Use of Renew in a planted tank

magicmagni · #1 11-13-2005, 23:15

Will Renew remove Nitrates, phosphates and other beneficial nutrients from the planted tank? I dose inorganic macro ferts as well as Flourish/ Flourish Iron for traces and my main concern with using Renew would be it removing these essential and costly plant nutrients.

Jeff

Tech Support CH · #2 11-14-2005, 13:54

Renew removes organics and particulates in the sub-micron range. By pulling out these particles it helps control ammonia, nitrates, and phosphates. It will not remove the fertilizer that you add as it is already in the phosphate and nitrate stage. It will remove some of which naturally would build up in your tank though. What are you wanting a filter media to remove?

magicmagni · #3 11-15-2005, 19:14

So if I understand you right it's removing wastes before they break down to Ammonia.. Nitrite.. Nitrate. If so then it would be safe to conclude that it will not absorb nitrate from say Potassium Nitrate dosing?

I am just looking for something to really clarify the water a little better. I have been using carbon for the last week to clean out some medication and I am really pleased with how clear the water is and the lack of that white residue I get on the surface of the water. Unfortunately I can't use this indefinitely because I know it will filter out all the traces and maybe some of the macros? So I am just looking for another alternative that would be less "detrimental to the plant health"

Tech Support CH · #4 11-16-2005, 11:27

Renew will grab the particles of waste in your aquarium which will help clarify your water. As long as you change out the renew as directed you will be removing waste before it breaks down. It will not pull out any of the fertilizers you are adding.

Another option is Purigen it is more aggressive at removing nitrogenous waste but it only removes a very small portion of Nitrate directly. It will polish the water better than the Renew.

Neither one of these will have a impact on your traces.

trc_pdx · #5 11-08-2006, 20:08

[QUOTE=magicmagni;524]Unfortunately I can't use this indefinitely because I know it will filter out all the traces and maybe some of the macros?[/QUOTE]

Do we accept this statement as unequivocally correct? Many report no problems keeping plants in aquariums in which activated carbon is used. Many others cite the theoretical possiblity of activated carbon impacting traces. Are you aware of any empirical evidence suggesting carbon materially affects trace levels in actual planted aquariums? Thanks.

trc_pdx · #6 11-17-2006, 01:15

[QUOTE=trc_pdx;1471]Do we accept this statement as unequivocally correct? ...Are you aware of any empirical evidence suggesting carbon materially affects trace levels in actual planted aquariums? Thanks.[/QUOTE]

I guess I should take the lack of response as a "no"?