High NitrAtes LFS say don't water change, are they right?

Pufferfish22

I've just been to the local LFS to buy some Prime, which I discovered they don't stock. They tried to sell me another water conditioner but I declined as I really want Prime to help reduce my very high Nitrates (160ppm) I explained why I needed it and told them I was water changing and sucking up poo and detritis every 3 days to combat the nitrates and they told me to leave the tank for 2 weeks as I was probably removing the good bacteria everytime and this was causing my high nitrates.

I didn't think the good bacteria was in the water, only on hard surfaces, glass and my filter (am I wrong?) I also thought that poo and detritis in the tank would lead to nitrates rising hence removing them (am I wrong thinking this too)

What to do? Get the Prime and keep up the water changes or leave the tank alone?

Lupin

LMAO! HAHAHAHA!!!

Good bacteria doesn't stay in the water column mostly. Most of them reside in filters and hard surfaces including glass so there is absolutely NO reason to worry about doing as many water changes as you can to lower the nitrate.

What's the nitrate on tap?
Was API liquid kit used?

Lupin

40 ppm nitrate on tap? That's high but expected in agricultural areas. Time to use some marginal plants that can quickly absorb the excess nitrate. The conditioners that claim to remove nitrate only detoxify nitrate, NOT remove it. Anaerobic bacteria can convert to nitrate to nitrogen gas or hydrogen sulfide, the final byproduct on nitrogen cycle, however, it is not encouraged mostly as it is deadly except perhaps in planted and marine setups.

More info here if you wish to learn more about nitrogen cycle.
http://www.americanaquariumproducts....gen_Cycle.html

Quick reference to other thread for nitrate on tap.
High Nitrates cannot get them down, what do I do

Pufferfish22

[quote=Lupin;603779]40 ppm nitrate on tap? That's high but expected in agricultural areas. Time to use some marginal plants that can quickly absorb the excess nitrate. The conditioners that claim to remove nitrate only detoxify nitrate, NOT remove it. Anaerobic bacteria can convert to nitrate to nitrogen gas or hydrogen sulfide, the final byproduct on nitrogen cycle, however, it is not encouraged mostly as it is deadly except perhaps in planted and marine setups.

Lupin, thank you for responding, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge with me.

I glad I was right, I was sure I was but then started to doubt myself! What marginal plants would you suggest in a brackish tank (S.G. currently 0.004 raising by 0.002 each week until at 0.008) Where do I buy these, online? Can you suggest anywhere? I've got 4 x Java Ferns but my fishy friends have taken an instant dislike to the new addition in their tank and keep biting loads of holes in the leaves then spitting them out!

Just so I'm clear in my head, would you suggest not using Prime, keep water changing every 3 days (will this stress the fish?) and buying some more plants? Should I continue to suck up poo and detritis each time - am I right in my thinking that these lead to higher nitrates?


Nitrate on tap - 40ppm (shook the bottles for 2 minutes as suggested by Byron)
API Kit used was a marine as I was advised to use this due to the salt in my water (use marine salt)