so I don't have to change the water every 3-4 days. I do plan to use a sump tank (a 10 or 15 gallon tank with 100 watt HPS). Reducing my stock is not an option because crowding my tank has kept my fish's temperament in check.
"It's not the strongest, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the ones that are most adaptable."
- Charles Darwin
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02-09-2013, 08:45 PM #2
Endemoniada
Arapaima
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Cermet.... This one has you written all over it!
OP There will be some info coming your way shortly, You might consider a bigger sump although I admit I have no idea what sized scrubber would be required...
My GF calls me insincere... I pretend to care.
Think about how stupid the average person is and then realize that half of them are stupider than that.~George Carlin.
It's not that great.~Otto Rohwedder. My optimistic pessimism is tempered with pessimistic optimism.
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.~Aldous Huxley.
William, What decade will all that 'hit-n-run crapola spam' be deleted from 'Buy & sell'?
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02-09-2013, 08:56 PM #3
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gulper shark
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The below link has some details about building algae scrubbers if that is what you choose. Be careful to make note of the required screen size, water flow, and light intensity. If you cut corners on any one of those three requirements, your scrubber will not give you the results your looking for and in the end might be more work than it's worth. When done right they remove a lot of nitrates and phosphate very well.
http://algaescrubber.net/forums/show...cs-The-Summary
As a alternative, hornwart (Spelling?) is a fast growing plant that can help resduce nitrates and phosphates. It also is a easy to grow plant. You could certainly give it a try while you research srubbers and possibly other optionsLast edited by Cliff; 02-09-2013 at 09:20 PM.
If you take your time to do the research FIRST, you can successfully set-up and keep ANY type of aquarium with ease.
"Not using a quarantine tank is like playing Russian roulette. Nobody wins the game, some people just get to play longer than others." - Anthony Calfo
Fishless Cycle Cycling with Fish Marine Aquarium Info [URL="http://saltwater.aquaticcommunity.com/"]
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02-09-2013, 08:57 PM #4
Junior Member
Guppy
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Thanks! I'm going to continue mechanical filtration (since it's taking care of the ammonia and nitrite), so essentially this sump would deal strictly with reducing nitrate levels, although it wouldn't hurt to add a little bit more filtration!
Originally Posted by 850R
Cermet.... This one has you written all over it!
OP There will be some info coming your way shortly, You might consider a bigger sump although I admit I have no idea what sized scrubber would be required...
"It's not the strongest, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the ones that are most adaptable."
- Charles Darwin
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02-09-2013, 09:00 PM #5
Junior Member
Guppy
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- Feb 2013
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- Hot Springs, AR
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Any suggestions on where I can get a good deal on the cermet or hornwart?
"It's not the strongest, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the ones that are most adaptable."
- Charles Darwin
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02-09-2013, 09:06 PM #6
Junior Member
Guppy
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Another idea I had was growing some type of carpet algae and placing it in the tank. It might be more work, but could it achieve the same effect in reducing nitrate levels? Plus it would give them something to munch on!
"It's not the strongest, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the ones that are most adaptable."
- Charles Darwin
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02-09-2013, 09:17 PM #7
Endemoniada
Arapaima
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Oh - OOPS Originally Posted by aquaman2013
I was obviously not very clear.
Cermet is a member here, About 50% of his posts here contain the phrase 'algae scrubber' [Maybe 100% - It might be in his signature] which is what the info Cliff linked you to is about.[I even PMd him so I assumed he would be here shortly to talk about them.]
Apparently he is missing his moment.
My GF calls me insincere... I pretend to care.
Think about how stupid the average person is and then realize that half of them are stupider than that.~George Carlin.
It's not that great.~Otto Rohwedder. My optimistic pessimism is tempered with pessimistic optimism.
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.~Aldous Huxley.
William, What decade will all that 'hit-n-run crapola spam' be deleted from 'Buy & sell'?
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02-09-2013, 09:39 PM #8
Junior Member
Guppy
- Join Date
- Feb 2013
- Location
- Hot Springs, AR
- Posts
- 19
Gotcha! I'll look at some of his posts until then. Thanks!!! Originally Posted by 850R
Oh - OOPS I was obviously not very clear.
Cermet is a member here, About 50% of his posts here contain the phrase 'algae scrubber' [Maybe 100% - It might be in his signature] which is what the info Cliff linked you to is about.[I even PMd him so I assumed he would be here shortly to talk about them.]
Apparently he is missing his moment."It's not the strongest, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the ones that are most adaptable."
- Charles Darwin
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Welcome to the New AC. Please be patient while I try to resolve all the bugs this update is sure to bring. In the end it will all be worth it!!
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