Reducing NO3 to squeeze red out of plants can be tricky because you have to have low levels (<5ppm) and hold the balance. With your tap water NO3, you would have to use RO or distilled water to dilute the tap water.

There are nitrate reducing filter media, but these are not recommended for planted tanks as you could drop to zero unexpectedly, which would be bad for your plants. Prime does not reduce nitrates. It only binds them up for a day or two. However, Purigen can reduce the organics, created by fish and plants, that will turn into nitrates. Purigen does not remove nitrates that are already there, it just helps reduce the creation of nitrates.

Root tabs release nutrients in uncontrolled levels and are not necessary since all dosing can be done via the water column. You should be dosing your water column anyway to ensure complete nutrient levels.

So, my advice would be to do two 50% water changes, a day apart, remove the root tabs and replace with a balanced fertilizer, add Purigen to your filter (which may be eliminated if you get your NO3 to levels where you want them) and then see if you can maintain NO3 where you want it for a couple of weeks. If you still need to reduce, consider an RO unit or distilled water to dilute your tap water during water changes.

 

Thanks for the response. I've done multiple 50% water changes so far. I already have some plants established so I don't know how I can get the root tabs out at this point. I attempted to force the syphon hose under the gravel in a few areas where I remember placing the tabs. I did see some stuff flowing in through the hose but I guess I didn't get all of the tabs.

Any suggestions for what to do in this situation? Do I just have to wait for the tabs to bleed out if I want to avoid destroying my tank to get them out?

 

Prime does nothing to reduce any nitrates. Water changes and plants are the only thing to reduce nitrates. Prime is just a standard dechlorinator for water. Use when you change water.

 

What exactly does this mean "Prime® detoxifies nitrite and nitrate, allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them."

 

Prime detoxifies nitrates, but does not remove them. I never found Purigen to reduce tank nitrates at all. It adsorbs detritus, but I'm not convinced that it stops decomposition of nitrogenous waste.

If you want to reduce tank nitrates, try API Nitra-Zorb. It's an ion exchange resin sold in pouches intended to be used in filters. It can be recharged many times with ordinary (non-iodized) salt water. Place in the filter AFTER fine media as the use life is reduced if/when detritus coats the resin. I do not know if you can use chlorine to clean as you would Purigen.

I use Nitra-Zorb to pre-filter water for water changes as I have high nitrates in my well water. I have filled a now discontinued API Tap Water Filter with Nitra-Zorb and run into a Brute trash can. I get about 200 gallons between salt water recharges.

 

I never found Purigen to reduce tank nitrates at all. It adsorbs detritus, but I'm not convinced that it stops decomposition of nitrogenous waste.

This may have been due to your plants taking up all the nitrogenous organics. When I had a light plant load and low-tech, but with a heavy fish load, Purigen dramatically reduced the nitrate level. Since I've had high-tech, no biomedia in my filter and dosing urea, my NO3 never rises much above 5-10ppm, so I haven't needed Purigen for a few years.

 

It is for treatment of tap water. The nitrate in tap water. Not from the nitrogen cycle in the aquarium. Seachem Purigen

 

I realize all that, but how does it make it easier for bio-filter to remove them.

 

AFAICT it doesn't make it easier, just "holds" it in a non-lethal form..

A: Prime works by removing chlorine from the water and then binds with ammonia until it can be consumed by your biological filtration (chloramine minus chlorine = ammonia). The bond is not reversible and ammonia is still available for your bacteria to consume.

https://www.seachem.com/support/for...t/forums/forum/freshwater-community/1455-general-chemistry-question-about-prime

Def. not a "complete" answer.

 

you may be able to pre treat the water by using quick growing plants in a refugium style holding tank that strips the nitrate before adding it to the main tank

not sure if it'll reduce the nitrates but worth and cheap way to give it a try

 

I've got about 10 nitrates out of the well water. Used purigen but didn't reduce it any. Now I just have a high plant load for a low tech tank and let em do there thing. Watch how much I feed. Change 40-50% weekly and have about 20-30 nitrates at time of water change.

My AR mini are pretty red not sure if that correlates to ur plants or not. Using ro or di water would be only regulation you can do IMHO that actually works if its a problem you can't live with.

 

Just a note: A few posters are recommending using De-Ionizing, sodium chloride recharged DI filters. Note that the sodium ions you exchanged for the Ca, Mg and Ammonia ions are not a useful plant nutrient, and may even hinder your plant growth.

 

So I'm a bit confused now, I can understand that plants prefer ammonia over nitrate as it's easier to utilize, but does that mean that adding nitrate fertilizers are pointless? Unless your plants are growing crazy fast, isn't it dangerous to dose urea?

 

It can be. Anything overdone can be dangerous. Take a look through this thread: https://www.plantedtank.net/forums/11-fertilizers-water-parameters/1026985-urea-co-nh2-2-a.html'

I always thought that the only benefit of Purigen was very clear H2O. Or at least it's the only reason that I use it.

Clear water is a side benefit as it scavenges nitrogenous and other organics (it is not known if organic phosphates are removed by Purigen).

 

I always thought that the only benefit of Purigen was very clear H2O. Or at least it's the only reason that I use it.