High Nitrates

[dogofwar]

I just use tap water. Some kind of water polishing filter in addition to your sump would be great.

But more water changes or even continuous ones would be great!

What's your water source? As for my case I am using tap water and I hate seeing my tank going through a temporary bacterial bloom which makes it very cloudy but would clear up after 10hrs

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[A&A]

What's your water source? As for my case I am using tap water and I hate seeing my tank going through a temporary bacterial bloom which makes it very cloudy but would clear up after 10hrs

View attachment 1461610

I am no expert, but I don't know that it is necesarily a bacterial bloom. I have had a couple established tanks for over a decade. Ammonia and nitrites are tested weekly and are always at 0. Overfiltration (if that is a thing) with a large amount of bio-media. I have had close to 0 bio-load at times. At others a high bio-load. Tank with substrate and other times without. Tanks that were non-planted and also planted. What I am getting at is that I have had a wide range of different setups and the one constant is that my tank always looks similar to that after a water change from the tap and using de-chlorinator. Takes about 1 hour for it to get "cloudy". I am sure someone can shed more light. It always clears up perfectly the next morning. Could it be something to do with minerals in the water? A gas of some sort? De-chlorinator working its magic?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

You actually have several option here. Depending on the size of your sump, you may be able to put nitrate sucking plants in it. The fish wont bother them there and that gives you more options.

Next, you can have denitrifying bacteria in a tank if you have the right type and amount of media. There is a type of bacteria refered to as facultative, What that means is they can function using the oxygen in an aerobic environment. However, if there is no oxygen but there is nitratem they can switch to using that. They essentially produce nitrogen gas which will leave the tank.

Doing this requires large media fair thick. I use Hamburg matten Filters made from Poret foam in several tanks. I never have nitrates and alwso always have very clear water. It takes months to get the required bacteria established and for other micro-organisms to colonize in place such that they use all the oxygen in the water passing through and what exits is water with nitrate but almost no or no oxygen,

Here are two links that will help explain the principles of this:
http://www.swisstropicals.com/library/aquarium-biofiltration/
http://www.swisstropicals.com/library/mattenfilter/

The best way to get denitrification in an aquarium is a well planted substrate. That is difficult in your situation.

 

[duanes]

I was paging thru American Cichlids II by Staeck and Linke that provide catch location data.
Here are 2 charts that show water parameters in waters where oscars, arowana, and P-bass have evolved to live in, including nitrate (NO3), the 8th row.


and just for those who keep Central Americans.

 

[DDK]

If your nitrates are constantly rising above your tap's nitrate even right after a after change your filter media holding organic matter is most likely the source. Water is a universal solvent but can only be concentrated so much at a certain temp. Such as if you try to dissolve sugar in room temperature water, it can only dissolve x amount, but when heated or more water is added, it will be able to dissolve more sugar till the point where the concentration is at its limit.

I noticed that for me roughly 80 ppm was the maximum concentration or highest level of nitrates my water would hold. Try cleaning your filters one by one every water change to not upset the bacterial colony.

If you would like to try denitrifying media I noticed a trend of when people have success. When the tds or ppm of the source/tank water is near or under 200ppm (talking about mineral content about water, not nitrates), the denitrifying bacteria seems to be able to establish and stay well established. I'm not a scientist but I do believe there is a correlation between hard water and the ability for denitrifying bacteria to establish and do their job effectively. Many people do have denitrifying media but never seem to have a drop in nitrates, I suspect its mainly due to their hard water.