:OT:
:hitting:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs184
Ive seen similar concepts made, and set afloat into ornamental koi ponds, where the plant roots filter the water, keeping it clear.
Quoting another site,
"floating flower gardens and “floating turf islandscapes” that are interesting to look at and serve a useful purpose too: they mimic a “natural peat bog system in which plants and beneficial bacteria absorb excess nutrients that encourage algae growth.” This can be particularly helpful if your pond is cloudy, as it will purify the water so it becomes “become clearer and cleaner.”"
Now I had an epiphany of sorts on this. Now obviously its very hard to do this in an aquarium, but, what of, say, duckweed? Or a personal favorite that I don't have any more of because some one threw some chlorine into my ornamental pond to kill algae :cry:, salvinia.
Now, salvinia is wonderful. Duckweed gives tiny little roots, but also a snack for some fish, while the larger salvinia can give you an EXTENSIVE root system on the top most layer of your aquarium, hanging free in the water instead of below your sand. It provides wonderful emergency control for the water when your substrate layer becomes a tad overloaded. I recommend it to every one but check your state laws on it, as its illegal in a few states do to people dumping it into the wild.
It DOES require you to 'cull the herd', as in optimal conditions it grows like a weed, worse than any other plant I've had.
http://weeds.hotmeal.net/weeds/Giant_Salvinia.jpg
Some of the "roots" are actually some sort of submerged leaf that is incredibly hairy, providing tons of surface area for beneficial bacteria, and trapping small free floating particles. Ive seen water fleas scatter like flocks of birds when you disturb salvinia.
Its almost like sandwiching your water between two sand beds
:hitting:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs184
Ive seen similar concepts made, and set afloat into ornamental koi ponds, where the plant roots filter the water, keeping it clear.
Quoting another site,
"floating flower gardens and “floating turf islandscapes” that are interesting to look at and serve a useful purpose too: they mimic a “natural peat bog system in which plants and beneficial bacteria absorb excess nutrients that encourage algae growth.” This can be particularly helpful if your pond is cloudy, as it will purify the water so it becomes “become clearer and cleaner.”"
Now I had an epiphany of sorts on this. Now obviously its very hard to do this in an aquarium, but, what of, say, duckweed? Or a personal favorite that I don't have any more of because some one threw some chlorine into my ornamental pond to kill algae :cry:, salvinia.
Now, salvinia is wonderful. Duckweed gives tiny little roots, but also a snack for some fish, while the larger salvinia can give you an EXTENSIVE root system on the top most layer of your aquarium, hanging free in the water instead of below your sand. It provides wonderful emergency control for the water when your substrate layer becomes a tad overloaded. I recommend it to every one but check your state laws on it, as its illegal in a few states do to people dumping it into the wild.
It DOES require you to 'cull the herd', as in optimal conditions it grows like a weed, worse than any other plant I've had.
http://weeds.hotmeal.net/weeds/Giant_Salvinia.jpg
Some of the "roots" are actually some sort of submerged leaf that is incredibly hairy, providing tons of surface area for beneficial bacteria, and trapping small free floating particles. Ive seen water fleas scatter like flocks of birds when you disturb salvinia.
Its almost like sandwiching your water between two sand beds
But if I have to pay a little more to keep my critters healthy, so be it.
