NO3 help plz

Hey all
i just did a test on my 3ft, and all of the "fields" are looking good, but not the NO3,

what can i add to my filters to remove the amonia in the water, can i add zeolite (spelling) to one of my HOB filters? abd if so, how long does it last?

everything is perfect,
PH6.5:bigsmile:
KH 0:bigsmile:
GH 3-6:smile1:
NO2 1-3:smile1:
NO3 50-100 (alarm!!!!!)

i do 20% WC every 2nd day.

Any help plz?

thanks

Vez

 

What I read is that you could do it with Zeolite, but the regenerating is a pain. Then their is anaerobic filtration. Very specialized and sounds 'huge'. As Prof says, it is a luxury for the pro's.

Strange that your WC is not doing it. I suspect some other problem. What kit are you using? Did you measure your 'fresh' water?

 

Oh yeah, you are not mentioning your NH3 NH4. Any reason?

kH at zero will not influence it, but why the happy face?

 

Tetra test 5 in 1

i did the WC friday morning, and tested the water now

 

dont have a test kit for that?

shouldnt it be as low as possible? (thats why the happy face???)

 

Dude what's stick have you hint in there?
This info might help a little to determine the problem?
Try a re test of the nO3.
How old are the kits?

 

uhm its the tetra test 5 in 1 test kit, does a kit like this have a Exp date??

 

thanks Tom, if i may, what does this mean??

 

Well. I would guess 20% on an ongoing basis is not doing it and that you must every so often do a 50%.(or everytime) I am purely speculating now. What I think, is that your bio load is high, but you have good bacterial action, handling the load, which is producing the the extra ordinary high levels of NO3. Therefore, the only answer is bigger WC.

Just to check your kit, do a test on your tap water.

 

Thanks Tom,

maybe i should start doing a 30-40 % WC every 2nd day for a week, and test it again? i did a test now, all seems to be fine with the tap water

NO3--0
NO2--0
GH--3-6
KH--0-3
pH--6.8

 

and how do i remove amonia?? as i dont have a test kit for it?

 

The Zeolite is getting saturated after awhile. Then you must clean it with something like pool acid. It turns the NO3 into salt. Then you must rinse it extensively to get all that out. Then you can use it again. I am talking from the top of my head, so the chemicals could be wrong, but that is the principle, which I see as negative. Also, you must still monitor, as you do not know when the resin (Zeolite) is going to be saturated. So, WC stays the easiest.

 

okay thanks, so no other way to remove? think i need to boost the WC then

 

If it is a problem, that goes out with the WC as well. But your readings is indicating that that is not the case. Your bio filtration is doing its job, otherwise you will not have a spike in NO3. Just to be sure, I would get a NH3 NH4 test as well, but that is not a priority right now.

Just do a desent WC now to get the NO3 levels down.

You are also very lucky with your pH being below 7. Everything is less toxic at that level and the bio bacteria working at optimal. So you can relax!

 

You lucky man! I do not believe the ph though. That is very low in municipal thinking. They like it higher, to protect their infrastructure. But not to panic. If your test is wrong, it should be around 7.5pH, which is not a train smash. I will check it for you when I get my fish from you.

 

sweet, thanks dude!!!! will do a WC this afternoon a big 50%

 

Bud what's your fish stock and plant stock?

 

haha, lekker vaak vanoggend! (Im stil sleepy) Talking to Vez, not Vis. Thouhgt it is strange...

 

NO3 is nitrate, not very bad for fish. Only bad in excess amounts. Ammonia and Nitrite are the harmful ones. Don't add an ammonia remover because then you bacteria won't have anything to feed on. IMO

 

haha, ek wou nou net se???hmmmm