You're right, of course, but aren't the (de)nitrifying bacteria aerobic, so at a certain depth (of substrate) there wouldn't be enough oxygen for them to live?
Anyone with a planted tank w/out filter?
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You're right, of course, but aren't the (de)nitrifying bacteria aerobic, so at a certain depth (of substrate) there wouldn't be enough oxygen for them to live?
I think it helps to have substrate heating or lots of root growth or the substrate will become anarobic overtime and you will have problems. But I think this would happen with or without a filter. When I removed my filters I noticed no difference in tank chemistry. The combination of plants and substrate bacteria were enough to take over the bioload.
There are some reports about bacteria competing for nitrogen in a heavily stocked aquarium. I don't have any links right now but they make a compelling argument that bacteria is not as desirable in a heavily planted aquarium.
There are some reports about bacteria competing for nitrogen in a heavily stocked aquarium. I don't have any links right now but they make a compelling argument that bacteria is not as desirable in a heavily planted aquarium.
I've got a friend that has a heavily planted 55 with just a powerhead and a sponge on the intake. Stocked with 30ish neons and 10 misc. corys
This theory makes zero logical sense. Plants and bacteria have symbiotic, competitive, host/pathogen, and parasitic relationships. The ecology is quite complex.
First off without bacteria plants can't use fish waste.
Second although the bacteria do retain nutrients for their own metabolic and structural needs it is a tiny amount.
Third plants can use NH3, NO2 and NO3. Any rapidly growing plant can drastically out compete bacteria.
Fourth, in a heavily planted tank the filter is mostly full of aerobic carbon metabolizing bacteria.
Stocking does not have to be light. Stocking needs to be in accordance with what the plants off-set. One can and will effectively compliment the other. The use of filtration by plants is not a new concept but rather a well-proven one that got pushed to the wayside by manufacturers wishing to sell filters. The advancement of power filters allowed for plantless tanks. That was the original intention and use for them. It then became a common practice to use power filtration on all tanks.
By using plants only, one needs to be aware of the impact and the water parameters. It requires disciplined attention (which is not for everyone). Filters are great for people like me that can't grow plants and are unusually successful at killing any plant put into a tank. You still need to do a water change to replace depleted trace elements.
By using plants only, one needs to be aware of the impact and the water parameters. It requires disciplined attention (which is not for everyone). Filters are great for people like me that can't grow plants and are unusually successful at killing any plant put into a tank. You still need to do a water change to replace depleted trace elements.
I'm basically dosing 2x Flourish comprehensive and 2x Trace a week, Wed and Sat.
When I started dosing, I noticed larger, greener leaves with new sprouts throughout. Algae seems to be stalling and not growing as much. Some have even died off, or eaten by the fish/shrimp. With ferts, algae is more under control.
I may not be dosing enough, as each time I dose, the next day I notice greener, larger new sprouts.
Over time, the bacteria population will die off in a heavily planted tank. The plants will starve the bacteria.
i have a 55 gallon tht i took of the filter cause of the destruction it does to my plants. all. i have in it is lots of hornwort and anachris , to move the water just a bubble bar on the bottom. and tones of guppies and chiclids from malawi in it. just change 10 gallons a week and its does fine, no smell no dead fish and really thick hornwort. the anachris isnt a fast as the hornwort so i have to take hornwort out all the time.
