Re: [Killietalk] Plants, nitrates & shyness was ; Less KT, more breeding

["Mark R" <oldsan at gmail_com>]

On 4/10/07, Ken <ken_combs at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> > In short: I'm just about sold on "natural systems" & plants in general...and
> actively growing plants just don't mitigate shyness/nervousness via "cover",
> but also in tandem greatly reduce nitrates/improve water quality and I'm
> thinking that side effect is altering the fishes behavior...

I agree but I'm not sure it is lowered nitrates that is the crucial
factor - I believe it is higher oxygen levels and extremely low
ammonia. I actually add potassium nitrate to most of my tanks to keep
the nitrates around 20ppm, a level that plants prefer, and my fish are
doing great. I suspect fish can acually thrive in nitrate levels much
higher than that. (Not willing to personally test that out in my
modest fishroom however).

> I know the skeptic/old timers are thinking "ditch fish", I change my water
> 2X mo and the fish are fine, blah blah blah...but I'm personally witnessing
> (in some species profound) change in behavior as I crank up the lights,
> ferts and plant cover and pay close attention to water quality...basically
> I'm shooting for zero nitrates, pristine water and I can noticeably observe
> a positive change in my fish (sounds obvious, but I'm stressing "pristine"
> not just "good/acceptable")

Again, you'll find that your plants do much better if there is some
nitrate in the water. 0 nitrates under medium-to-high light situations
is a recipe for disaster, actually. Actively photosynthesising plants
provide lots of oxygen and strip ammonia very quickly, but they
require a source of N, more than the trace levels of ammonia provide
in most cases - nitrate is the best source for it because of it's
relative non-toxicity to animals. P, K, Ca, Mg, and trace elements
also have to be provided in sufficient amounts.

Anyway, I agree with your basic approach entirely. My fish have never
been as happy, healthy, or horny as they are now that plants have
become my primary preoccupation.

Mark
Join the AKA at http://www.aka.org/aka/modules/content/index.php?id=9.
Archives are at http://fins.actwin.com/killietalk/
Modify your subscription at http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/killietalk