Plant only filtration (why not popular in the hobby???)

[andyroo]

I've tried this a dozen times with several species, and it works nicely- roots, leaves, growth... until overnight the loaches decide that the roots are tasty and take everything within an inch above the waterline to a bare nub. Any thoughts on keeping fish from eating the roots?
Also, anybody try to specifically set the plant over the bubbler to maintain flow (and aerate roots & bacteria).
Also, anybody try lotus or water lily? The lilies look fantastic, particularly when young with the leaves are bundled at the bottom. I've not had the lotus get beyond 3-leafs beyond germination as apparently the split seeds are tasty... These plants use/need sediment soil such that I'm not sure they will do much for water quality, but they look great.
A

 

[ITHURTZ]

The roots you have to contain them from the fish, which is why you look a page or 2 back and see how I made a container that sits on top of the tank. You either have to make a egg crate cage, put them in pots with running running, or do what I did. People that complain about having plants sticking out the top of the tank looking ugly have no skill on making it look good. If your fine plopping it in fine, but if not, your imagination is the best of it. Wood box with thin stone for a covering, convert the output into a waterfall, LED etc etc. Cant wait until I can finish mine, so sexy!

 

[carsona246]

I'm currently using a bubble wall under my roots for aeration. Not sure if it's really helping much but my root systems doing great. I thought pothos and peace lilly were supposed to burn your mouth when you ate them, if the roots did this you'd think that might help with the root eating. I might have to give the lotus/lilly a try, but I'm gonna have to expand my eggcrate. The peace lilly of mine actually flowers quite a bit if anyones looking for a flowering plant, I accidentally killed 2 flowers already, and its still keeps flowering. I'm a little worried about having too many plants and not enough waste to feed the plants. I only have 2 axolotls in my 40 breeder, and my eggcrate is packed to the maximum capacity. I wouldn't mind finding some screening and filling the whole top of my tank with pothos or some other vine, but I'm afraid my tank wouldn't have enough nutrients to feed that many plants.

 

[hydrophyte]

This is about the best looking that I have had my 50G riparium setup. This shot is from last year.

I had a lot of fish in that tank, but everything stayed looking very good all the time. The light was bright (either 2 or 4 39W HO T5s), but I hardly saw a speck of algae in there.

Like the OP said this kind of setup makes it a lot easier to use plants for water filtration. The fish really like the overhead cover and there are some awesome plants that you can grow this way too.

 

[BillyBlanco]

Ok, so I went down to Home Depot today and got 2 small porthos with about 10 (leaves on each) and a larger spearmint. I have these in my AC70 and have a 18" florescent marineland "daylight" t8 on them. I also have 4 lucky bamboo with roots submerged. I'm excited to see how this will work. I was gonna go for the peace lillie but I heard it can be pretty toxic and throws a lot of pollen in the tank. I almost got some Ivy too but I didnt want to go overboard on the 1st day. Does Ivy grow well in the same fashion? How should I light these plants? ambient room light? I live in a trailer (bleh) its not the brightest place inside but its no cave either. Should I get a clip on or 2 with reflectors and compact florescents? or is this overkill?

Also what is your guys favorite plant to use in this fasion that I dont have. I see the poster above me has a good variety. I just don't have enough knowledge to go down to Home Depot or the like and buy things to toss into the water =P How do Ivy and Boston Ferns do? What is the plant above my post with the long blades that looks like a thick grass?

I think the mint will probably work due to the fact that it is a plant that grows against all odds and is a weed. Any other plants grow that have uses? fruits, herbs, peppers, etc etc...

 

[JamesF]

Also, anybody try lotus or water lily? The lilies look fantastic, particularly when young with the leaves are bundled at the bottom. I've not had the lotus get beyond 3-leafs beyond germination as apparently the split seeds are tasty... These plants use/need sediment soil such that I'm not sure they will do much for water quality, but they look great.
A

I have both in my tanks. The tiger lotus is my all time favourite plant. I've had them flower dozens of times, but currently, I keeo the leaves under water for the sake of the other plants. I've grown them in everything from sand, flourite, regular gravel, and other various substrates.

 

[ITHURTZ]

Ok, so I went down to Home Depot today and got 2 small porthos with about 10 (leaves on each) and a larger spearmint. I have these in my AC70 and have a 18" florescent marineland "daylight" t8 on them. I also have 4 lucky bamboo with roots submerged. I'm excited to see how this will work. I was gonna go for the peace lillie but I heard it can be pretty toxic and throws a lot of pollen in the tank. I almost got some Ivy too but I didnt want to go overboard on the 1st day. Does Ivy grow well in the same fashion? How should I light these plants? ambient room light? I live in a trailer (bleh) its not the brightest place inside but its no cave either. Should I get a clip on or 2 with reflectors and compact florescents? or is this overkill?

Also what is your guys favorite plant to use in this fasion that I dont have. I see the poster above me has a good variety. I just don't have enough knowledge to go down to Home Depot or the like and buy things to toss into the water =P How do Ivy and Boston Ferns do? What is the plant above my post with the long blades that looks like a thick grass?

I think the mint will probably work due to the fact that it is a plant that grows against all odds and is a weed. Any other plants grow that have uses? fruits, herbs, peppers, etc etc...

I have 2 mint plants in my tank, I beleive with these you want the roots under water NOT the stem. Before I moved to a bigger container roots were just in the water, then when I switched to the bigger one I got the stem under water a little bit and it started turning black, so I put a rock under it to lift it back up, still shooting out leaves so far.

I tried bamboo, didnt do anything but sit there, maybe I had a dud.

I have ivy, see pics couple pages back, they grow, but can be a pain as they vine and go all over.

Light depends on what it currently gets. If in a month no growth happens add a light.

 

[BillyBlanco]

I have 2 mint plants in my tank, I beleive with these you want the roots under water NOT the stem. Before I moved to a bigger container roots were just in the water, then when I switched to the bigger one I got the stem under water a little bit and it started turning black, so I put a rock under it to lift it back up, still shooting out leaves so far.

I tried bamboo, didnt do anything but sit there, maybe I had a dud.

I have ivy, see pics couple pages back, they grow, but can be a pain as they vine and go all over.

Light depends on what it currently gets. If in a month no growth happens add a light.

Cool man thanks for the advice I have the mint pretty much above water If something happens to it I'll just toss it to the cats I don't want a very picky plant. I'll get a couple Ivy and place them in my tank with the car cupholder things =P

Today I went out and got Anubias, Java Fern, Onion Plant, Sword Plant. MY line of thought here is this... The Festae are 1.5-2" They wont hurt the plants for another 6months-1year. The Anubias and Java Fern should be WELL connected to driftwood by then. Onion and Sword will be anchored under rocks and roots ran through egg crate to prevent them from being pulled out(hope). If the plants gets destroyed then at least I got a good 6months to a year out of them. Maybe they wont destroy ALL the types and I will see what they don't mind. Might be more use to them If they grow up with them. If not I've bought lots of things that didnt turn out right in this hobby but AT LEAST I WILL TRY TO GIVE MY FISH THE MOST NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. I'm not one to repeat songs from mockingbirds. Rather try it out myself then say it doesn't work.

 

[hydrophyte]

If you can find the current issue of Aquarium Fish International there is this article in there that's all about planted ripariums...

http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-magazines/aquarium-fish-international/july-2011/ripariums.aspx

 

[ITHURTZ]

I dont find the mint picky at all. I found mine at a house while working. I pulled them out of the ground, put it in a wet nap and 5 hours later rinsed the dirt off and plopped it in the water. Grew water roots and continued to grow like nothing happened. Now just waiting to see how long it takes to spread. To bad I cant mow it haha the smell would be GREAT!