Ty Bomba
07-14-2008, 6:07 PM
I've always enjoyed planted tanks more than fish-only set-ups. That having been said, though, I've not enjoyed the way maintaining a planted tank can turn you into more of an "aquatic horticulturist" than a "fish keeper" (in both time and money spent).
A few years back, then, I hit on the idea of "Floating Plants Only"(FPO) tanks. I've had such good -- and easy -- and inexpensive -- success with FPOTs they've now become my standard mode of operation. The chief advantages I've found are as follows.
1. You don't need to worry about carbon supplementation, since the floating plants get their carbon from the atmosphere above the water line -- and then grow just fine by consuming it.
2. You don't need to worry about high-intensity lighting. I've simply been using the fluorescent bulbs that come standard when you buy a light fixture or a hood and -- at about 1 watt per gallon -- they provide light sufficient that the floating plants flourish.
3. Since you're no longer trying to blast light all the way down to gravel-level that -- in concert with the mass of plants floating on and just below the tank's surface -- makes for the easy attainment of that 'subdued' light all the tropical fish books tell you is what the fish prefer.
4. It's way easier to keep your plants trimmed up when you don't have to reach far below the water's surface to do it.
5. You don't need to worry about in-gravel fertilization. I just add some liquid fertilizer (Tetra Flora Pride) when I do my weekly water changes.
6. I've had my best successes with: Water Sprite, Banana Plants, Duckweed and Giant Duckweed.
7. Some years back, when I had larger, open-top, tanks going, I also did well with Water Hyacinth and Water Lettuce (but I never could get them not to die off at the end of the summer -- though how they know summer was over, I don't know).
So, did I invent this, or are there other FPOTers out there?
A few years back, then, I hit on the idea of "Floating Plants Only"(FPO) tanks. I've had such good -- and easy -- and inexpensive -- success with FPOTs they've now become my standard mode of operation. The chief advantages I've found are as follows.
1. You don't need to worry about carbon supplementation, since the floating plants get their carbon from the atmosphere above the water line -- and then grow just fine by consuming it.
2. You don't need to worry about high-intensity lighting. I've simply been using the fluorescent bulbs that come standard when you buy a light fixture or a hood and -- at about 1 watt per gallon -- they provide light sufficient that the floating plants flourish.
3. Since you're no longer trying to blast light all the way down to gravel-level that -- in concert with the mass of plants floating on and just below the tank's surface -- makes for the easy attainment of that 'subdued' light all the tropical fish books tell you is what the fish prefer.
4. It's way easier to keep your plants trimmed up when you don't have to reach far below the water's surface to do it.
5. You don't need to worry about in-gravel fertilization. I just add some liquid fertilizer (Tetra Flora Pride) when I do my weekly water changes.
6. I've had my best successes with: Water Sprite, Banana Plants, Duckweed and Giant Duckweed.
7. Some years back, when I had larger, open-top, tanks going, I also did well with Water Hyacinth and Water Lettuce (but I never could get them not to die off at the end of the summer -- though how they know summer was over, I don't know).
So, did I invent this, or are there other FPOTers out there?