Walstad help!! ( long post?)

[SmallPekka]

Hey guys, I wanted a cheaper method to start my first tank and decided to use dirt. In hindsight I should have done much more research but very late now, I put load of dirt in, (more in the back because I wanted that slope 😕 )Not only is there lots of dirt, but my gravel cap is thin. This tank is about 4 months old, I have fish and shrimp in the tank, and also established plants. I can’t get afford more plants but my nitrates are high even after constant water changes. Any advice ? Thanks xx

[Ben Ellison]

Are you using fertilizer? If you are you are adding in nitrates. I only use fertilizer of nitrates are below 40 ppm.

[SmallPekka]

Thank you for the reply! No I’ve stopped dosing ferts because of how high the nitrates are

[Ben Ellison]

Is the tank over crowded?

 

[SmallPekka]

It’s a 30 gallon tank with a max of like 20 fish, tiny ember tetras, so not over stocked .

[Streetwise]

You shouldn’t have to dose an organic soil tank. Your soil is a powerful battery already. Just add more plants.

[ChefConfit]

Some floating plants and or pothos should help. They should suck up all the excess nitrates. Since you used "raw" soil without going through the mineralizing process all the organic matter in it is decomposing and producing ammonia which is then getting converted by your beneficial bacteria. It might be a good idea to monitor ammonia levels in addition to nitrite and nitrate until everything stabilizes. 

[TheDukeAnumber1]

I agree with ChefConfit on the floating plants. Water hyacinth, duckweed, and fast growing plants will help keep your water parameters in check.

[Ben Ellison]

I personally do not like duck weed it blocks to much light. I grow frogbit and I really like the long dangling roots and the interconnected portions.

[TheDukeAnumber1]

9 minutes ago, Ben Ellison said:

I personally do not like duck weed it blocks to much light. I grow frogbit and I really like the long dangling roots and the interconnected portions.

Frogbit can cover the surface as well, both plants will only block as much light as you let them. I'm with you on the dangling roots, IMO they are nice looking and fish like the cover.

Edited September 11, 2020 by TheDukeAnumber1

[Ben Ellison]

I find the duckweed more of a burden to remove and control seems to stick to everything

 

[TheDukeAnumber1]

For me the giant duckweed variety is pretty manageable but I wouldn't want to deal with the smaller varieties.

[Ben Ellison]

This what I have but there is like 50 baby shrimp who love to play in it so it's extremely tedious to remove with out getting the shrimp

 

[ChefConfit]

I find my duckweed stays under control if I have a lot of flow on the surface. It will settle in and fill any areas with no or low flow, but won't take over the entire tank. 

[Ben Ellison]

This what I have but there is like 50 baby shrimp who love to play in it so it's extremely tedious to remove with out getting the shrimp

 

[Streetwise]

Hair picks and combs are great for removing Duckweed. In two of my utility tanks I run the Eheim nano skimmers, without foam, to suck up and dice Duckweed. I can stage plants and wood in there to move to a new tank and dispose of the hitchhikers.

I am stuck with Duckweed in two 2.5 gallon shrimp tanks because my plants and wood extend out of the tank, so there is no real way to deal with the surface completely. It is fine because the shrimp love it, but I have to use the hair pick about once a week, and then put it in a clear bucket to check for fry.

There is a turtle tank at one of my schools where I hope to be able to bring my Duckweed.

Edited September 12, 2020 by Streetwise

[Diego]

More important than nitrates, keep an eye on the formation of hydrogen sulfide in the thickest part of the substrate exspecially if the plant density is not very high. H2S is toxic to animals and smells really bad. Before each water change, poke the substrate to have a controlled release of the gas and to oxygenate the substrate.  

[FriendlyLoach]

I would use water hyacinths, there may be some in a local pond, or maybe someone is giving it away. All you need is one and it will suck up lots of nitrates! The plant will multiply as well.