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

[Egon]

This is the setup for the plants...

...The two baskets in back are for the Peace Lillies and clay beads are used as the media. The black eggcrate in front is for the cuttings of Pothos, parrot's feather, etc. The two wire grates on the sides are for other plants such as orchids and bromeliads, which do not want to be in the water but like the humidity from below.

The tank's primary filtration is a wet-dry but after my positive experience with the plants, I would not do a big tank without them. Here is the build thread if anyone is curious...

I really like the screen set up above the tank. Are the baskets removable? Very nice design, thanks for posting.

 

[Jenerik]

...I really like the screen set up above the tank. Are the baskets removable? Very nice design, thanks for posting.

Thanks. Yes, all that stuff lifts out, so that I can get back there and clean the tank, etc. At the rate the plants are growing (especially the parrot's feather..), I am going to have to start throwing out trimmings in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Nereus7]

A little off topic but if you look at the 3rd picture down, if you look at the MBU on its back, it has two dark spots like eyes. I've never noticed that before, it's got "bluff" spots like eyes, and its tail is a real long nose. If you go to the 5th picture you can see where they are but they really don't kick off the illusion. MBU's are on my "one day" list, that set up is pretty bad ass IMHO. Good work Jenerik.

 

[Jenerik]

Thanks, never noticed that before. Though he gets lighter and darker with mood, his pattern has not really changed much over the years. My wife and laugh because on his other side (not visible in these photos..), he has this "giant-cawk-and-balls" pattern, LOL...

 

[Egon]

Thanks, never noticed that before. Though he gets lighter and darker with mood, his pattern has not really changed much over the years. My wife and laugh because on his other side (not visible in these photos..), he has this "giant-cawk-and-balls" pattern, LOL...

please post a pic!

 

[Jenerik]

please post a pic!

 

[Egon]

LOL! I see it

 

[ITHURTZ]

Sweet puffer.

All the emails must have went in my spam folder . Thought I would post a update. Since being in the garage in the winter plants really did nothing. I had it "warm" enough to not kill off the plants, but not enough to grow. Winter is over so they are back to growing. I swear Ill need triple the amount to get 0 nitrates now, I think I only have 6 fish in there. Just a recap I have quad t8's up above (32w each). Still wanna drop the tubes and go spiral or led. I have a 5meter strip in the garage I am working on ("working on") that will go above the 55. So pending on how well that lights it up will point me into the right direction.


Pic time. Full shot in the garage. Tank is 7' long for size comparison


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Dumb cane, wandering jew, hosta and bella palm.


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Pothos


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Arrowheads and I keep forgetting the other one with stripes, taro maybe? Thats the only plant that suffered in the garage winter, lost all leaves except one. Its growing strong again now.


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Hand to arrowhead comparison


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hand to pothos


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The fellas that feed my plants.

18" butterfly koi with 2 pangasius 5-5.5" I think those 2 are


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My pride and joy kittie, when moved into that tank he was 13-13.5" Looks like he has put on some size. Which is great because I think he is 4 or little more years old. Little bugger was always afriad to eat with other fish around. Right now he gobble gobble gobbles!


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Kittie with the 18" koi


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I have 1 butterfly koi in there, 4 pangasius catifsh ( 3 are 5-5.5") and a regular common goldfish perhaps 6". I have a shubunkin and reg koi in the 55 waiting to be transferred into the tank with the big guys. Lazy yes.

 

[duanes]

 

[Nereus7]

Ha! I imagine it just wouldn't be right for a MBU of that stature to not be sporting the "cawknballs" proper. Do I see a loach in the background of that pic? The little black and white guy?