Help: How to eliminate Nitrate & Nitrite

[a_scape]

Dear all,
U just finish setting up 3 metres tank , in the first 3 weeks everything seems ok.
The water is crystal clear, plants bubbling and have a good growth progress.
But stepping on week 4 there was some algae appear (not BGA)and surprisingly when I insert the shrimp & oto within 24 hrs all of them died .
I found that there were nitrate & nitrite appear on test.
Any clue how to eliminate two of them immediately & effectively.
Thanks for any help

[plantmania]

Can try a product called Algone. Expensive though.
Else frequent water changes, control fert dosage and reduce feeding.

[a_scape]

Hi, I do regular 30% water change every 3 days but seems not working at all.
Rest water parameter is ok (pH 7.1, Kh 4)
No fert used yet since beginning and no fish food (as I haven't insert any )
Any other way to solve??

[PeterGwee]

[quote:c5a4c511="ascape"]Hi, I do regular 30% water change every 3 days but seems not working at all.
Rest water parameter is ok (pH 7.1, Kh 4)
No fert used yet since beginning and no fish food (as I haven't insert any )
Any other way to solve??[/quote:c5a4c511]

Do you use CO2? If you do, you do not have enough. You will need to lower the pH down to 6.6-6.7 range using CO2 only to help the plants and then fertilize immediately. Why are you holding back on the fertilization? No food for the plants..they starve and would not grow. No growth, no uptake of ammonia or nitrate. When the ammonia or nitrite gets too high, it will kill your critters which is what you are experiencing. So, basic notion is to get your plants to grow well by giving them all the nutrients they need. Add mulm to your filter and substrate (if you did not add any to the bottom of the substrate, it is a bit late to do that now though.) to jumpstart the nitrifying bacteria culture. That should cover up things pretty much.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[geoffrey]

Err......3 metres tank, that's big! Is there a typo? If it is that big, may we know how big is your filtration system? Could it be your filtration system is not efficient/effective? A nitrification problem where NH4 -> NO2 - >NO3 is not converted quickly enough?

And also, how is CO2 delivered into your tank. You have to ensure CO2 is there in every far corners of your tank.

[a_scape]

Dear Peter & Geoffrey,

Many thanks for the feedback.
For the base fertilizer I use 12 boxes of Deponit Mix from Dennerle and I will try to dose some Tropica Master Grow after changing water today.
And you guys are right, it seems difficult to make Co2 properly spread in all areas.
I use 3 eheim 2260 (no carbon,30% bioball,rest is filter matt which used in koi filter) and 6 Co2 diffuser (4 bubbles per second).

So in this case I will change 30% water and add the TMG, the question is :
1. Should I maintain 9 hrs lighting? as some algae still available?
2. Any feedback how to make co2 injection more effective ?
Correct me if anything missing...
Thanks

[geoffrey]

You have to use a reactor instead of a diffuser. Reactors are more effective. Unless water in Indonesia has sufficient NO3 and PO4 for your plants need, otherwise you may want to consider using them for fertilising. TMG has only K, Mg and TE but not macro, N and P.

[a_scape]

Hi Geoffrey,
Thanks for the comment, I will try to search for the reactor then.
FOr N & P , any clue where I can get this macro?
Thanks

AChen

[geoffrey]

I don't know where you can find them in Indonesia. We get NO3 and PO4 from KNO3 and KH2PO4 respectively. Are there any hydroponic shops there? They should carry them.

Otherwise, you can still get NO3 from stump-remover and PO4 from, I think, a suppository call fleet enema (spelling is wrong?).

[a_scape]

Dear Geoffrey,
Thanks for the advise, I'll try to search here.
Is there any particular % of concentrate for KNO3 & KH2PO4 ?
Anyway how to dose correctly NO3 and PO4 ?
And what is the indication of lack NO3 and PO4 ?

Thanks again...


AChen

[geoffrey]

AChen,

NO3 is 61% of KNO3 and PO4 is 70% of KH2PO4. Chuck's website has a useful calculator you can downgrade to help you calculate. There is a sticky thread on the top, you should find it.

I personally like the estimative method recommended by plantbrain. Do read his article on that and you should understand how much and how frequent you should dose weekly after water change.

Apart from using test kits to check their levels, of which they are hopelessly inconsistent and inaccurate depending on brands, you can use what you see from the plants themselves.

[a_scape]

Last,
Thanks for the advise and make me aware that still so many things to be learnt on aquascaping.
Will update if there is any progress.
Cheers,


AChen

[Plantbrain]

You need to add some K, PO4, Traces for the NO3 to be removed.
KNO3, traces and KH2PO4(or enama solutions will also work).

Regards,
Tom Barr

[max1218]

Hi Tom,

By adding KNO3, traces and KH2PO4, will there be any side effects???

[Plantbrain]

A weed choked tank.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[a_scape]

Hi Tom,
Any specific correct dose for those requirement?
Or at least any parameter as guideline ?
I don't expect to get chocked weed
Thanks for your help...


AChen

[barmby]

>A weed choked tank.


I like this!

hi a_scape,

Goto http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/articles.htm

Download the Chuck Aquarium Calculator. It will help you! really! How much to dose per single every element, NO3, PO4, K, CO2 and more!

[Plantbrain]

For a very high light 20 gal/80 liter tank, I'll go 1/4 teaspoon of KNO3, 1/16th od KH2PO4, every other day(4x a week), and traces on the off days 5mls(3x a week).

You can dose 3x a week all these together or 2x a week etc if you have less light.

You can scale this up/down for whatever size tank you have.

Regards,

[neon]

[quote:a80795e6="Plantbrain"]For a very high light 20 gal/80 liter tank, I'll go 1/4 teaspoon of KNO3, 1/16th od KH2PO4, every other day(4x a week), and traces on the off days 5mls(3x a week).

You can dose 3x a week all these together or 2x a week etc if you have less light.

You can scale this up/down for whatever size tank you have.

Regards,[/quote:a80795e6]
Tom,

I have 6'x2'x2' planted tank with 3 x 150w MH, chilled with 25 deg C. Have many spot green algae at the front glass. Some BBA on some of the moss frons. Mosses are not growing into the triangular shape , ie xmas moss and taiwan moss.

Bioload :
80+ Cardinal
40+ Rummy nose
6 rasboras
5 bleeding heart
4 otos
1 SAE
50+ cherry shrimp
10 emperor and red emperor tetra
3 hatchet fish

NO3 usually around 20ppm using test kits
PH 6.5
dKH 5
CO2 30-40ppm

water change 50% weekly (Friday evening) with double filters (1st one is 1 micron and 2nd one is 0.5 micron carbon filter).

canister using Eheim 2260 + 600L/h power head for water circulation.

Currently dosing routine :

4ppm KNO3 (Fri) per dose after water change and Monday
1ppm KH2PO4 (Fri) per dose after water change and Monday
7ppm K2SO4 (Fri) per dose after water change and Monday
3.5ppm MgSO4 (Fri) per dose after water change and Monday

0.25ppm Rexolin APN (Fe DPTA) (Sat) per dose and Tuesday

Is my dosage enough, too low for highlight tank ?

Apprecate you advice . Thanks !

Cheers