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Plants & cichlids


sam.apo

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Bamboo will rot over extended time submerged. Its not a submerged aquatic plant.

Not sure what type of cichlids you plan on having plants with but I have plants with my some of my tanganyikan cichlids and they are going very well, some of my community cichlids are doing well also...if you are doing malawi cichlids then you may not fair so well as most will eat plants.

I currently have vallis and java Fern in my tropheus tank and they haven't touched it. Not even a nibble. I even have other plants, but I'd need to Id them...that have been nibbled but only just.

You need to give a little more info on what you plan to keep

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I was planning on putting these 'lucky bamboo' (Dracaena Braunii) into my sump to help soak up some nitrate and reduce it to a safe level naturally.

Bamboo will rot over extended time submerged. Its not a submerged aquatic plant.

Are you able to clarify a bit more Chuckmeister? Now I'm reluctant to add them into my sump given the 'rot' to which i assume is not good at all for the water.

Has anyone used or has experience with these lucky bamboo?

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I dont think the nitrate extraction impact will be what your expecting, unless your tank is very low level stocked.

Nitrate reduction most effectively occurs when aggressive fast growing plants are in constant need of pruning.

If the plants aren't in continual fast growth with foliage being removed for new up coming foliage, then the plant isn't needing to utilize nitrates for supporting new growth.

Much can be learnt from Japanese water garden koi pond international forums.

If you have moderate to good lighting, then Lebanese water cres kicks a r s e.

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Are there any other ways to maintain nitrate levels in a heavily stocked cichlid tank?

What are the common strategies that people utilise to reduce or maintain nitrate within a safe level?

Besides water changes and having plants, are there any other effective methods?

(Sorry OP for hijacking your thread and going off topic).

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Couldn't see the YouTube link that Sam posted as I can't view YouTube.

But any products that claim nitrate extraction is only minimal or bogus.

Seachem prime will detox nitrates but it doesn't last for long so multiple doses would be needed making it expensive.

Your better of making sure you feed sparingly but enough,,, and derive a way of total water change organization.

You'll never get away from water changes, it's a given with fish keeping.

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Couldn't see the YouTube link that Sam posted as I can't view YouTube.

But any products that claim nitrate extraction is only minimal or bogus.

Seachem prime will detox nitrates but it doesn't last for long so multiple doses would be needed making it expensive.

Your better of making sure you feed sparingly but enough,,, and derive a way of total water change organization.

You'll never get away from water changes, it's a given with fish keeping.

Thanks mate,

Always full of wisdom! If only I had an automatic system like yours where it does a daily water change for ya!

I do about 25% water change twice a week, with about 25 ~ fish (that are ~ 4-6 cm) in a 680L tank (yep i messed up with my calculation of the volume of my tank before)

NItrate hovers around 20-40 ppm.

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20-40 is beautiful, nice and low,,,, even good still for sensitive tangs.

I still myself have two displays inside 2800 liters and 300 liters.

So i have a drain next to the big one which I semi-conventional water change via a tap and one valve.

And other tank I face the same regime as anyone else with syphon and hose method.

But syphon and hose method can also be rigged up for easier practice.

Buy length of garden hose that reaches tank.

Get 1m or so of 16mm poly retic.

2 x 16mm poly elbows.

2 x 16mm poly manual valves.

1 x standard female fitting that clips onto your hose tap.

1 x 16mm metal hose clamp.

Now for construction.

Make a U shape using poly and elbows.

One side ok U shape hooks over tank and runs down into water finishing at your desired water level after water expulsion.

So this means it will stop siphoning at that point.

Now, on the side of the U shape on outside of tank is to run just about 300mm of the ground where you will fit the manual valve.

Go back top of the external poly pipe and a few inches down from elbow cut it and install the second manual valve.

Back to the bottom valve, slide metal hose clamp over garden hose and connect hose to end of valve and secure hose clamp.

The hose clamp is needed as in operation you will at some stage have garden hose water pressure up to that switched of valve.

At opposite end to garden hose connect your standard garden hose female bit as per normal tightening up the threaded sleeve.

Now good to go.

Open all valves with unit hooked over tank side.

Plugg hose into tap,, run water into tank till all air bubbles clear.

Always turn of the valve at hose end first as pressure is only going to be at that point.

Secondly turn of top valve,

Go back to garden tap and unplug and put on lawn or favorite plant.

Go back to tank and open bottom then top valves.

Water automatically will start syphoning.

Siphon will auto break at your selected end cut of point inside tank.

Simply connect hose end back to garden tap and stay around tank as it refills.

Handy hint, time how long it takes to refill tank and subtract two minutes.

This is your new count down time you will set on your smart phone with alarm,,, when alarm goes of rush to your tank.

Once your level reaches its top up point, turn bottom valve off following top valve of always as second.

Go back to garden tap turn off and disconnect, then roll the whole device up and put away.

Next time round hook up unit and the between the two valves is trapped water which will Create instant syphon.

And your good to go the whole procedure again. (takes a bit of getting use to).

16mm means siphon may be slow,,,, you can buy the upgrade diameter size of garden hose,, then upgrade all poly and fittings to 19mm.

You may need a lighter to soften hose end to slide over poly fitting.

It may still take time to syphon,,, but at least it stops siphoning at exact level and traps water for next syphon.

Also once water syphoning out, you can carry on with normal life and come back later to top up.

Hope it's all understandable.

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