filterless planted tanks

[vinz]

Hi Guys,

Ran into these very interesting and thought provoking articles while looking up about filters and nitrates. No Filtration Tanks and Plants As Filters

Has anybody tried out these ideas before? What are/were the results? What do you guys think?

[Simon]

Hi vinz, I have currently 2x2ft without filter nor lights.. growing fine without any probs.. mostly echinodorus species, like E. tennllus, ozelot, cord, 'tropica', rose

[vinz]

Wah simon, your reply very fast... more questions for you. []

What is the light source for that tank? What is the maintenance regimen? What and how many fishes? Any idea about your nitrates level? Any water circulation?

[kelstorm]

with the filterless tank. u have fishes inside???

[Simon]

vinz, have a pair of apisto and a few guppies.. no circulation, water level is 1/2, and i didnt test the water no maintenance as of yet, natural light source (luckily, the tank dun get direct light)

[wks]

Hi vinz, I have a 1.5 ft soil based planted tank with a small filter and 36W light. Maintanence is very low. Change water(20%) and clean filter once a month.

[vinz]

KelStorm, Few fishes. The emphasis is the plants. According to the articles, some of the concepts of the filterless planted tank come from the ideology behind marine reef tanks.

Simon, how long has this tank been up?

WKS, how many fishes? Any algae at all?

I'm trying to decide if I should risk converting my 40"x18"x18" tank to filterless. My main concern is the bio-load and the current nitrate levels. Is 6 Pearl Gouramis, 6 Corys, 2 Otos and 20 Yamatos considered high? Nitrates at 30-50ppm.

[Simon]

ard 6mths, yr bioload seems ok to me.. plant heavily.. ya, one thing i forgotten to mention, I got no C02 injection

[kelstorm]

Simon,
hmm.. no CO2 for filterless tank. i always thought that Planted tank require CO2 system... perhaps now can consider trying out.. few questions...
what are the requirements?
Lightings or sunlight?
wouldn't u get stagnant water due to no water movement?
fertiliser? frequency?
Heavily planted.. = Almost like jungle?
Few fishes? can recommend? can keep corys and otos, plecos and yamatos?
would CO2 level rises at night?
paiseh.. might want to consider doing something like that...

[Simon]

kel, my tank is all planted with echinodorus, growth is slow but noticeable.. 2nite i take a pic and post here, i dun fertilize, no water change except for topping up

[tawauboy]

*rub rub eyes*
*smack smack head*
*pinch pinch arm*

so Darth Kelvin is being tempted to the 'green' side of "Lord of the u/water Garden"
give it a try.

and dun go
"Feel the ""Green"" of u/water garden and join the dark ""algae"" side
[] [] []

[vinz]

----------------
On 2/8/2002 1:43:52 PM

Simon,
hmm.. no CO2 for filterless tank. i always thought that Planted tank require CO2 system... perhaps now can consider trying out.. few questions...
what are the requirements?
Lightings or sunlight?
wouldn't u get stagnant water due to no water movement?
fertiliser? frequency?
Heavily planted.. = Almost like jungle?
Few fishes? can recommend? can keep corys and otos, plecos and yamatos?
would CO2 level rises at night?
paiseh.. might want to consider doing something like that...


----------------

KelStorm,

CO2, lights, fertilizer depends on the type of plants you're going to have. The articles recommend water circulation to move nutrients around.

Heavily planted... err... I take it to mean no large areas of unplanted substrate. How heavy depends on the bio-load intended. I think, visually, maybe a 1/3 to 2/3 of the tank volume is plants.

Tank must be cycled and fishes added very slowly, so that plants can adjust to the added bio-load. Its not so much which fishes, but size and number of fishes (and other animals). Given of course, some animals like the shrimps and snails, will contribute greatly in waste processing. Feed moderately to reduce uneaten food and fish waste.

The BIGGIE is, the variables are not quantifiable. A large part of this is trial, error and risk taking...

[vinz]

Simon, are you using substrate fert?

[Simon]

nope.. only have dennerle gravel

[kelstorm]

To be honest simon.. those terms u used on plants dun mean a thing to me coz me dun understand and dun know how they look like.. never mind.. when i go berserk and interested in setting up one.. me call u.. u help me.. ok? no filter.. no CO2.. budget 2ft tank.. $200 enuff??

[Simon]

hahahaaa... u give me $200 paiseh leh[] when the time comes, u know where to look for me

[kelstorm]

y u laugh?? $200 too much meh?? ok.. if not, what is the amt required?
what equipment required?
ok..
1. 2ft tank
2. sand (how much to buy and any type of sand e.g black sand?)
3. plants (what type recommended)
4. fertiliser (how much is it and what type to buy)
5. drift wood needed?
6. Lightings? (what type)
7. what fishes to start off with? 2 corys can??
all these under $200.. like that very cheap leh.. i can't even buy peanuts with that for marine fishes..

[Simon]

abt there kelvin

[kelstorm]

u never give me examples of the stuff to get leh..

[Simon]

kel, the stuff u listed is good enuff and depend on yr preference

1) 2ft tank - arylic? ($28 or less)
2) Gravel - lonestar 22kg ($20) can use better ones
3) fertilizer - JBL ($18 for 5kg)
4) Lighting - (no idea)

other than those i listed above, plants, driftwood, fishes (not a prob)