Question about API NitraZorb

[Jeremy]

Hi Guys

I saw a product at my fish store called NitraZorb? and I was wondering does this product do what it says by removing nitrite and nitrate? and it said it can recharge also? how do you go about doing that?

Anyways I was just wondering if it was something that would be helpful in my goldfish tank

Thanks

Jeremy

[mizzoutank]

What are your issues with the goldfish tank you currently have?

tank size? how many fish? filtration?...what are those?

The free option of helping out your tank is a follows:
check water parameters,
change water weekly at the min.
doing a water change is the free way of removing nitrites/nitrates.

but having a cycled tank means 0 nitrites.

so we'll need more info on what your current issue's are to provide other alternatives.

[imma24]

+1 - many people with goldfish tanks either don't change their water often enough or have them in too small of a tank which can lead to nitrates staying higher

If you aren't having any problems in your tank, there is no need for it and if you are having problems, please post the info asked for above.

[KevinVA]

My thought process about this stuff (several companies make this sort of thing) is this:

Using something that will absorb ammonia & nitrites will stunt the growth of your beneficial bacteria. This will require you to continue using this filter media. If you cycle your tank, there's no need for using this. If you wanted to use it for getting rid of nitrates, you're doing yourself a disservice. For one, it'll diminish your beneficial bacteria colonies, since it will be competing for nutrients with them, and it will give you the false premise that your water is just as healthy as the moment you added it to the tank. While your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels might be kept low, your water contains other minerals/nutrients that your fish and/or plants utilize, so you'll need to continue doing water changes anyway.

So, does it work for what it's made for? Yep. Is it necessary? Nope. I think it's a waste of money and should only be used if you have a water quality issue from your tap or you just want to add to your work load and dish out some extra money. =]

[Cermet]

If you are asking if this product works, I'd say most likely. If you want it to remove a buildup of nitrates, that is an expensive approch (after a while, they do not recharge very well and need to be replaced - water changes work far, far better and are very cheap - cost of the water (and must be done anyway.) For nitrites issues, that stuff would be worse than useless as discused by KevinVA.

If you want to reduce nitrates without doing as large water changes or as often, or are paying real money for acceptable water, then algae scrubbers are the only way to go and will work extremely well (will still need water changes - just fewer.)

[Tiari]

I find products such as this, as well as ammonia absorbers have a use, but generally it is for emergency type situations. Things in life happen and can go crazily out of whack if the fish keeper gets detained from home for a long period unexpectedly, or becomes ill where they are unable to do tank maintenance for a period of time. In these cases these items can be used to rectify a problem until it can be eradicated. Constant use? If the tank is properly maintained, there is no use for this.

I do however find, and have used, ammonia absorbers when cycling a tank, and found the tank cycled particularly well with no ammonia damage to fish. Ammonia absorbers will simply turn it to ammonium, which will still cause the beneficial bacteria to grow, without harming the fish.

[Jeremy]

Thanks guys, I was just wondering about the product ( Still learning )

[KevinVA]

We're all students in the hobby of fishkeeping. It's like being a doctor. It's a never-ending learning experience.