Borehole Nitrates

Hello Guys,
whats the best way to remove nitrates from borehole water? mine is about 50ppm.

 

Hi, about a 1000L a week, and yes i have yard space.

 

i have a Discus tank that gets a water change every other day and a 750l tank that gets a water change once a week, both have live plants, i currently use tap water but would like to switch over.

 

Hook up an RO system to your borehole water and use it to produce RO water. Or mix with clean rainwater.

 

I have had the same problem, If you have space, build a sump / filter for your new water. I would suggest a holding tank (I had a flowbin) with either an internal or external filter filled with seachem Matrix media, have it circulating during the week and do waterchanges on the weekend. You could build a simple air driven internal air driven filter maybe.

 

@TheGrissom would a RO system for 1000l/w + maintenance(Filter replacement) and remineralizer be more economical vs Tap water + Prime?

 

No it wouldnt. Tapwater and prime is probably the cheapest you will get. However you can switch to safe which is more efficient than prime so you use less, however I dont think it removes metal ions from the water like prime does. The only way you will get cheaper than tap water is rain water

 

Thanks, appreciate all the help, going to try a large pond filled with plants and a deep substrate, if that doesn't work ill give the RO a try.

 

@Stephan Coetzer ,Assuming this water is going to be used to do waterchanges on your tank/s

I think that would work nicely, the pond guys call it a vegetable filter, it will most likely take very long to mature? the only problem I see is that you may get contaminents like leaves, dust, sand, parasites etc from the water that is open to the elements...and then you will also have to resist the urge to add fish to the system

RO would be a good option, just quite costly

My 2c..... I like to have control of what I add to my systems, it would be more cost effective and safer to have a closed system to pre-filter your waterchange water, I would consider Purigen along with Matrix, purely for the fact that you wont need a huge amount (as it works so efficiently) to filter out such relatively low nitrates, it is costly but it helped reduce nitrates in my borehole water... and then you can heat your water before adding it to the tank also.

Once again just my 2c, hope I've given you something to think about...on the other hand if you only have one aquarium just add purigen to your filter, should take care of the nitrates anyway

Purigen®

• Highest organic removal capacity
• Possesses enhanced capacity owing to its vast surface area; both spherical and macroreticular
• Helps control ammonia/nitrite/nitrate
• Color changes as it exhausts; easily regenerated

Overview
Purigen® is a premium synthetic adsorbent that is unlike any other filtration product. It is not a mixture of ion exchangers or adsorbents, but a unique macro-porous synthetic polymer that removes soluble and insoluble impurities from water at a rate and capacity that exceeds all other competing products by over 500%. Purigen® controls ammonia, nitrites and nitrates by removing nitrogenous organic waste that would otherwise release these harmful compounds. Purigen’s impact on trace elements is minimal. It significantly raises redox. It polishes water to unparalleled clarity. Purigen® darkens progressively as it exhausts, and is easily renewed by treating with bleach. Purigen® is designed for both marine and freshwater use.

Purigen® removes soluble and insoluble impurities from water at a rate and capacity that exceeds all other competing products by over 500%.

 

How was this measured ...

What is coming out of the tap water currently? Nitrates I mean .. could doing a mix still give you an OK level for the fish or are you really wanting to hit zero nitrates as a source?

If you have the space and the time to play .. I would probably skip the planted tub thing (you have no control what will ultimately enter your tank) but how about a continues solar water distillery.

https://www.safewater.org/fact-sheets-1/2016/12/8/solar-water-distillation for some out the box thinking ;-)

Later Ferdie

 

Loads of good ideas given so far
I only use borehole water, luckily it's ok
50ppm is a bit high but not through the roof
My tanks always measure between 15 and 20
Growing plants like pothos helps remove the extra
Go have a look on seachem website
I am sure they have something to put in you filter to help reduce the nitrates

 

Hey, thanks for the input, i've started with a small project to try and reduce the nitrates, ive purchased a bunch of pothos to use in my jojo and also built a nitrate reactor with 2l seachem denitrated with a 200l/h flow rate. ive tested my water with sera nitrate drops, my tap water is at about 5-10ppm and borehole around 50.

 

Best way to remove nitrates from incoming water is through a cation exchange bed.

 

Hmm no pictures how do we know you have a jojo ;-)

Sounds like you have a plan @Stephan Coetzer please keep us in the loop as it progresses.

Later Ferdie