Duckweed, problem solver?

[Seecher]

I'm searching for different ways to reduce nitrate
levels in the discus aquarium there seems to be
several options that are seldom are rarely used.
Perhaps, you plant folks can add some information
to help this problem.

I do not grow plants in my aquarium but it seems
that if there is a plant that will grow on the surface
and consume aquarium toxins, I should try that. Any
information you might have in this area would
greatly be appreciated.


http://www.fishfarming.com/recirc.html

Duckweed

Perhaps the most important feature of these little
aquatic plants to freshwater fish culturists is that
they are extremely efficient absorbers of ammonia,
nitrate, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium,
calcium, sodium, chlorine, boron and iron. In a
properly designed water recirculation and purification
system, duckweed can remove as much as 99% of
the nutrients and dissolved solids in wastewater....

[Graham]

You'll make thing confusing by looking for answers in two places...

Please take pics as you turn a 29 gallon aquarium into a million gallon aquaculture operation with settling tank, anaerobic tanks etc...

The majority of the aquaculture operations that I've seen or seen pics of use water changes...One of the top US koi breeders in TX is also a major aquaculture operation....and has run major catfish farms...I've never heard Brett mention Duckweed..

There's no question that plants are capable of removing elements from water,,,good or bad it doesn't matter they take what they want and when they die they release it all back

Large TT's or Bakki Showers on koi systems are very good at removing nitrate..... 3 to 4,000 gph being smashed over over the media gets them down to almost zero , Not very practical for an aquarium in the living room but water changes are still needed
__________________
Look after your water, the fish will look after themselves

[phidelt85]

Duckweed might work but I've seen duckweed become a headache for aquariums rather quickly. It is very prolific, and once you decide you want to take it out, it's nearly impossible.

If aquarium plants are out of the question. Try Pothos Ivy. You can submerge the roots in the water and the plant will grow on top of the tank, if that's what you're looking for.

That will help mitigate nitrates but as Graham has stated WCs will still need to be done for other things.

[Kindredspirit]

I'm searching for different ways to reduce nitrate
levels in the discus aquarium

Would not simple wc help with this? Or no?

[phidelt85]

Would not simple wc help with this? Or no?

I would think that WCs would unless of course if there's nitrates in the tapwater.

Seecher, have you tested your tapwater or are you just not doing enough WCs?

[Kindredspirit]

or are you just not doing enough WCs?

I'm thinkin this is it.

[B-O-F]

Alternatively you could keep the duckweed, or any other aquatic plants, in a seperate tank over ( below, beside) your main tank and run the water through this on its way to the filter.

[brewmaster15]

Hi,
I tried duckweed in a few 30 gal breeders this past year.. It made a royal mess with all the tiny roots breaking off in the water..

If you are really looking for a plant that would suck up nitrates and probably many other undesirebles, a good suggestion would be to try water sprite...its easy to grow , sucks up nitrates, and is easily trimmed back .

Another suggestion is to build yourself a small "refugium attached to the tank and then do a web search on
"phytoremediation" it will turn up all manner of plants used to clean up toxins.. a refugium planted with these in hydroponic fashion would be an interesting project.

hth,
al

[Seecher]

Greetings folks,

Let me answer some of these posts in this single posting.

Graham... ideas or suggestions might come up in one forum but continued discussion would be inappropriate for the original forum so I moved to discussion of plants to the plant forum, discussion of water quality to the water quality forum etc. as a former moderator of forum's I always appreciated that folks did that on there own, it saved me time and effort of moving their posts to the more appropriate forum.

As you know most koi ponds, at least the ones that I'm familiar with, are overstocked causing serious problems and challenges for their keeper. I'm talking about a balanced discus aquarium that is not overloaded. I have avoided live plants and now reconsidering that that might be a mistake on my part. Primarily for the elimination of nitrate.

phidelt... thank you for your suggestion of a hydroponic setup, I grew miniature roses for 25 years, commercially, utilizing some of those techniques. I'm familiar with them but somehow it escaped my mind... thank you again. This project that I'm involved in is trying to have a balance discus aquarium in which water changes occurred only once every six months. I think this is something that a lot of people would like to do, so they can enjoy the fish are with less maintenance.

I used 100% ro water properly balance mostly with Kent products. Starting off with 100% near-perfect water should be a place to start a project like this. The challenge is keeping it that way

Kindredspirit... water changes are not simple they are messy and time-consuming, this is exactly what I'm trying to get away from. But Thank you for your comments.

B-O-F ... I have no experience with the secondary tanks it does sound intriguing and I will research that aspect, thank you for your comments... very helpful.

Al... this is exactly the kind of information and I find the most useful. Someone who actually walked the walk. In further research I found little roots are a problem with duckweed, sounds like more trouble than its worth, I will research water sprite. I have copied your post and will carry through with researching the "refugium" project.

[Hans Kloss]

I'm searching for different ways to reduce nitrate levels in the discus aquarium there seems to be
several options that are seldom are rarely used.
Perhaps, you plant folks can add some information
to help this problem.
I do not grow plants in my aquarium but it seems
that if there is a plant that will grow on the surface
and consume aquarium toxins, I should try that. Any
information you might have in this area would
greatly be appreciated.

Try Pistia stratiotes, it is really killing nitrates/phosphates sucker.
And search for Jaubert/plenum method of filtration for nitrates reduction, it works quite fine in freshwater tanks too.
It seem to be a good site for the beginning:
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/doc...n/plenum.shtml
Hans

[pcsb23]

If you want to use a floating plant to reduce nitrates and phopahtes that remains manageble the Amazon Frogbit or Limnobium Laevigatum is probably as good a bet as any.

Imo nothing replaces good husbandry though.

[Kindredspirit]

Greetings folks,



Kindredspirit... water changes are not simple they are messy and time-consuming, this is exactly what I'm trying to get away from. But Thank you for your comments.

You are most welcome. But, my wc are not messy ~ unless I forget I am filling a tank!

Otherwise...pretty simple IMO.

[Seecher]

After researching the plants suggested by you guys I have chosen
Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides).

It seems it has universal approval as a starter plant for newbies
in planted aquariums, little or no negative comments. it has a
reputation for gobbling nitrates and can be grown either as a
floating plant or anchored to drift wood or other aquarium
decorations Thanks for all the input is greatly appreciated.

[Polar_Bear]

Duckweed might work but I've seen duckweed become a headache for aquariums rather quickly. It is very prolific, and once you decide you want to take it out, it's nearly impossible.

If aquarium plants are out of the question. Try Pothos Ivy. You can submerge the roots in the water and the plant will grow on top of the tank, if that's what you're looking for.

That will help mitigate nitrates but as Graham has stated WCs will still need to be done for other things.

I couldn't agree more with what Jose said, this from someone who had duckweed in some tanks and now wishes he never did, it's a PITA plain and simple.

[Apistomaster]

Water Sprite is a good choice.
I find Pistia needs more light than Ideliver but Salvinia has worked well and is similar but much easier to manage than Duckweed.
Duckweed is a curse, the plant equivalent to Hydra.

The whole idea of a naturally balanced tank is very close to creating a perpetual motion machine. An aquarium is always going down hill and only water changes really work. Aquariums are just too small. At best plant growth ameliorates some problems but not all.
Consider; even lakes have a life span ultimately ending in complete eutrophication and formation of a meadow.

Using a separate plant refugium is the way to go and in addition, still use plants in the aquarium. A good species for refugium use is Najas guadelupensis. It grows natantly, rapidly, will fill the space available in the refugium and is easily harvested for nitrate export. The mass it forms tumbles within the refugium thus exposing all of it to enough light. I don't know any other plant that can do this. The floating plants are less efficient for this method, imo.