CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

Hi,
Does anyone use a Nitrate filter?
I've heard they are a pain as you have to 'feed' the bacteria in them but I'd like to reduce the amount of water I change every week if I could.

Are they any good and worth the cost?

Thank-you,
Stacy

Hi Stacynewton -- Here in my little isolated corner of the universe I've never even heard of a Nitrate filter! 

If you're specifically targeting nitrate and want to decrease the frequency (or size) of water changes, there may be several solutions. Here's a couple: 1: Plants or allowing algae growth. Live plants use Nitrate, as does Algae, and the more plants the better. If you keep species that destroy plants (like many Cichlids), then you can use floating plants like Duckweed or resort to putting the plants behind a divider in their own section with an airstone. 2. Feed less food, or less frequently. Nitrate will build more slowly.

However, one thing: we do water changes for more than just nitrate. Dissolved solids are an issue; vaccuuming gravel; and also, water changes lower nitrite and ammonia in addition to nitrate. So, if you want to do fewer changes keep those things in mind, too! 

I have been experimenting due to having to go away for extended periods of time (3 months).  My wife started the fishkeeping in our household so she knows what to do, however she is not up to the large changes that are required on our larger tanks.  So while I am away she will be carrying out smaller changes whilst gravel vaccing and the levels of nitrate will no doubt rise.

When I get back I will be using a resin made by Fluval which I found DID reduce nitrate quite dramatically and perhaps an orgainic compound that I am testing now.  However, I don't believe that either of these methods will beat regular water changes, I normally keep nitrates below 20ppm by water changes coupled with plants, and both of these methods are quite expensive.  The resin can be recharged several times but you need to add a large dose of salt.

As for filter, these resins go into a bag which will sit in a compartment of an external or sump filter, the organic compound gets poured straight into the water (although the jury is still out on that one, it has reduced nitrate so far - still watching for effects on the fish)