CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

the other day i was wondering why i haven't heard anything about ways to lower nitrate in tanks besides water changes, so i looked online and found this Nitrate Removal System, aparrently the bacteria that remove nitrate need different conditons than those for ammonia and nitrite, anybody ever heard about or had any experience with one of these types of systems?

http://aquaripure.com/index.htm

The best system to remove nitrates IMO is a planted tank. If your tank can't have plants, due to the type of fish, that inhabit the tank, then a sump could be built, and house the plants in the sump. I have not heard of the NRS before, but I did look at the link you provided. Personally for me, I wouldn't have any use for one, but I think from what I read, it would work as they advertised it.

Anyone have any take on Seachem's Matrix for Nitrate removal? Doesn't seem to work very well in filters with high flow rates and the pores apparently clog when placed amongst the gravel.

http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Matrix.html

Sunday I did a complete testing and found everything was perfect ...EXCEPT a nasty 140ppm nitrate reading. Doing 33% water changes daily and bought some Nitra-Zorb that I placed in the filter tonight. Doing a reading Friday Night and will let you know what I get ... Keep in my I'm in a 48 gallon and I have a 4-5 inch Red in there witha 9 inch pleco...

I would also be real interested in some personal testimonials with that denitrator in the link above ...

Seachem Matrix is useless as a denitrator. I emailed them to find out more info and this was the response:

"If you are wanting denitrification to occur you will need an area of low to no oxygen where anaerobic bacteria can grow. Some of these bacteria will grow on the inside of Matrix at a high flow rate. If your nitrates are still building than I would suggest that you make a denitrator. I have attached an example. If you have any questions let me know. Once you get a denitrator in place you will benefit from the use of Stability to seed the filter. Placing the Matrix on the Gravel might work temporarily but you will find that the pores clog up rather quickly and that it does not work long term."

Of course, making a dentritor to get rid of nitrates was NOT on the Matrix bottle or ad. Instead, they advertise that Matrix is single site removal of nitrogen, which I think is false advertisement.

Moreover, their Neutral pH/buffer product is crap. http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/neytralRegulator.html I've used it and it does NOT buffer my water to neutral, nor does it change the alkalinity of the water. For that reason, I even question this product's ability to remove chlorine!

Beware purchasing Seachem products. They may not work as directed.