New DIY Nitrate filter started om my 210 tank

When I clicked on this thread I thought that it would be an article about an anaerobic approach to nitrate reduction. I like this much better.
I may have to give this a try. I hope my wife won't notice the picture hanging over the tank being gone (its a 30x24 watercolor gift from my sister)!
 
I dont run hob's on my tank now. Could I just put the plant into the tank behind my glass top. Would it still get the right stuff.
 
It looks like you have a planted tank, if so you know that becasue your aquatic plants sit in an ambient surroundings you need to have special substrate with concentrated nutrients available to the roots to make those aquatic plants grow lush and healthy along with CO2 which is in short supply in water. Although Pothos roots will float grow out of a tank you will not get as good a growth results (lush, healthy) since they also will need additional concentrated nutrients closely available, that is where the HOB comes into play as it both brings and concentrates most all the nutrients suspended in the water directly to and across the roots many times faster and repetedly several time a day, then the roots alone can catch floating around. Like hydrobotanical sewage treatment plant which are in use around the 3rd world, to be effective all the waste water must be bottle-necked to the plants to be effective. Otherwise people could just float a Pothos in their toilet bowl.

So the answer is yes they will grow but the results will not be the same. Also I would commit to either aquatic plants or hydroponics for 1 aquarium, but I would not do both unless it was a large pond otherwise they will be competing for nutrients.
 
Why not just use the sponge insert that comes with the filter though??? I know the roots would have no problem fixing itself to it and all the nutrients would become accessable once the roots reach the bottom of the insert. Or is there something bad im not thinking of that can happen with that idea??? Awesome Pothos aka Devil's Ivy.
 
You can use the blue-bond insert or sponge but eventually the roots are going to get crowded and when that happens the sponge or blue bond are going to make root trimming difficult and the roots themselves will clog the filter. That is why I just use plastic mesh now which provides a place for the roots attach to but allows flow without root clog. The mesh also saves room for roots and water reservoir, and easily slides up with the roots for easy trimming and re-insert. It just works better and remember this is a dedicated nitrate filter, not a mechanical filter. Trying to do both with 1 HOB just makes things difficult, besides for anything larger then 20 gallons an HOB is not a very effective mechanical filter anyway IMO.
 
^ depends on what HOB your talking about not being effective for anything over 20G. i think emperor 400's are very effective and are workhorses when it comes to HOB i used them for years and they always keep the tanks clean and clear.
 
Heh. So you just hang the roots in the HOB water holding part? :)
 
RodInCALIFORNIA said:
^ depends on what HOB your talking about not being effective for anything over 20G. i think emperor 400's are very effective and are workhorses when it comes to HOB i used them for years and they always keep the tanks clean and clear.
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OK yes, all HOB power filters do some filtration to some degree depending upon the size tank and I have used them. But in my opinion in comparison to a good canister filter, they are not very effective mechanically but OK.

Now as a converted nitrate filter, we are talking a whole different application for which they are outstanding once established at controlling toxins like nitrates and purifying household air better, cheaper, and easier then anything I have used. In that category they are supreme IMO
 
Haydn24 said:
Heh. So you just hang the roots in the HOB water holding part? :)
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Yes just as if the water is soil. As long as the water flows preventing stagnant fungus and rot, and delivers tank nutrients over the roots, the plant will take hold quickly and you'll find yourself chasing the stocks with nails and floss for it to climb. I have even thought of investing in white plastic trellis attached to the wall so Golden Pothos can climb naturaally. Just make sure as the plant gains length and wight that the plant is supported and that the roots are not stressed with the wight or tug. If the roots are pulled out of the HOB reservoir, the leaves will start to wither with plenty of warning that something is wrong. Act quickly within a couple days and the plant will recover. If the HOB is left off accidentally it will last as long as water remains and them some. Pothos leaves will naturally die and be replaced but if you notice a sudden droop of yellowing, it a sign that the roots are in troble becasue they have been pulled out of the water, the HOB has run dry, or shut down for days.
 
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