Concentrated Aquaponic Water

[erwin]

If I were to boil water from my aquaponics system, what will remain if most of the water has been evaporated? Is there a possibility to concentrate nitrates? Probably some solids will remain.

Share you ideas. Would be great if somebody already tried this.

[Pseudoreality]

It depends on the soluability of nitrates in the vapor phase. I honestly don't know. It would be pretty easy to test yourself. For what purpose would you want to do that? Boiling any significant quantity of wate uses a lot of energy.

[erwin]

My nitrates as of now are on the high side - more than 80ppm. Worst case if it does not go down, I might need some water change. Storing water is good if you have enough space. To save space, I was thinking of saving only the concentrated nitrates. If that is possible. I was thinking of something like solar distillation so as not to use so much energy.

[GaryD]

Hi Erwin,

Rather than heating water to concentrate nitrates (and 80ppm is not too high), I'd focus on using more plants to reduce the nitrate levels. Have you considered something like duckweed? I use it to use up spare nitrates and my ducks eat as much as we can produce.

You might also consider a denitrification filter.

Gary

[Shane]

My nitrates as of now are on the high side - more than 80ppm. Worst case if it does not go down, I might need some water change.

Also, if you don't have room for more plants/GB's,
You can always use your FT water to water any plants/vegies that you have growing in dirt, then just top up your FT.
This is the way I always water the garden (whenever its needed)....keeps the nitrates in order no problems, plus the plants in dirt thrive too