Do aquatic plants reduce nitrates?

Seafever6

New Member
Sep 8, 2017
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Summerville, SC
I ask because I thought they do but my planted Biocube 14 constantly has high levels of nitrates (25-100). I'd say my BC is moderately planted with crypt windtii, dwarf sag, rotala indica, some water wisteria, an anubia frazeri, and some hygrophilia augustifolia. I have 4 neon tetras, 4 red cherry barbs, and 2 otos.

My ammonia and nitrite levels stay at 0, the GH is usually around 2 and the KH is usually around 12. I was using Excel and Flourish twice a week but have backed down to once a week. Temperature is around 75-76. I also do a 50% water change every week and try to stir up as much detritus as I can.

Part of the problem was I was over feeding and have cut back on that. I think the other problem was I was only changing out the filter floss once a week. I'm starting to change it out twice a week now. I'm also thinking of adding a twig from a pothos plant in the sump portion of the BC 14 to help reduce the nitrates. I've read on several sites that potted plants like pothos can remove nitrates directly where aquatic plants have to convert it back to nitrites or ammonia first in order to use it. I don't know if that is true or not and I cant find any studies or reports that support that.

Thanks.

red cherry barbs 2.JPG
 

CRS Fan

Junior Poster
Feb 15, 2010
40
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Vancouver
Any type of Java Fern will also remove nitrates well.

Best regards,

Stuart


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toads74

Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Jun 3, 2013
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Any plant that grows will take up nitrate, some faster than others according to their growth rate. Hornwort, water sprite, etc will take up more than slower growing anubias for instance. Access to co2 is usually a limiting factor for submerged plants, so floating plants like duckweed or terrestrial ones like pathos can take up nitrate faster with essentially unlimited co2 available.
 
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