In need of some help.....

[Chris360]

Ok, I finally got me a Mbu Puffer which most know are not cheap. I put him in my 150 gallon tank before checking my nitrate level, well it was really 80 ppm. I have a 2217 & 2260 in my set up, I completely cleaned out the 2217 and put new carbon and media pad in the 2260. Within two days I've changed about 45% of the water and put nitra-zorb in the 2260. Any suggestion what I can do to bring my nitrate levels down?? Ph is 7.4 ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0......Thanks

[aquabee]

Stick a few cheap and hardy plants in there. I did that while I was in a nitrate stall in my 125g and it worked like a charm.

[Chris360]

Awesome thanks...

[aquabee]

Make sure you leave the lights on 8-10 hours a day too. The plants should suck up the nitrogen pretty well.

[Chris360]

Leave the light on for the plants? What are some good plants to get, none of my tanks have plants so I have no clue. Also will plants be ok with sand?

[aquabee]

Yes, and yes. You can get anubias or java fern... Cheap, available, and grow in almost any light.

[TaTeR ToT]

Magic beans! !! Aka seachem purigen. Only way to go. Along with that I'd say plants and nitrazorb will work wonders.

[TaTeR ToT]

Leave the light on for the plants? What are some good plants to get, none of my tanks have plants so I have no clue. Also will plants be ok with sand?

Yes my planted tank has a half inch layer of pfs. And its lush! Ill post up a pic in a minute.
Again if you don't want plants purigen will do it for sure.

[Chris360]

Thanks ya'll, just so you know the nitrates have dropped down tremendously and he seems perfectly fine. Eating twice a day, his color is great and he's very active. Thanks again

[aquabee]

Awesome! Did you end up doing plants, or just purigen and all the other stuff you already had in there? Glad to hear everything's better!

[Chris360]

I put four swirl bamboos in there, purigen and a 25% water change everyday and some stress zyme

[aquabee]

Cool. Glad to hear it worked!

[eklikewhoa]

Water change is probably the best and easiest

[SunnyHouTX]

Water change is probably the best and easiest

+1 on this.

[aquabee]

I believe what Chris was trying to say is that despite his daily water changes and other attempts to decrease nitrates, they were still staying high. That's when plants and stuff come in handy as nitrate sinks. Of course, water changes are always best but when that's not enough or if you have a new cycle that's stalled due to very high nitrite levels, plants can absolutely save your butt.