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

[sincebeen]

A heavily planted high light tank will have no problems keeping up with almost any bioload you can throw at it. You'll actually have to add large amounts of nitrates for the plants on top of what the fish produce.
A planted tank is actually never cycled as there is little nitrifying bacteria present. The plants beat them to it.
Another thing people seem to misunderstand is where the ammonia in a tank comes from. Very little comes from fish waste via their food. It mostly comes from their breathing.

I know this was posted a very long time ago but the comment caught my interest.

If the goal was to achieve crystal clear water clarity, and from a strictly biological perspective, which is better:
1. A sufficient amount of bio media that has ample ammonia and N02 to consume or
2. A situation where the tank is "never cycled as there is little nitrifying bacteria present. The plants beat them to it."

I just reread my question and it sounds stupid, I hope it's not.

 

[Jenerik]

I know this was posted a very long time ago but the comment caught my interest.

If the goal was to achieve crystal clear water clarity, and from a strictly biological perspective, which is better:
1. A sufficient amount of bio media that has ample ammonia and N02 to consume or
2. A situation where the tank is "never cycled as there is little nitrifying bacteria present. The plants beat them to it."

I just reread my question and it sounds stupid, I hope it's not.

I agree with his statment. The problem is that most people using Pothos or some other plant do not..

1.) Use enough of it.
2.) Throw enough light at the plants.

From what I have seen, lots of people who try this just throw one sprig of Pothos in there, put it by a window, and hope all their nitrates will magically disappear. That isn't going to cut it. You need lots of plants and lots of light but it will work like he says. I do maybe a water change a month in my 300G and can never read more than small amount of N03. And, I have one of the biggest waste producers you will ever see. But I also have lots of plants but more importantly, lots of light.

 

[sincebeen]

I wasn't disagreeing with his statement. I'm just looking for an opinion on which is better for water clarity.

That is an awesome puffer by the way.


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[Jenerik]

The canister filters I use probably do the best for actual clarity. I don't feel like plants actually help with that.

 

[JamesF]

Neither option will really influence water clarity sincebeen. Both options will result in good water quality, but the biological filtration will lead to a buildup of nitrate. The plants will actively consume it, so at least remove one harmful substance from the water. Water clarity can be improved by reducing tannins, using carbon to remove tannins/discolouration, and and good mechanical filtration. Water polishing can be used if you're throwing that big party and want the tank to sparkle.

Jenerik, awesome puffer! One of the fish on my wishlist for someday.

 

[sincebeen]

Neither option will really influence water clarity sincebeen. Both options will result in good water quality, but the biological filtration will lead to a buildup of nitrate. The plants will actively consume it, so at least remove one harmful substance from the water. Water clarity can be improved by reducing tannins, using carbon to remove tannins/discolouration, and and good mechanical filtration. Water polishing can be used if you're throwing that big party and want the tank to sparkle.

Jenerik, awesome puffer! One of the fish on my wishlist for someday.

My example was a "sufficient bio media", which I believe should include the media necessary to house the anaerobic bacteria that is purported to remove nitrates. My water was definitely clearer after reengineering my bio load. My ammonia, NO2 and NO3 is always at zero.

The point is, in my tank, bio definitely effects water clarity.

I guess what i was looking for is some real world experience on whether plants or media do a better job; since I don't want to starve one to benefit the other (and vice versa).

I'm still learning, so thanks.


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[duanes]

Water quality and water clarity are 2 very different animals.
You can have crystal clear water, and it can be deadly to fish because the most dangerous constituents in water are invisible.
Consequently brown, turbid water can be chemically healthy.
I use heavily planted sumps and emergent plants in tanks, resulting in a nitrate concentration of of 2-5ppm, yet unless I use filter socks and clean them regularly my water is a yellowish brown.

 

[mkman]

This is a good thread, will take my time going through it so when I have my large pond built in the future to house wels, paddlefish, arapaima, goonch, and other giants, I will use a combination of a bog/plants and media filtration

 

[Chrisplosion]

I need to find some pet friendly plants

 

[aclockworkorange]

Nice to see the real deal plant filtration thread back! I have been messing around with them a bit, will post pics at some point soon.


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