Make 1 change to lower nitrates NOW- my SECRET to ❌ZERO Water Changes ❌

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@XvREByrd3vX 2 жыл бұрын

My aquarium had pothos for 7 years. It grew big and thick, but I never saw nitrates drop until I recently added grow lights. Such a game changer

@tropicalfishhub 2 жыл бұрын

I certainly noticed it too, as soon as riparian plants don't get enough light they no longer deal with nitrates, under low light they will simply stay alive but not doing much in terms of nitrogen cycle

@cagarden8808 2 жыл бұрын

I have planted tanks without any water changes in drought-prone California. Good common sense advice for maintaining healthy planted aquariums. Thanks!

@dawnt6791 2 жыл бұрын

I encourage other aquarium keepers in Arizona to set up planted tanks, too. Can save HUGE amounts of water. Uses way less water to do top-offs than I used to use for weekly water changes. Also, WAY less work!

@CK-solutions Жыл бұрын

Another way to force the plants to take up more nitrates, is pruning regularly. I regenerate landscapes using forestry systems. Young forest sequesters the most carbon, while old growth has a stabilised system to recycle existing carbon. If old trees don't periodically die, new ones cannot grow through the opened canopy, to stimulate the carbon sequestering cycle again. Upgrading your lighting was necessary as the plants grew, but once they reach full size, my guess is you'll run into the same nitrate spike. Your plants will probably start to lose condition and look poorly. Dropping more dead leaves than sprouting living. It's what happens in an old forest. You need a mix of old and young plants, or perennial and annuals - meaning fast growers and slow. The fast growers will take up any nitrate spikes, before they become an issue. In an aquarium, these are floating plants, like azolla, frog bit, red-root floaters, even tip cuttings of water sprite, will sprout roots if left to float on the surface. You don't need many floating plans, as you'll be constantly culling the old one's out as the new ones take over. Certainly keep the spath, pothos and parlour palms as your perennial system, but look at dividing them at some point, like an old forest drops a few trees to stimulate the sequestering cycle again. Strongest uptake, comes with fast growing annuals and new growth perennials. At the very least, pruning your pothos regularly will cause it to put out more growth and absorb excess nitrates.

@plantlifeproject Жыл бұрын

Great points! It all comes back to emulating natural ecosystems. Make sure the niches are occupied. I recently started growing duckweed in this tank for the reasons you mentioned. Definitely agree with needing to thin out the parlor palms..again.

@mimiru1995 Жыл бұрын

CUTTING THE STRIPS IN HALF?! Genius! Doing it right now!!! Thank you!

@carlosabulamorales8677 Жыл бұрын

Good tip with test stripe. Excelent observation the relation on Light on plant and Nitrates even when the plant are low light requirement.

@plantlifeproject Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@Gilsfishroom 2 жыл бұрын

"Low light plant" means low sunlight, which is still more than some interior lights in your house.

@laurasadie8357 Жыл бұрын

Your videos are so valuable, and you’ve made life for my dear betta much healthier. Thanks so much for the education!

@plantlifeproject Жыл бұрын

You are so welcome! Glad this is helpful!

@susanshepard4688 Жыл бұрын

Thanks, im a newbie at Natural Aquariums although ive had several of the old fashioned type. Im taking it slow and gathering much needed info, I love plants and aquariums

@plantlifeproject Жыл бұрын

You’re Welcome! The lessons never end, I know my tanks are constantly teaching me new things every day and it’s wonderful

@Skoupes 2 жыл бұрын

I’m 15 years with guppies and medakas and I have 7 aquariums. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Your tanks are so beautiful heathy and happy

@plantlifeproject 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@ScottElliott888 Жыл бұрын

This is excellent advice, my only addition to this is nitrates have to be EXTREMELY high to hurt your fish unless they're super sensitive but yeah, I'm in the same situation, nitrates are under control but high & probably all I need is more light👍 Thanks for the great advise.😁

@Rorther Жыл бұрын

This aquarium is so low stocked, i'd never expect this being a problem, even with slow growing. Always learning

@sheliaglover565 Жыл бұрын

How do you get the plants to stay upright in the back of the tank do you plant them down into the substrate or will the roots find their way I have an African miniature frog that will jump like crazy if he gets the chance

@reeteshdhakad792 11 ай бұрын

Do we really need some type of soil/Dirt or can we only use sand substrate for the same plant setup

@plantlifeproject 11 ай бұрын

Here’s an alternative. Simple Beginner substrate method- 🌿Think DIFFERENTLY about your Aquarium SUBSTRATE!🐟 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJjVn3adbrmGgZI

@visionaryprem Жыл бұрын

Very useful to me.. i am facing same issue... Now got solution 😊

@ty8012 10 ай бұрын

So I didn't set up a deep dirt substrate because I figured the roots of the plants wouldn't be in the substrate. I was thinking if I should restart my whole 40 gallon (it's cycling now) or just supplement ferts and nutrients through the water (only sand substrate as of now. Thoughts? I don't even know how I would get the sand that's wet out to do a dirt substrate.....

@plantlifeproject 10 ай бұрын

The dirt substrate is just one way of many that will work. You don’t have to take everything apart. If you want a dirt substrate in a tank that’s already set up, check out this video ❓DIY Fertilizer root Tabs❓ (2 methods) kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHapf3-lgNN1a80

@plantlifeproject 10 ай бұрын

Make sure the sand cap is deep enough before you add any dirt root tabs 🌿👉How to: Add sand to substrate and protect the BIO-Filter 👍🌿 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqe5i56ji5J8h9U

@teeh.349 Жыл бұрын

When using Pothos and other houseplants in a non dirted aquarium with gravel substrate, how often do you do water changes and do you vacuum the gravel?

@plantlifeproject Жыл бұрын

Some of my tanks get water changes once a month and some only after several months. I use deep substrate and don’t vacuum unless there’s too much debris building up before it can break down. It really depends on how many fish you have in the tank

@plantlifeproject Жыл бұрын

But until the tank is cycled, more water changes may be needed at first. Test your aquarium water to make sure there’s no ammonia

@tiffadrien 2 жыл бұрын

Great advice🌿

@Level1Hera Жыл бұрын

I’m so glad I found your videos 😊 I have a small tank (2.7 gallon) with a single betta which has been doing fine. But I have recently added a new aquarium sand substrate and also added a pothos that is small but the roots take up about 1/4 of the tank. After about a week, everything appeared fine but the water test was 0 ammonia, 0 Nitrates, but like 5 ppm nitrite. I did 50% water change with distilled water. Why is nitrate fine but nitrites at max? 😮

@plantlifeproject Жыл бұрын

The beneficial bacteria may still be trying to get established in the sand that you recently added which can give wacky test results.

@plantlifeproject Жыл бұрын

Also make sure your Pothos is getting plenty of light

@ScottElliott888 Жыл бұрын

Not cycled yet, nitrites have to be 0, nitrates are normally anything between 5ppm & 80 ppm, mines normally around 60ppm & my angels are breeding. I will be adding more light now though.

@nhansme 2 жыл бұрын

Great information…Thank you!!!

@TerraMagnus 2 жыл бұрын

Check out the SANSI Grow Light Bulb (36W). That'll take it to another level.

@gegermancing2371 11 ай бұрын

How about add some floating plant?

@plantlifeproject 11 ай бұрын

floating plants have not worked well in this particular setup

@mikejunker1163 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. you make some good points.

@7xr1e20ln8 2 жыл бұрын

What is your take on Anoxic filteration?

@plantlifeproject 2 жыл бұрын

I just set up my first anoxic tank with a plenum a few weeks ago!kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnjEpK2BorSLhs0 Trying it out!

@dn7096_ 2 жыл бұрын

Do you ever grow plants in your HOBs?

@plantlifeproject 2 жыл бұрын

I have but it’s not my preference. Roots tend to get overcrowded in my opinion.

@dn7096_ 2 жыл бұрын

@@plantlifeproject thanks! Do you think it would hurt the plant to trim its roots in the HOB? I saw you say in another video it was hurting your plants when you trimmed them to prevent them from growing into the soil, but as far as I know with potted plants it’s normal to trim roots 🤔 I guess I’ll have to try and find out.

@plantlifeproject 2 жыл бұрын

@@dn7096_ I usually run into problems when I start trimming roots with the exception of Pothos, but even then I try to avoid it if possible. That’s my experience. Experiment with the idea if you want, it usually leads to learning, and you may find a way to make it work for you!

@melindavanscoy9828 2 жыл бұрын

How can I lower my nitrates in outdoor wine barrel pond?

@plantlifeproject Жыл бұрын

Floating Plants that feed from the water column like water hyacinth, duckweed, Amazon frogbit or underwater plants like hornwort, anacharis elodea, guppy grass all do a good job with enough light. How many and what kind of fish are in there? If it’s over stocked, you may need to take some out. You could also consider improving the bio filter by adding something like lava rock in the filter or water flowing through a container of lava rock which will increase the bacteria that feed on nitrates. Water changes may be needed until these steps or similar ones are taken.