Thanks for the feedback. I have a 110 aquaclear on a 28g tall with a small colony of Peach faced Bricardi (sp). One mated pair & fry.
AquaClear 110 Polishing to Nitrate filter Mod 3
- Thread starter CWO4GUNNER
- Start date
Hey Gunner,
I have a 180 gallon FW tank that I will be running on a wet/dry sump system.
Any thoughts/suggestions for using Pothos in my sump?
Thanks.
I have a 180 gallon FW tank that I will be running on a wet/dry sump system.
Any thoughts/suggestions for using Pothos in my sump?
Thanks.
never seen an emerged plant in a sump before. that would be cool though because you could give it good light while being out of sight.
I am thinking of leaving them potted (if possible) and building "risers" to keep them from being submerged and keep the water at the appropriate level.
They don't do as well potted and grow too slow and floating they don't get enough nutrients and are more subject to rotting. The reason why they grow so well healthy and fast in an HOB is becasue the entire content of the tank and all nitrates are being subjected or brought to bare over the roots by water flow from the entire tank in just a couple hours so in a matter of speaking the water in the HOBs concentrates the nitrates and other nutrients over the roots and onto the HOB filter where the roots grow. The difference is like trying to filter a tank with an HOB cartridge or canister media just floating in the tank, no poo nutrients are caught very well hence slow growth. The Pothos on each one of my tanks now are huge and new growth has to be tied off every week. Friends and relatives that visit cant believe the plant volume and leaf size I have over my tanks, something they have never been able to achieve with potted plants. Also having a Pothos under a cabinet if it could be grown would require dedicated lighting and eventually take up work space becoming crowded and confined. Above the tank the plant will seek out ambient light, I use window light or just flip one tank light on its side facing the plant. The old photo of my avatar and albums don't do my plants justice. Anyway the bigger my plants get the more toxins are pulled out of both my tanks and the air in my home both filtered, the tanks of nitrates and the air of CO2 and other harmful gases in exchange for O2.
The roots are starting to migrate out of the HOBs down the water falls and into the tank but that OK because the main root bulb continues to get 200 to 300 GPH water-flow from the entire tank. Its like a sewage treatment plant the purifies the tank water over and over again. Eventually the plant volume will get so large compared to the tanks that nitrates may fall to zero permanently and then plant growth will curb. The Pothos plant is an amazon plant that lives under the shaded canopy requires very little lighting to grow, just distant window light or a few hours of a low wattage plant bulb 15W-20W max, anymore and the leave will burn. This means cost for special lighting and power use is practically zero and yet plant volume is unlimited saving tank space.
The roots are starting to migrate out of the HOBs down the water falls and into the tank but that OK because the main root bulb continues to get 200 to 300 GPH water-flow from the entire tank. Its like a sewage treatment plant the purifies the tank water over and over again. Eventually the plant volume will get so large compared to the tanks that nitrates may fall to zero permanently and then plant growth will curb. The Pothos plant is an amazon plant that lives under the shaded canopy requires very little lighting to grow, just distant window light or a few hours of a low wattage plant bulb 15W-20W max, anymore and the leave will burn. This means cost for special lighting and power use is practically zero and yet plant volume is unlimited saving tank space.
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Now Im not saying growing Pothos in a sump with the same success or better success is not possible, just that those conditions conducive to water flow concentration before or at the filter element so that the plant has access to debris it needs, some lighting, and room to grow and climb up and out not crowd. If these things can be met then potentially a sump could house an enormous volume of root and plant material virtually eliminating the need for filter media altogether. But it may take some trial and error to get it right and the plant established before it takes off like gangbusters, something most people give up on as soon as they see success requires some failed efforts.
"Research on Plant Growth
Background research on the care of house plants revealed that there are three chemical elements which are absolutely necessary for balanced plant growth. Those three elements are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Each element has its own purpose in the growth cycles of the plant. For example, nitrogen (N) is necessary for the healthy growth of stems and leaves and for the production of chlorophyll. Phosphorus(P) gives the plant a good foundation by building strong roots. The third element, potassium (K)aids in flower and fruit production, and gives the plant over-all sturdiness (Huxley 442)." (Quote by Home & Garden)
So IMO this is why my nitrate drop occurs, I also add potassium in my water softener which I use in my aquariums at a low concentration of 200 PPM to off set som eof the high cal/mag in my water supply which normally is 800 PPM Cal/Mag is off set by my softener to 600 PPM Cal/mag + 200 PPM potassium = TDS of 800 PPM. In the beginning (2 years ago) I used to set my softener to maximum ion exchange but (20 PPM Cal/Mag + 780 PPM Potassium) but it was too strong and would kill fish. Finally I reached a balance that all my fish do well in and Pothos grows like crazy, if there is a delivery system to the roots to concentrate all nutrients to the roots over time.
Background research on the care of house plants revealed that there are three chemical elements which are absolutely necessary for balanced plant growth. Those three elements are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Each element has its own purpose in the growth cycles of the plant. For example, nitrogen (N) is necessary for the healthy growth of stems and leaves and for the production of chlorophyll. Phosphorus(P) gives the plant a good foundation by building strong roots. The third element, potassium (K)aids in flower and fruit production, and gives the plant over-all sturdiness (Huxley 442)." (Quote by Home & Garden)
So IMO this is why my nitrate drop occurs, I also add potassium in my water softener which I use in my aquariums at a low concentration of 200 PPM to off set som eof the high cal/mag in my water supply which normally is 800 PPM Cal/Mag is off set by my softener to 600 PPM Cal/mag + 200 PPM potassium = TDS of 800 PPM. In the beginning (2 years ago) I used to set my softener to maximum ion exchange but (20 PPM Cal/Mag + 780 PPM Potassium) but it was too strong and would kill fish. Finally I reached a balance that all my fish do well in and Pothos grows like crazy, if there is a delivery system to the roots to concentrate all nutrients to the roots over time.
