a nice lfs near me has a huge plant tank with nothing but two sponge filters. small ones. its been set up for years and there is no algae, crystal clear water too. it houses shrimp and bristlenose plecos
Anyone with a planted tank w/out filter?
- Thread starter Fish-Addict
- Start date
I have 3 tanks running at the moment with no filters. 5G Bowfront, 10G bare bottom, and 10G Black Flourite.
The stock in the 5G bow is ~20 adult endlers, with some moss, and floaters. The 10G barebottom has 14 Endlers, ~20 RCS, countless snails, floaters, riccia, water sprite, and very little moss. The 10G Flourite tank has Seachem's Flourite Black substrate, planted with mainly java moss, water sprite, amazon sword, anubias, java fern, widolev fern, cabomba, ludwiga repens, and maybe a few others. The stock was 14 guppies and 11 Yellow Shrimp. This last tank is running DIY CO2 since 2 weeks.
All 3 tanks has no water movement, lights on for 12 HRs daily on a timer. Water change is usually more than 2 weeks apart. I started dosing ferts 1 month ago. Tanks run under 15W of light, no heaters.
Let me know if you have any questions.
The stock in the 5G bow is ~20 adult endlers, with some moss, and floaters. The 10G barebottom has 14 Endlers, ~20 RCS, countless snails, floaters, riccia, water sprite, and very little moss. The 10G Flourite tank has Seachem's Flourite Black substrate, planted with mainly java moss, water sprite, amazon sword, anubias, java fern, widolev fern, cabomba, ludwiga repens, and maybe a few others. The stock was 14 guppies and 11 Yellow Shrimp. This last tank is running DIY CO2 since 2 weeks.
All 3 tanks has no water movement, lights on for 12 HRs daily on a timer. Water change is usually more than 2 weeks apart. I started dosing ferts 1 month ago. Tanks run under 15W of light, no heaters.
Let me know if you have any questions.
I found a really small power head for my 10 gallon. It helped my plant growth. If I move it to hit a specific plant directly it will pick up growth. It is so gentle that you can't tell its on without putting your hand in the tank. You might want to try one.
I have several "powerheads" One came with the CO2 setup from Red Sea, and then I got another one from a Whisper internal filter. I haven't set it up yet, but might give it a try.
mellowvision
Seafood Lover
I've run a few tanks with just a powerhead with a sponge on the intake. the small filter in my shrimp tank is essentially just that.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsCA/ctl3684/cp19167/si1382853/cl0/tomdivecleanmicropump
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsCA/ctl3684/cp19167/si1382853/cl0/tomdivecleanmicropump
Do you mind if I ask how the fert dosing is working with larger increments between water changes?
Yes, they still hold bacteria which convert toxins, therefor they are using a filter.
I don't have actual planted tanks.. no nice soil stuff yet. But I heavily plant all my tanks whether they have sand or gravel substrates. I use Flourish, root tabs... and a lot of fish poop, I suppose. But everything has filters.
I do have a book by Diana Walstad - the Ecology of Planted Tanks. I haven't actually read it yet, but I have it!!
I do have a book by Diana Walstad - the Ecology of Planted Tanks. I haven't actually read it yet, but I have it!!
Theoretically its a plausible idea... filters are generally used to suplement the fact that you dont have a complete ecosystem IMO-- a majority of your bacteria is stored in the filter.
BUT.. there is also some in the substrate--- if you were to have a thick bed of substrate-- a well seeded tank.. with moderate stock and LOTS of very healthy plants it would work-- the plants break down the waste and the bacteria breaks down the chemicals.
I do think though-- that you would have a very high chance of "old tank syndrome" if not carefully maintained
BUT.. there is also some in the substrate--- if you were to have a thick bed of substrate-- a well seeded tank.. with moderate stock and LOTS of very healthy plants it would work-- the plants break down the waste and the bacteria breaks down the chemicals.
I do think though-- that you would have a very high chance of "old tank syndrome" if not carefully maintained
