For my tanks, 90% of the filtration is done by plants.
Aquatic, terrestrial, and semi aquatic.
The 125 gal sump (above and below) filters my 180 gal tank, mostly populated with cichlids.
The terrestrial plants on the left end (above) are Dieffenbachia and Monstera
The aquatic plant species are mostly Vallisneria.
On the right end are semi- aquatic Mangrove tree saplings.
Because the sump gets about 6 hours of direct morning tropical sun every day, water lilies, and the floating plants(such as Salvinia) help shade the waters surface.
Also on the left end (the other 10% of filtration, photographed at the sumps inception), with the pump, is a Porrett Foam panel that fits the entire width and height of the sump, for mechanical filtration, a couple small bags of ceramic rings, and a pumice block about 5" x5" for biologica bacteria to colonize.l.
With this filtration configuration, below are my average water parameters.
Below pH and another nitrate test.
The tank uses a pump rated at 1500 gph, and water enters the tank (from the sump), above the waters surface on the left end, at the velocity below.
The tank is drilled on the right end, to simulate a riverine flow along the tanks length
Average stocking below.
There are a few terrestrials with roots draped into the main tank,
My aim in posting this thread, is to show options that work very well, but are a bit beyond the traditional, and commercial scope of normal filtration availability.
Aquatic, terrestrial, and semi aquatic.
The 125 gal sump (above and below) filters my 180 gal tank, mostly populated with cichlids.
The terrestrial plants on the left end (above) are Dieffenbachia and Monstera
The aquatic plant species are mostly Vallisneria.
On the right end are semi- aquatic Mangrove tree saplings.
Because the sump gets about 6 hours of direct morning tropical sun every day, water lilies, and the floating plants(such as Salvinia) help shade the waters surface.
Also on the left end (the other 10% of filtration, photographed at the sumps inception), with the pump, is a Porrett Foam panel that fits the entire width and height of the sump, for mechanical filtration, a couple small bags of ceramic rings, and a pumice block about 5" x5" for biologica bacteria to colonize.l.
With this filtration configuration, below are my average water parameters.
Below pH and another nitrate test.
The tank uses a pump rated at 1500 gph, and water enters the tank (from the sump), above the waters surface on the left end, at the velocity below.
The tank is drilled on the right end, to simulate a riverine flow along the tanks length
Average stocking below.
There are a few terrestrials with roots draped into the main tank,
My aim in posting this thread, is to show options that work very well, but are a bit beyond the traditional, and commercial scope of normal filtration availability.
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