Nitrate

Couple of options I know about.

A chemical solution is Seachem Purigen.
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Purigen.html
It's quite expensive but it's really effective. It's a  synthetic adsorbent.
It's quite amazing because it actually targets organic compounds.
That's ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and tannins etc.

I would only use it on a fully cycled tank because it is so effective I would be concerned that it would slow down the growth of the Nitrifying bacteria. (Personal gut feeling - not science-based)

I personally would not use it instead of a proper bio filter system, but in tandem with a properly working bio system.

I use it because i have quite quite high nitrates in my tap water. Works perfectly in my kids 20L tank.

I bought the 250ml tub (from Amazon for about £18) which you need to bag yourself, but there is a ready-bagged 100ml size available too.

In the tub it looks like tiny round rubbery granules, you need to be careful because they get everywhere!
I made up some bags using nylon tights and added one to the filter after the bio noodles. When the Purigen has stopped being effective you'll see it has changed colour. Then I'll switch for another bag I have already made up.

Then you simply add your spent 'bag' to a solution of 1:1 water:bleach for 24 hours (then thoroughly rinse and soak in water/dechlorinator for 24 hours) and this will reactivate it - so the stuff apparently lasts about 3 years.

Unlike carbon which doesn't affect nitrates and expires in a few weeks.

On my new tank I've used it to remove the tannins that were leaking from my bogwood.
My water is crystal clear now.

You do need to remove Purigen when treating your tank with any medications.


{EDIT} Disregard the above. I've done some more reading on Purigen and it doesn't remove Nitrates. People notice an overall reduction in Nitrates over time when using it as Purigen helps adsorb the nitrogenous waste that contributes towards creating Nitrates.

Purigen® controls ammonia, nitrites and nitrates by removing nitrogenous organic waste that would otherwise release these harmful compounds.

What it does do fantastically well is remove Tannins - but that's no help to the OP.


The other method is to buy RO water from your LFS.
I buy 25L for £3. I buy it because my tap water is too hard for Cardinal tetras, but it's basically nitrate-free too.
I mix mine with my tap water 50/50 so I gain the mineral benefits from the tap water.


Oh, another thought : certain live plants are supposed to be very effective at soaking up nitrates too - but others will hopefully be able to advise which specific plants and their needs.

Thanks for replys guys.

I hear that the Biohome Ultra is a good way to reduce Nitrate?
Any suggestions to using this in my filter to reduce the Nitrate.

I bought the Bio home media some weeks ago. I bought the new bio gravelsize for my small filters. Got it from Tynevalley and as my filters are small and I couldn't work out how much to use I just filled a piece of tights and stuffed in as much as I could into the middle section of my Aquaone tank and put as much as I could into my mini home made filter.

Quote "'BIOGRAVEL' IS A UNIQUE PRODUCT MADE FROM THE SAME MATERIAL AS BIOHOME (SINTERED GLASS) AND IS SUITABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING APPLICATIONS:
FILTER MEDIA IN SMALL DIY FILTERS, 'INVISIBLE FILTERS', INTERNAL FILTERS, HOB FILTERS

BIO-SUBSTRATE FOR UNDERGRAVEL FILTERS (REPLACES GRAVEL)

PLANTING SUBSTRATE

SHRIMP SUBSTRATE

KEY FEATURES INCLUDE:

HUGELY POROUS STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORT OF AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC BACTERIA

REMOVES AMMONIA, NITRITE AND NITRATE (THROUGH BACTERIAL ACTION)

LIGHTER THAN GRAVEL SO CLEANS MORE EFFICIENTLY WHEN USING GRAVEL CLEANER

ROUGH TEXTURE ALLOWS PLANT ROOTS TO EASILY GRAB IT

WILL NOT RAISE pH LIKE GRAVEL DOES"

The mini filter is in my 60cm and works alongside the main filter (belt and braces in case the main one fails whilst I'm away - i know they share the bacteria)
Anyway, it's easy stuff to use but for the nitrate removing properties it has to be in there for some time .
Richard from Tyne valley produces it specifically for people who have the Bioi-orbs as he reckons the gravel/filtration that comes with those is rubbish.

I really hope it does do some good in my tank, especially for when I am on my annual holiday