filters

alright here is a question just for discussion and to see people perspective on it. Are filters truly needed in a heavily planted tank? If the mix of plants is right then from them eating whats in the water wouldn't they filter the water making a filter to filter the water obsolete. other then to create flow and gas exchange. I ask this cause I have two betta tanks one has a filter and the other doesn't I never test the water perimeters I just change some water in them every week being only 5 gallons its not hard to do. But the tank with the plants only is crystal clear water and no algea growth ever. The other tank however has lots of algae and the water is still turning brown from the dirt. the betta in the plant only tank seems to have grown much faster and has more color in it.

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Permalink Reply by 2apes2gp667wr on January 31, 2012 at 9:56pm

Your talking about Diana Walstad's method. Here's my 2 cents on this, which probably isn't worth 2 cents. I think that no filter can work well but those tanks are low light, low tech, undemanding plants and no ferts except those provided by the dirt. The other side is the dutch tanks. High light, ferts, bright bold colored high need plants and heavy filtration. When you are adding those ferts and high light some algae will be inevitable, especially without the flow of filters or powerheads. That is why the Europeans are much more into the equipment than we are. That's just tbe way I see it. I'd be interested in what some of the European members who do heavily planted tanks think.

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Bingamon on February 1, 2012 at 5:53pm

Good two cents. I have one more for it though. Idk what natural daylight is (indirect in the winter and direct in the summer) but my two tanks are less then a foot away from my window and all the light they get is the sun. My tank with less plants has the filter and the one that (for its tank size) has two huge swords in it. One thing I have noticed is no matter the plant man it grows awesome in these tanks. I just find it confusing how it is the one that's has these two swords a little bit of duck weed and som anarchis is out performing my other tank with a filter ludwuigia a tiny sword two diff anubis java moss and Italian Val. Even though it doesn't yet have as much plants. Just more species I don't c how it grows algae the water isn't as clear at the end of the week.

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Bingamon on February 1, 2012 at 5:54pm

O and what I meant for the daylight is high med or low light depending on the year. I know summer is high when the sun is shining straight into the tanks but when it's on the other side of the house like right now idk if it falls into med light.