nitrate sponge?

[yvetterich]

Has anyone heard of this? a nitrate sponge? a lfs told me thata good way to reduce the nitrates in my fo, no lr tank was to buy this. It looks like small white rocks and you place them in a net bag abd let is sit on your sump area and it just soaks up the nitrates. I am very weary about this because they have burned me in the past.

 

[jacrmill]

never heard of that product. but i know of one called Nitra-Gon. it says it removes nitrates, but i dont ahve $45 to blow on it right now. there is another product called the n-forcer, which boasts taht you will never have to do another water change if you buy it. i then got some advice on this board that it was not a good idea. so there is stuff on the market that will reduce nitrates, but i dont know anything about the one you said. i also dont ahve any experience with any of them, maybe someone else can help you more than I.

 

[shel]

I have not heard of either product. I am leary of adding anything. I beleive in the good ole water changes. I am currently doing 2 water changes a week to reduce my nitrate's and phosphate's. I made the mistake of skipping a water change and adding another fish. It is coming down slowly
Good luck!
Shel

 

[kappadoku]

I think thats what Trey so kindly terms as a "Nitrate Factory", or a wet-dry filter for the rest of us.
Ive seen these products, never had to use one, in spite of My 3" DSB and biowheel wet-dry. Ppl here have used them. It will remove nitrate from your water, JUST FOLLOW THE DIREDTIONS!!! its not a permanent solution, just a one time and throw away. You put the little rocks in a nylon or cheesecloth, drop that in tour wet-dry or sump, and it absorbs nitrates. DONT LEAVE IT IN THERE or they will leak back into the water, and add some too. Good Luck! Let us know what you do, Im interested in this, in case I do ever have to use it.

 

[gobiodon]

I've used once, the one made by Kent. Didn't help a zip. After one month keeping in the mechanical filter I gave up.

 

[mr . salty]

If you read the fine print on the instructions this stuff wont even start working for three or four weeks.Then you have to replace 1/3 of it every month.All this time,money,and work and it only removes 20% of the total reading each month. If your nitrates are high enough to even consider using a product like this,chances are that the tank is producing more nitrates than the 20% removed each month. To sum it up,waste of money. I speak from experience here,I have tried it and the results after a month were ZERO reduction.

 

[yvetterich]

thanks for all of your advice! someone did mention about vacuuming the cc in the tank. what about the vacuum set-up's they sell at pet smart and how do the work?

 

[mr . salty]

If you are referring to the python,a long clear vinyl hose the attaches to your sink fauset with a large tube at the end.These work fine.They do a great job cleaning the waste out of the Crushed coral.

 

[yvetterich]

thanks for replying about the vacuum! one other question about it though: If the "python" or any other vacuum you hook up to the faucet, how does this work in a saltwater tank? I thought tap water was bad for your tank and will this disrupt the tank chemistry?

 

[cveach]

In a system that does not hae enough LR say .5lbs per gallon or less I have seen the Kent reduce nitrates by 50% or so as long as directions are followed. As the sponge says NITRATES SHOULD BE BROUGHT DOWN BY LARGE WATER CHANGES FIRST. Key words the sponge will work much better if you nitrates are brought down at the start the media will not be as likely to be overun. With the Kent sponge time is the key, you will not notice anything for about 3-4 weeks after about 6 you will notice Nitrates ALONG with regular water changes to drop VERY fast when nitrates hit zero OR 3-6months have passed change 50% of the sponge. Once the sponge has been conditioned properly you will notice the nitrates stay LOW it just takes time but well worth it. In aquariums with large amounts of LR I hae noticed the reduction of nitrates is much slower probably due to the compettion with anaerobic bacteria.