Maintaining an aquarium is not as easy it appears to be; I don’t have to just drop a bit of fish food now and then. I have to regularly clean the tank, replace the water, make sure the alkalinity of the water is correct, check the saline levels, and manage pollutants, parasites, and toxicity. Part of checking and correcting toxicity is managing the nitrate levels. But how to remove nitrate from aquarium water, I wonder.
My search for the best way to remove nitrate from aquarium water led me to some exciting knowledge. I will share what nitrate is, how it develops in aquarium water, and how to remove it from the aquarium if it has to be removed.
Contents
What is Nitrate?
Nitrate (NO₃) is the most significant source of nitrogen for plants. It is part of any environment and is essential for all living things. Nitrate is a naturally occurring ion in the nitrogen cycle.
In the aquarium, it is formed by bacteria converting ammonia and nitrite into nitrate. This process is the nitrogen cycle of the aquarium. Fish excrete their bodily wastes in the form of ammonia, a nitrogenous waste product. Then certain bacteria consume that ammonia and convert it to nitrite.
Lastly, a different type of bacteria eats the nitrite and transforms it into nitrate. These bacteria are commonly found in the substrate of the aquarium.
But then what happens to all the nitrate that the nitrogen cycle produces?
Negative Effects of High Nitrate Concentration in Aquarium Water
Since it is a natural part of any environment, it doesn’t typically pose a threat to the fish in an aquarium. However, too much of it can have adverse effects on the ecosystem.
Prolonged exposure to too much nitrate can lead to nitrate poisoning. Lethargy, poor coloring, weak immune system, and weaker appetites are all signs of nitrate poisoning. And because nitrates have the same effect in water as phosphates do, too many nitrates drastically increase aquatic plant life. Although plants and algae provide food for fish, too much of them reduce the oxygen levels in the aquarium, effectively killing the fish.
In short, controlling the nitrate levels in an aquarium is a must for hobbyists such as myself. It’s not necessary to remove ALL of the nitrates – it is needed for all life in an ecosystem to thrive. But it’s critical to make sure it doesn’t go out of hand.
How to Control Nitrate Levels in Aquarium Water?
The better question to ask is how to lower the number of nitrates in aquarium water. In nature, the concentration of nitrate in water is extremely low. It is usually below five ppm (parts per million). For example, in a liter of water, the nitrate level should only be 5 milliliters maximum.
But in an aquarium setting, nitrates should never exceed 50 ppm. The preferable amount of nitrates is below 25 ppm. But if I were preventing the growth of aquatic plants, like algae, I’d keep the nitrates below ten ppm.
Unlike ammonia and nitrites, nitrates are not consumed by bacteria in an oxygen-rich environment. I have to take active steps to control the nitrates in my aquarium. Here are my top three preventive measures for maintaining the number of nitrates in my aquarium.
Regular Cleaning
Frequent cleaning of the tank reduces the number of nitrates and other toxic chemicals in it. The rise in the number of nitrates in an aquarium is ultimately due to the wastes in it. Removing the wastes effectively removes nitrates.
Controlling the Feeding Proportions
According to the nitrogen cycle in an aquarium, the amount of fish food corresponds to the number of nitrates. Overfeeding the fish is a major cause of excess nitrate in the aquarium.
Utilizing Aquatic Plants
Aquatic plants, like algae, feed on nitrates. Keeping aquatic plants in the aquarium helps prevent excessive nitrates.
However, if I need to reduce the number of nitrates in the water FAST, there’s only one method: water changes.
Fastest Way to Remove Nitrate from Aquarium Water: Change the Water
Changing the water is the quickest way to remove nitrates from the aquarium. Of course, the replacement water should have very few nitrates or none at all if possible.
If the original aquarium had 50 ppm of nitrates, then I replaced half of the water with nitrate-less water, the entire aquarium will have only 25 ppm of nitrates. If I replaced 80% of the original water, the aquarium would only have ten ppm of nitrates left. If again, I replaced half of this new water, the concentration of nitrates will be five ppm.
In short, with just a bit of math, I can drastically lessen the number of nitrates in my aquarium by replacing a portion of its water. I just have to keep in mind that the new water should also conform to the proper water parameters for maintaining life, such as saline and pH levels.
Conclusion
Nitrate is a natural part of an aquatic ecosystem. But too much of it is a health hazard to the fish in an aquarium. Plus, it can lead to algal growth that robs the fish of oxygen. Thankfully, there is an effective method on how to remove nitrate from aquarium water. By simply replacing the water, I can remove the majority of nitrates from my aquarium.