Does Anoxic Filtration Lower Nitrates? Update #5

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

I was shocked to see the tank that really had no fish in it. Loaded full of plants had a higher nitrate reading than the tank that’s loaded full of fish and being fed heavily.

[@Gilsfishroom]

When it had more fish in it, nitrates were higher. Shows that clay beats plants.

[@Sinserg]

This was really nice! Dr Novak would be proud! as you said the results speak for themselves I am still running my plenum in my heavily planted tank, I haven't change any water since November 2023 not because I wanted to but life happened and I couldn't keep up doing water changes, only top offs nitrates never go above 20ppm while I get 40ppm right out of the tap. So far I am really pleased as well with this anoxic filter thing, thanks for sharing!

[@Gilsfishroom]

I am hoping that once some of these fish are moved to their new tank, the results will be even better.

[@DanielKeepingFish]

Can't argue with proof like that mate. One of my favourite tanks and favourite Aussie truck drivers on KZbin right there.

[@Gilsfishroom]

Thanks Daniel. What do you mean "one of your favourite Aussie truck drivers"? Are there others?

[@aquariumdelirium]

Great update Gil I pleased you kept it short and simple for us dirt ingrained collar worker 👍👍

[@Gilsfishroom]

Simple is my middle name Mal.

[@AhJemwangame]

I was skeptical but i built a bcb basket for my 55 gallon back in august 2023 and i never had to change my water. I do have to top it every couple of days with a quart of water. If anyone is thinking of trying the bcb baskets or bags. Just do it. It makes life easier and you spend more time enjoying your fish instead of just doing water changes.

[@Gilsfishroom]

Couldn't have said it better myself mate. 👍

[@robbeevors3757]

Never just a truck driver. You guys keep Australia running. Love your videos Gill.

[@Gilsfishroom]

I'm a freight relocation manager. Thanks Rob.

[@KingsAquariumsAndReptileRoom]

Awesome video Gil! Found this video very interesting to see how certain products can actually help with keeping those nitrates down and reduce the amount of waterchanges.I must say you have some stunning aquariums, full view mate 😊

[@Gilsfishroom]

Thanks Arnold. It has been an interesting thing to do mate.

[@pattys_aquatics]

Nice video Gil, I actually just came across Dr Novac and find his take interesting. I absolutely love hearing and seeing results from other hobbyists how they are maintaining their tanks. Thanks for sharing and will interested in seeing the results after you have those bags in there.

[@Gilsfishroom]

Thanks Patty. It has been an interesting project.

[@kyehills1382]

Yep they sure do work, running anoxic filtration on my tank. The Aqua one tests kits are easier to read the colours match the colour chart.

[@Gilsfishroom]

I will have to check those out. Thanks.

[@Maximaomega]

impressive , but im so regret why i just found your channel now. i supposed to find & subs this channels long years ago ! keep up the great work man. best regards from Indonesia

[@Gilsfishroom]

Thanks mate, I have a playlist showing how I made the baskets and all of the updates if you are interested.

[@Maximaomega]

@@Gilsfishroom yepp i just marathoning all your incredible works, thanks for sharing the knowledge.

[@bigfishlad4847]

I still say that the water change device is the best hack I have learned, I absolutely love your big tank Gil and this was an interesting experiment which I understood lol, cant wait to learn more

[@Gilsfishroom]

I was hoping that with your endorsement of the water changer, that sales would go through the roof. Hasn't happened yet Paul. 😭

[@bigfishlad4847]

@@Gilsfishroom 😂😂😂

[@rochelle6006]

Well it’s been a while but had to duck in and check some of your recent videos. Great video and as they say the proof is in the pudding 👊🏽 Great results Gil and great video updates.

[@Gilsfishroom]

Thanks Rochelle. Haven't seen an update on your bog filter for a while.

[@erick6102]

That looks darker than 30 in the video. I recommend a Hanna nitrate test kit. Very accurate and easier to tell in between the color ranges.

[@Gilsfishroom]

The video didn't really show the true colour unfortunately, it was definitely under 40ppm. I would love a Hanna reader, but it is a little on the expensive side for me.

[@erick6102]

@@Gilsfishroom fair enough, the in person view is always going to be more accurate. are you using the API test kit? another great option is the LaMotte test kit. It’s about 80 bucks online. Also lab worthy / professional grade that I’ve used before. I got the test kit cause Novak was belittling me when I wasn’t getting the results HE wanted with my baskets. Said I needed a lab grade test kit. Funny he’s not mentioning that you. I did an 11 month experiment with the Novak kitty litter baskets. I measured no increase in my weekly nitrate accumulation. I used the exact same fluorite you did and the natural kitty litter (back when it was still available). I even measured the amount of food I was feeding each week to document and show I was not increasing or decreasing the amount of nitrogen in to the system. Glad you had more luck than me. All the other aquarists I worked with and talked to didn’t have measurable denitrification either. Glad it worked for you. 👍

[@mexicalifishkeeper]

Great video Gil.i was a bit surprised to see the planted tank's nitrates were higher.

[@Gilsfishroom]

Thanks mate. It was definitely an eye opener for me.

[@MorningDriftwood]

Nice to see this tank again.

[@Gilsfishroom]

I should make more videos of this tank, but it is so hard to film it. Having a white kitchen opposite, and too much glare at night.

[@nixequestrian3721]

3months without a water change & only a single top off in my anoxic set ups- nitrates still all read 0 (substrate is the BCB). Tank has been moderately stocked with a light plant load & heavily feed for that 3 months as well. TDS barely changed as well (increased from low 40s to mid 40s). I usually do water changes, but this summer my rainwater/water change source went stinky & I wasn't willing to risk using the water out of it, as the species I keep are super rare in my country. I couldn't use tap water either for the species I keep, so the plan is to plumb a carbon block into the rainwater collection barrel & I think I'll also purchase a RO unit just in case the carbon block isn't enough over the height of summer. As I do still want to be able to do small water changes at least monthly to reduce the things we can't easily test for like hormone levels etc.

[@Gilsfishroom]

Sounds great mate! I have a smaller tank set up with a plenum and kitty litter substrate. I hope it goes as well as yours.

[@Baffi_]

There’s been several examples of breeders who use bags of montmorillonite clay published in Amazonas magazine before Novak ever published his book. And static substrate beds have been used in ponds for centuries. Novak didn’t technically invent anything. He just pointed out that anoxic bacteria require iron, and started calling static substrate beds a fancy sciencey sounding name like an infomercial salesman

[@Gilsfishroom]

He never claimed that he invented anything, and mentions that koi keepers have been usuing clay baskets for a long time.

[@TarasTankFriends]

That is surprising with the comparison to nitrates from what the planted tank gets in a week! Nice shot of Derp with the veggie in his mouth 😄. Was that Terry just after? Great job with the bcbs. 🙂👍

[@Gilsfishroom]

Well spotted Your Highness. That was indeed the elusive Terry the King Tiger making one of his rare appearances.

[@Mikinct]

But what were your nitrates without using that filter in this tank for Week 1, week 2 etc? Remember this is a 240 gallon tank with only 20+ fishes, not like it's a 55, 75 or even a 125 gallon, 240 gallons can keep a tank more stable that a much smaller tank half its size, yes? I bet if this was a 500 or 1,000 gallon tank nitrates would even lower over same month.

[@Gilsfishroom]

It was almost 2 years ago that I made the first basket. Before that, I changed water every one or 2 weeks, with nitrates around 30ppm. The tank now has more fish, and a lot more food going in. So with a higher bio load and double the time between water changes maintaining roughly the same nitrate levels, I believe the baskets are helping.

[@stubbsaquatics6080]

Great update I prefer basic language with no words over 3 syllables. Just a dumb copper here 😊 That is pretty amazing results ... I was surprised with the planted tank with the water changes .. Serious question.... Is there a specific kittie litter to use or not to use... Other than scented

[@Gilsfishroom]

Non clumping, non scented clay kitty litter or oil dry. The trick is to find one that doesn't dissolve in the water. Dumb copper? The fact that you can string more that 3 words together makes you smarter than 99% of the coppers here!

[@canuck728]

it doesa, been using it for ages, and i actually tested it on all perimeters

[@Gilsfishroom]

Great to hear mate. Thanks for the comment.

[@tropicalfishhub]

Interesting video! I have similar nitrates in some of my planted tanks, my suspicion is that because I'm using a pond fertilizer on them which drives nutrient level up. Are you fertilizing your planted tank?

[@Gilsfishroom]

That tank is slowly being shut down, and hasn't seen fertiliser for a very long time. I was adding trace elements which was good for the anubias and Java fern, but nitrates have always been high.

[@pelhamsaquatics]

38th comment 120th like and late to my own funeral! great job on this update gil! impressive results with all those beautiful south american cichlids. i noticed down in the comments an accusation about snake oil sales..lol rest easy mate...trolls are starving these days

[@Gilsfishroom]

Thanks Jeff. Yes,you were a little slow off the mark this time. I'm happy for people to call it snake oil, as long as they have evidence to back it up.

[@pelhamsaquatics]

@@Gilsfishroom your too kind mate, all the lipstick in the world and a troll still a troll 🧌

[@brankhaykhondar1195]

considering the fact that your sump is located near a window in a separate room, have you noticed if it smells of sulfur now that the anoxic filter is mature? it would be very important for me if you answered because I intend to try but I'm scared

[@Gilsfishroom]

No smell whatsoever mate.

[@lanreayo4608]

"memory like a sieve". Nice ine! 😂

[@Gilsfishroom]

Thanks mate, it would be even funnier it it wasn't so true!

[@matman429]

I'm only a tractor driver you said baskets right?Sorry a bit deaf 😂.I have a planted tank with basically just anubias and two peace lilly and a tank full of plecos and dither fish and my nitrates stay fairly low.So I'm not sure what's going on in that tank if yours?Maybe anubias is better at gathering nitrates as the roots are in the water?Like the peace lilly they have crazy root systems.

[@Gilsfishroom]

That tank is fairly neglected, and has as many dying plants as growing ones.The house plants probably don't get enough light either.

[@simplelife6827]

No

[@Gilsfishroom]

I think that the results shown in this video may disagree with you there mate. 😄

[@simplelife6827]

@Gilsfishroom I would have explained why you've misinterpreted those results. However, since you decided to laugh like a 🤡 have at it. Too many in this hobby are impressed by words and ideas they are unfamiliar with, especially when spoken with an authoritative manner. This is exactly how and why snake oil gets sold.

[@Gilsfishroom]

@simplelife6827 Sorry you feel that way mate. If you want a discussion, feel free to email at [e-mail]