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

[kamikaziechameleon]

To answer you question a plant filter would in theory work almost the same as a carbon/bio filter. They both require water changes for various reasons. I don't see why a healthy planted tank even needs filtration(just water circulation) but rather just water changes and the monthly gravel sifting.

 

[JamesF]

To answer you question a plant filter would in theory work almost the same as a carbon/bio filter. They both require water changes for various reasons. I don't see why a healthy planted tank even needs filtration(just water circulation) but rather just water changes and the monthly gravel sifting.

If you don't run any type of filter, you'll have a fair amount of particulate matter floating around your tank. Plants can't help with that unfortunately.

 

[dayak]

this exactly what i did when i was a kid and i am in the process of doing it, so far i have pothoes in my HOB, will find some more..
when i was a kid i never change the water at all and all the fishes were healthy and even breed.
when water has no mineral in it anymore it will simply evaporate and all u got to do is refill thats what i understand.

here its the pic of it so far..

 

[muffywrx]

Question ... If I threw some pothos in my new axolotl tank... In a little shower tub caddy type thing ... Do I really need to have water running over the roots or can I just sit them in the caddy and hope the little hob i have is enough water movement?

 

[muffywrx]

(by the way, I got an axolotl because of this thread )

 

[devder1]

great job justin! i hve been growing some pothos that is overrunning my vivariums in the HOB on my 125.
try growing this stuff in flourite

 

[JK47]

Search for beaslbob builds in
He does not do WC, just top up the water and no filter on fresh water tank.

He should do water changes none the less. Welcome to MFK!

To answer you question a plant filter would in theory work almost the same as a carbon/bio filter. They both require water changes for various reasons. I don't see why a healthy planted tank even needs filtration(just water circulation) but rather just water changes and the monthly gravel sifting.

I am new to planted tanks so this (not being an actual planted tank technically) new territory for me.

If you don't run any type of filter, you'll have a fair amount of particulate matter floating around your tank. Plants can't help with that unfortunately.

Agreed.

this exactly what i did when i was a kid and i am in the process of doing it, so far i have pothoes in my HOB, will find some more..
when i was a kid i never change the water at all and all the fishes were healthy and even breed.
when water has no mineral in it anymore it will simply evaporate and all u got to do is refill thats what i understand.

here its the pic of it so far..

Nice. I wonder how long it will take for the roots to completely take over that HOB. Mine made it about 3 weeks. I just left them growing in the water column after it got too big.

Question ... If I threw some pothos in my new axolotl tank... In a little shower tub caddy type thing ... Do I really need to have water running over the roots or can I just sit them in the caddy and hope the little hob i have is enough water movement?

(by the way, I got an axolotl because of this thread )

Right on Jessica! They are awesome aren't they? I think if you just left the pothos roots dangling in the water you would be fine. I have not tried them in with no circulation yet but assume it would be OK, just less effective, again an assumption.

great job justin! i hve been growing some pothos that is overrunning my vivariums in the HOB on my 125.
try growing this stuff in flourite

Really? I have not thought of growing it in floutrite. Is it planted in a pot with flourite or is that your substrate?

 

[devder1]

it is a layer of substrate in one of my vivariums, and i have found that roots take off exceptionally well in it, i had to pull out some cuttings the other day, and i just noticed a pretty big difference in roots between pure gravel with sphagnum moss on top and the plants grown with a layer of flourite on top of the regular aquarium gravel

 

[carsona246]

I just wanted to add to circulation advice, I had pothos just sitting in the middle of my axolotl tank that got very little water flow, and the roots didn't even start growing. The tiny pothos I had in my hob filter however took off in root growth. I think water circulation was the cause, because the pothos in my axolotl tank actually got more light, and probably more nutrients.

 

[muffywrx]

Hm .. okay I will have to try both I suppose. Maybe I can build some sort of ramp that feeds into one of those cheapo shower caddys that was mentioned holding a bunch of pothos ... to get the circulation over the roots. We'll see. I have seen pothos growing in just water sitting there, so. I will try it out.

And I have orchids in the back of a couple of my tanks. One is growing pretty well, no shoots yet though just leaves getting bigger. And putting off a .. planty smell. The other was my biggest but I had to rip off the dying leaves before placing it in so now it is tiny.