I am wondering, if the plant mass is big enough, all i need is a water pump that agitate the water surface. No filter is needed.
So I set up this experiment two months ago. I added two small pots of swords plants in a 2.5 gallon. The plants came from my 75 gallon. On the bottom is 1/4" of pool filter sand and some pebbles. Also in the tank is a small 40 gph pump that agitate the water surface. Lighting = 13 W CF about 6" above the water. Temperature = 75 F, no heater. Then I added fish (6 Rasbora hets) the same day, and monitored the NH3/NO2/NO3 levels daily.
It's clear that the tank is being cycled now. I first saw a small NH3 spike (forgot the readings), then a NO2 spike (up to 0.3 ppm), then a NO3 spike (up to 10 ppm). Two months later, NH3/NO2 = 0 ppm, and NO3 = 1 ppm. The plants are growing, not quickly, but 1-2 new leaves weekly. I don't fertilize anythying at all.
Algae: starting from 2nd week Diatom began to grow, I just rub them off when there is too much. And by now they are mostly gone. No other algae at all during this process. Tank is always crystal clear.
The Rasbora hets will go to my 29 gallon later, since i am using this as quarantine, and I am looking for ideas on the fish stock options after that.
My point is, during the process, no filter of any kind was used. This makes me wonder if this technique can be applied to a much larger tank. Clearly during the cycling, bacteria colonies developed. Maybe on the sand, maybe on the plant leaves, and all the other surfaces. If that's the case, then a filter is not necessary. I remember in Diane Walstad's book she mumbled about filters being kind of necessary in a natural tank (I could be wrong). But my impression after reading the book is, she's not so sure. I consider my tank is Diane Walstad style, the only difference is that, I put the soil in the pot, covered with sand. That way I can easily manage them or refill etc.
What does everyone think? Filter or no filter???
So I set up this experiment two months ago. I added two small pots of swords plants in a 2.5 gallon. The plants came from my 75 gallon. On the bottom is 1/4" of pool filter sand and some pebbles. Also in the tank is a small 40 gph pump that agitate the water surface. Lighting = 13 W CF about 6" above the water. Temperature = 75 F, no heater. Then I added fish (6 Rasbora hets) the same day, and monitored the NH3/NO2/NO3 levels daily.
It's clear that the tank is being cycled now. I first saw a small NH3 spike (forgot the readings), then a NO2 spike (up to 0.3 ppm), then a NO3 spike (up to 10 ppm). Two months later, NH3/NO2 = 0 ppm, and NO3 = 1 ppm. The plants are growing, not quickly, but 1-2 new leaves weekly. I don't fertilize anythying at all.
Algae: starting from 2nd week Diatom began to grow, I just rub them off when there is too much. And by now they are mostly gone. No other algae at all during this process. Tank is always crystal clear.
The Rasbora hets will go to my 29 gallon later, since i am using this as quarantine, and I am looking for ideas on the fish stock options after that.
My point is, during the process, no filter of any kind was used. This makes me wonder if this technique can be applied to a much larger tank. Clearly during the cycling, bacteria colonies developed. Maybe on the sand, maybe on the plant leaves, and all the other surfaces. If that's the case, then a filter is not necessary. I remember in Diane Walstad's book she mumbled about filters being kind of necessary in a natural tank (I could be wrong). But my impression after reading the book is, she's not so sure. I consider my tank is Diane Walstad style, the only difference is that, I put the soil in the pot, covered with sand. That way I can easily manage them or refill etc.
What does everyone think? Filter or no filter???
roud:
