Need help from the experts. I want to try some low light potted plants in my sump to eat up nitrates. I was wondering if there is anything that fits the bill. I would like it to be as low maint. as possible, like no ferts or chemicals. Also want to be able to put it in a pot, don't want to put substrate in my sump. May be impossible, but I know you guys can help me if anyone can. Thanks.

Clint

float some water lettuce. No pot or substrate needed.

If you have a small light to put over the sump to let the plant grow, your nitrates should be significantly reduced.

Technically, the BEST nitrate sucker in the world is duckweed but I wouldn't wish that stuff on a dog. If you can KEEP it in your sump it'd eat all the nitrates you could throw at it, but you can't. It'll make it's way into your tank, get stuck on your arm, then end up growing in your shower. You'll have a neighbor knock on your door and ask you what the strange stuff floating in his drinking water is. Okay, maybe it's not that bad, but I don't like it lol.

so yeah.... water lettuce, or hornwort or something like that.

Thanks James, I will have to start watching around. Will a small shoplight type fixture be enough light?

clgkag wrote:

I would use a clamp light. More bang for you buck CFL daylihgt bulb will kick out a lot of concentrated light. Water lettuce takes a lot of light. I never was able to grow it inside and I have it growing under CFL.
Walter

if light is the worry (and walter's right about those clamp lights with the spiral bubls in them) just use hornwort or anacharis and float them in the tank. They'll provide the easiest way to do what you want and they do need less light than the water lettuce.

You could be the high bidder on my red root floater at the Saturday meeting!

However, you could also use the sump as a place to grow your swords out. I have one in a 3" terra cotta pot. The pot was 1/3 full of potting soil, 1/3 full of gravel on top, and then the sword was planted in that. The pot is now full, so I can only imagine the tangle of roots that are taking up the other third of the pot. The sword is huge also.

only problem with that is a sword plant is a root feeder and won't help much with nitrates in the water column.

the red root floater would work out as well. use one of the aforementioned clamp lights and stick some of that in there, and you'll have a sump full of it in no time eating away at your undesireables.

The good part is it's not like duckweed and it's quite easily manageable. Even look kind of cool in a tank with all the little roots hanging down for fry to hide in.

jargonchipmunk wrote:


Oh yah. I always forget about that. The huge leaves just seem like they'd do so much.


Anyway, if you do want some RRF, let me know and I'll hook you up with more than you need.

I don't think I will make the meeting tomorrow, too many kid activities, so I will have to pass on the RRF. I will look around for some other floaters. Thanks for your help guys.