Plants in sump to lower nitrates ??

[B-ROMBERG]

What are the best plants to lower nitrates that I can put in my sump I have a 220 gallon with a 55 gallon sump. Can't get my nitrates under 20 ppm even after a 100 gallon water change.

 

[TORX]

This a Freshwater related tank question?

 

[reeffreak]

Mangroves can be used in sump for nitrates.

 

[B-ROMBERG]

Yes this is in regards to my freshwater tank

 

[yveterinarian]

Have you tested the water for nitrates before you put it into your tank?  If the nitrates are still that high after such a large water change, I would check the source water in case you are just continuing to add nitrates.  Just a thought...

 

[unibob]

My tap water used to have nitrates when I kept discus and other freshwater fish. For the discus to battles this I used RO water and ran alder ones/almond leaves to keep tank balanced at a low ph. When I kept other freshwater fish I would do a 50% tap water / 50% RO water to make up my water change water. I also added prime to both of these.

 

[Crispy]

my sump is full of pothos roots. the pothos plant is 15 feet away in the kitchen window. HUGE bioload on the tank and with weekly 30-40% water changes my nitrates stay 0. takes the roots a few months to establish, but once they do, look out.

 

[dale]

i grew tomatoes and greenpeppers in a window planter outside with the roots just in gravel and trickeled the tank water on each root ball with airline with a return back to the tank... the tomatoes like a lower ph, 6 or so, and my water was 8.. but they still did pretty good..... you need a plant that grows fast, then it will work...