FishProfiles.com Message Forums

what plants are best for taking up nitrates?
i currently have 2 large amazon swords in the 75g and have potential to add either a floating plant or 1-2 tall but not to broad plants without upsetting the look of the tank.

Last edited by hembo666 at 06-Jun-2005 16:46

All plants are good, but hornwort works really well and it will grow easily and is a great floating plant or you can attatch it to the bottom with a rock.

I think that most floating plants are great with absorbing nitrates.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

hembo666

I just recently read that floating plants take up more than the general rooted/fixed plants.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

There are a number of plants that will do the job. Hornwort, Densa, Wisteria,Water Sprite, most floaters, anything that will take all it's nutrients directly from the water column.

You need to be careful what you wish for though ! Is there a reason for wanting a heavy nitrate user ? While zero or very low nitrates may be desirable in a fish only tank it is not a good thing in a planted tank. You should be aiming for Nitrates in the 10-20ppm range. Zero nitrates in a planted tank will do more harm then good. If the heavy feeders do too good a job you may end up having to add Nitrates back :%)

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

ok, thanks.
what i am trying to do is add 1 or 2 more plants to maintain a lightly planted tank, and hopefully get the weekly water changes to a stable 20-25%, (currently doing 40%).
are there any plants that are colourfut that would be suitable? looking for something floating or 18"-24" tall but only 4"-5" radius when mature.

tank water params (before water change)

ph 7.0, ammonia 0, nitrits 0, nitrate 25, hardness 16-20.

yup...for nitrates...hornwort is the leading contender...just that its messy when the leaves got detached..... i like water sprite as well..they r a beauty.

check this:

http://www.fishprofiles.com/articles/freshwater/hornwort.asp

looking for something floating or 18"-24" tall but only 4"-5" radius when mature.

How about a plant that will do both ? I've got just the thing.*drumroll*......Hydrocotyle Leucocephala a.k.a Brazillian Pennywort *end drumroll*

A great and versatile plant, I love the stuff. It's part stem plant part floater. Very bright green, quite pretty. Will grow tall but not too wide. It doesn't have roots at the bottom of the stem as it feeds directly from the water column. It has roots at every leaf node. As a consequense it doesn't need to be planted in the substrate and actually is a bugger to keep down. Tie a small rock or plant weight and shove it in the gravel to keep it down. When it hits the surface it will spread across the surface like small lily pads. You can trim bits of and float it wherever you like, if you wish.

Very easy to grow, does ok in low light , will go nuts in brighter light, spreads like wildfire when floating but because of it's size can be very easily controlled. It can grow out of the surface along a piece of wood in terraniums. As I said very very versatile. I always have some in tanks , it's good looking and easy to work with, fish love it as it provides shade and the many roots provide a playground and a cafeteria.

It's pretty common and easy to find.

You can find more information here
http://www.tropica.dk/productcard_1.asp?id=038

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.