How self-sustaining are planted tanks?

[Easydoesit]

There's an amazing thread on MFK about a person who has a bunch of outdoor "tanks" made with like.. big cement topless boxes with different cubicles pretty much. I think he plans on turning it into a greenhouse soon.
Anyways.. he has the 'tanks'.. puts a bunch of plants in them(no filters) and stocks them moderately-lightly. I think he does water changes very infrequently. His fish look extremely healthy.. vibrantly colored and in a few of his 'tanks' his fish breed a lot.

I know we have to do water changes to add nutrients and minerals and whatnot back into our tanks.. but how self sustaining would a really heavily planted tank be?
It seems like.. you have to do scheduled water changes or barely any water changes at all(if your tap water is very different from your tank water parameter-wise to prevent shock) But IDK, I could be completely off and just missing something.

How often do you guys with heavily planted tanks do water changes?

 

[tanker]

100 gal Jungle. Very heavily planted. 10% -15% weekly.

But I do have a very heavy fish load. 3 angles, 4 plecos, 6 ottos, almost 60+ tetras and two guramis.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

there is a line of thought about this. i dont support it but they do very little water changes mostly just top offs. i think it would be better for one of those low light set ups ver a high light co2 set up.

 

[Bansart]

I have a 55g heavily planted. I do 40% to 50% wc every 2 to 3 weeks sometimes longer.

 

[Que]

I've been doing 25-40% weekly water changes for a long time now and I have decided to try changing based solely on my nitrate readings. I'm gonna see how long it takes to get to about 30 ppm before I change. right now after one week all 3 are at 10ppm.

Q

 

[Slappy*McFish]

I've found that for most types of planted tanks, 50% water changes monthly will suffice. You still need to monitor NO3 levels, however and adjust water changes accordingly.
I too, tend to slightly overstock moderately-heavily planted tanks as the fish do provide plenty of nitrates. It just takes some commitment to keep track of water params and dosing needs. Obviously, the more plants the better.

 

[j_chicago]

Not sure if you read TFH, but a few months ago, there was an article about small outdoor water features. If memory services correctly, the author did only small WC every great often. No filters and no heater. Stocked lightly with small fish that can handle the temp. changes during the day. Besides that, he relied on the plants coverage (and placement of the tub) to keep the temp. stable and keep the parameters in place by both using nutrients and housing bacteria.

Anyone else read it?

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Sounds similar to Diana Walstad's method.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

I have 4 tanks that I'd consider "heavily" planted and do 35-50% WCs every 7-14 days. I do tend towards heavy stocking and over-filtration though. I try to keep in mind the natural environment of my fish and the rain water / mineral runoff of their native environs. Outside "tanks" or ponds would be a totally different thing so I'm not sure how closely they can be compared.

 

[grannylvsfish]

I do 30 to 50 % water changes each week. I have a heavy load ( guppies and platties) and as you can see my plants thrive very well. and with no plant foods what so ever.


my 29 gallon tank.