Getting Back after a looong Hiatus - can we use plants? Pothos??

[ziyaadb]

Hello Everyone..
Its been years since I have had any wet pets...a combination of lack of electricity (south africa) and space led to me shutting down (went through the usual process of evolution from basic simple fish to multiple tanks to a fully blown reef tank) i am now in the proces of setting up a new Tropheus tank space and electricity issues have been resolved...while browsing about I came across the thread about using plants for filteration..would this be a possibility in a Rift lake tank?

The thread in question:

Cheap plants, less nitrate! POTHOS

Thought I might as well make a DIY thread, I know its been done before but not the way I did it. I don't use a hob or anything for added flow, the plants are simply submerged a few inches in my water and the roots suck up nitrates and the plant grows... Simple. Each plant consumes 5-10ppm per...

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

Anyone ever done this or any risk to doing with with Tropheus only tank?

 

[tlindsey]

Hello Everyone..
Its been years since I have had any wet pets...a combination of lack of electricity (south africa) and space led to me shutting down (went through the usual process of evolution from basic simple fish to multiple tanks to a fully blown reef tank) i am now in the proces of setting up a new Tropheus tank space and electricity issues have been resolved...while browsing about I came across the thread about using plants for filteration..would this be a possibility in a Rift lake tank?

The thread in question:

Cheap plants, less nitrate! POTHOS

Thought I might as well make a DIY thread, I know its been done before but not the way I did it. I don't use a hob or anything for added flow, the plants are simply submerged a few inches in my water and the roots suck up nitrates and the plant grows... Simple. Each plant consumes 5-10ppm per...

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

Anyone ever done this or any risk to doing with with Tropheus only tank?

Welcome back

 

[DJRansome]

Are no proposing no filter at all even for oxygenation? And no water changes? Tons of plants can certainly help with removing nitrate but the tropheus will nibble on them as well.

 

[duanes]

I have not done this with Trophieus, but with about 100 other cichlid species.
The problem comes in if the cichlids are partially or totally vegetarian.
So what i do is use planted sumps, separate from, but attached to the main tank, as my main source of filtration.

Above is the 180 gal main cichlid tank, below its 125 gal sump

The average systems water parameters below.

Although there is a small amount of bio media, and a Porrett Foam used as mechical/bio media in the sump, about 80-90% of the filtration is done, by the plants themselves.
Below the surface of the sump, with mangrove trees, Salvinia, and some terrestrial plants.

 

[ziyaadb]

Are no proposing no filter at all even for oxygenation? And no water changes? Tons of plants can certainly help with removing nitrate but the tropheus will nibble on them as well.

noooooo, noooooo, nooooo, - I am a pedantic person when it comes to caring for animals in my care....Waterchanges will be done Regularly every single week weather there is nitrate or not.....dilution is the solution to pollution...I cannot fathom no water changes...this will be in addition to filteration and wcs

 

[ziyaadb]

I have not done this with Trophieus, but with about 100 other cichlid species.
The problem comes in if the cichlids are partially or totally vegetarian.
So what i do is use planted sumps, separate from, but attached to the main tank, as my main source of filtration.
View attachment 1526770
Above is the 180 gal main cichlid tank, below its 125 gal sump
View attachment 1526774View attachment 1526772
The average systems water parameters below.
View attachment 1526773
Although there is a small amount of bio media, and a Porrett Foam used as mechical/bio media in the sump, about 80-90% of the filtration is done, by the plants themselves.
Below the surface of the sump, with mangrove trees, Salvinia, and some terrestrial plants.
View attachment 1526775

Thank you, you have convinced me to try it...the plants will be separated from the fish so that its not consumed...will start a tank thread soon so that i can share progress...

 

[duanes]

By the way, I never said anything about no water changes.
I still do 30-40% water changes on my 300 gal system every other day.
I agree that its not just about nitrate.
I consider nitrate (besides being a chronic disease cause in itself) as an indicator chem species of other undesirable elements that build up in the tank that we don't have the capacity to measure, such as growth inhibiting hormones, and pheromones, and other waste .