Water change but Add Nitrate?
Ok, this may sound odd, but I have noticed a contradiction between changing water to remove accumulated nitrate and then adding nitrate in various forms via some type of fertilizer. What part of the big picture am I missing? Remove SPAM to send me email. |
Water change but Add Nitrate?
"James Ervin" wrote in message ... Ok, this may sound odd, but I have noticed a contradiction between changing water to remove accumulated nitrate and then adding nitrate in various forms via some type of fertilizer. What part of the big picture am I missing? Change water to remove nitrate in an unplanted tank. Most planted tanks have low nitrogen, you change water to limit the odd crap that tends to build up. Bob |
Water change but Add Nitrate?
This is an explanation I read a while back, I think it is reasonable.
Changing water does more than eliminate nitrate. It eliminates many dissolved organic compounds (DOCs) in the water which over time accumulate and harm fish. Nitrate levels are an indicator of DOC accumulation. Nitrate by itself, and at modest levels, does not harm fish and is essential for plant growth. A water change when nitrate levels are high will dilute out the DOCs, however in some tanks nitrates may need to be added back to keep the level high enough for adequate plant growth. For tanks where low nitrates are not a problem, many fertilizers do not contain nitrate. Not the best rephrasing - read better from the original source... but I can't remember what that is. |
Water change but Add Nitrate?
Ok, this may sound odd, but I have noticed a contradiction between
changing water to remove accumulated nitrate and then adding nitrate in various forms via some type of fertilizer. What part of the big picture am I missing? Plants. If you have a high-tech, high-light tank with a lot of fast-growing plants, they will use up nitrate faster than the fish and bacteria can generate it. So people with such tanks have to add nitrate. For the average tank, with a few slow-growing, low-light tanks, or none at all, the nitrate tends to build up, and must be removed with water changes. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
Water change but Add Nitrate?
"James Ervin" wrote in message ... Makes perfect sence......now it fits. Nitrate is a marker for a need to change water for the more potent DOCs. Thanks. If you don't have plants. If you do there may not be any direct relationship between nitrate and misc. DOCs and other material which may build up in the water. Hence most people change water regularly, even people who have stable heavily planted tanks generally change water at least once in a while. Bob |
Water change but Add Nitrate?
"Robert Flory" wrote in
gy.com: Change water to remove nitrate in an unplanted tank. Most planted tanks have low nitrogen, you change water to limit the odd crap that tends to build up. ....and replenish trace elements. ~Empty -- 'You're not friends. You'll never be friends. You'll be in love till it kills you both. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other till it makes you quiver, but you'll never be friends. Love isn't brains, children, it's blood... blood screaming inside you to work its will. I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it.' Spike |
Water change but Add Nitrate?
James Ervin wrote:
Makes perfect sence......now it fits. Nitrate is a marker for a need to change water for the more potent DOCs. No it isn't! Planted tanks will generally have little or no nitrate (if none is added). Does that mean there is no DOC accumulation? Absolutely not! -- Victor M. Martinez http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv |
Water change but Add Nitrate?
Right, but the thing is, if the tank has the right organisms in it, they consume
a lot of the DOCs (filter shrimp, snails, etc...). The more diverse the tank is, the less maintenance it needs. "Victor M. Martinez" wrote: James Ervin wrote: Makes perfect sence......now it fits. Nitrate is a marker for a need to change water for the more potent DOCs. No it isn't! Planted tanks will generally have little or no nitrate (if none is added). Does that mean there is no DOC accumulation? Absolutely not! -- Victor M. Martinez http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv |
Water change but Add Nitrate?
Rich Conley wrote:
Right, but the thing is, if the tank has the right organisms in it, they consume a lot of the DOCs (filter shrimp, snails, etc...). The more diverse the tank is, the less maintenance it needs. Absolutely! That's why I have 2 kinds of snails and 3 kinds of shrimp in my tank. :) -- Victor M. Martinez http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv |
Water change but Add Nitrate?
Wonderfulll...someone whos not afraid of snails... :)
"Victor M. Martinez" wrote: Rich Conley wrote: Right, but the thing is, if the tank has the right organisms in it, they consume a lot of the DOCs (filter shrimp, snails, etc...). The more diverse the tank is, the less maintenance it needs. Absolutely! That's why I have 2 kinds of snails and 3 kinds of shrimp in my tank. :) -- Victor M. Martinez http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv |
Water change but Add Nitrate?
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Water change but Add Nitrate?
Right, but the thing is, if the tank has the right organisms in it, they
consume a lot of the DOCs (filter shrimp, snails, etc...). The more diverse the tank is, the less maintenance it needs. Yes, that is my thinking too. I use as diverse population as possible. Ghost shrimp, dwarf crayfish, clams, and MTS snails. At partial water change time I siphon up som eof the detritus so it never accumilates beyound what i thing looks natural. Moon remove nospam from e-mail to send to me, I grow trees in aquariums like bonsai. I breed dwarf crayfish, great for planted community tanks. If you can get me a shovelnose sturgeon fingerling (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) no wild caught please, contact me |
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