Nitrites and treatment

Good day TASA members.

I was wondering if somebody can tell me how effective live plants are on utilizing the nitrites in my tank? I don't have much plants in my tank because I have cichlids but I have four very hardy plants that look like bamboo.

I read, on the net somewhere, about a filter media that you can put in your cannister or any filter that actually absorb the Nitrites, Copper, Lead and even ammonia. I was wondering if somebody has any knowledge about this and how effective it works.

Yes, regular waterchanges keep the nitrites low, but I would like to prevent a spike in the levels.

Thank you for your time.

Lappies

 

@Lappies ... Not a plant "guru" like some of the other guys on here,but heavy planting can reduce the amount of ammonia in a system by utilising it directly from the water column...

The filter media you refer to is ion exchange resins - mostly used by marine keepers - look for the seachem range - super efective

Also,a fully mature biofilter will ensure that you dont have nitrite spikes in your tank...Did you maybe mean nitrate? End product of the nitrogen cycle?

 

I read about Nitrite poisoning in fish and that it is due to "lack of knowledge" by the owner that fish die that way.

I would actually like to know the difference between nitrate and Nitrites. I understand the ammonia but for some reason
I struggle to find info on the net about the abovementioned defferences.

Thank you for your reply.

Have a great day.

 

Plants will not remove ammonia nor nitrites, but will remove nitrAtes.

Waste in the tank (excess food, dead plant matter, and fish poo) is broken down by bacteria in the filter to ammonia. Ammonia spikes is normal in a new tank, but is very dangerous to fish.

Ammonia is further broken down by another bacteria in the filter to NitrItes. Again, in new tanks, nitrites will spike, and is also very dangerous to fish.

Nitrites is then broken down by some more bacteria into nitrates. This is the basic nitrogen cycle that occurs in the tank.

Nitrates doesn't get broken down any further, and is only REMOVED through regular waterchanges. Your goal is to keep nitrates as low as possible, however levels of 5 - 15 ppm is ok for fish. The benefit of having plants in your tank is that the plants will use some of the nitrates as a basic nutrient for their growth. In my own personal tank, I actually can go up to 4 weeks without having to change water, and my nitrates remain at 5ppm. This is only because o the number of plants I have.

 

plants do infact consume NH3
---> http://www.aquabotanic.com/plants_and_biological_filtration.htm

 

Thank you very very much. I understand it much better now.

Zoom, your description was very clear and informative.
Singularity, thank you very much for that link. I printed it out and will
always keep it in my Aquarium file right next to my Journal/record that I
keep of my aquarium.

Have a very nice day.

Lappies

 

My mistake @Singularity.