Nitrate removing filter media

[E.Otter]

Is there such a thing as filter media that removes nitrates from the
freshwater aquarium water? I have a bio-wheel filter that has "media
baskets" which I can stick anything into in addition to slide in filters.

Thanks,
E.Otter

[Poe Lim]

Nothing removes nitrates (and ammonia before it becomes nitirite and
nitrates) faster than fast growing plants; often the problem then is not
enough nitrates...

Cheers,
Poe

"E.Otter" > wrote in message
rthlink.net...
> Is there such a thing as filter media that removes nitrates from the
> freshwater aquarium water? I have a bio-wheel filter that has "media
> baskets" which I can stick anything into in addition to slide in filters.

[Donald Kerns]

DCrowno835 wrote:

>>"dangle the roots in the
>>water" approach to denitration...
>>
>
> Donald, what exactly does that mean? I'm only asking because I have
> heavily planted tanks, and the plants with the roots showing are
> hardier and grow much faster than the one's the fish have not rooted
> around.
>
> Deanna

Tom actually posted a follow up. (Thanks Tom).

Anyhow, he has philodendron (sp?) roots dangling into the aquarium
water, and claims that this keeps the NO3 levels darn near zero.

I'm going to try it in one of my tanks as soon as time and motivation
allow me to stop at a plant store...

I figure remove the soil, wash the roots really well, allow them to soak
in a bucket of old aquarium water for a couple of days, then place it
in my tank with the roots protected by a breeding net. Take NO3
measurements every couple of days and report the results.

Heck, might even weigh the plant before and after...

(Hmm... Assume that any growth is a di-sacaride (sp?)... weight increase
correlates to NO3 converted via molar mass... something like that...)

-Donald
--
"There is nothing so strong as gentleness, and there is nothing so
gentle as real strength." St. Francis de Sales