Starting up a filterless tank

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Tijn74

Registered Member
Oct 2, 2019
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So I recently bought a second-hand 20 gallon tank. I got all kinds of stuff with it such as 2 (rather old) filters, 2 air pumps, 2 heaters, a lot of decorations and some stuff to help your cycling proces (the bottle still had the price tag on it, in guilder, a currency which isn't used here since 2002. Not using that for that reason)
Okay anyways, I wanted to set it up as a filterless tank.
I already put some plants in and got the filters running, but how do I make it filterless?

I currently have those plants: Echinodorus, Myriophyllum, Eleocharis, Lilaeopsis and Cryptocoryne amicorum.
I have Superfish Plant Substrate on the bottom
and gravel I bought at a Local Fish Store (well a garden center with a fish section)
I read that the Walstad method is a good way to do filterless, but as far as I could find, that uses different kind of bottom soil.
So what do I have to do to get my aquarium filterless?
I'm ready to buy more plants and other stuff.
Substrate.jpg
unnamed.jpg
 

the loach

AC Members
Aug 6, 2018
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I also have a couple of filterless tanks. It is real easy... heavily planted and lightly stocked. Your tank looks nice already.
You don't need special soil, you can just use root tabs.
 

FreshyFresh

Global Moderator
Staff member
Jan 11, 2013
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West Falls NY
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Joel
So what do I have to do to get my aquarium filterless?
A light bio load, water changes and keeping an eye on water parameters.
 
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