[matt11390]

Have any of you had a heavily planted tank without fish? Would love to see any pictures you may have your current tank if you have one like this. I have a 55g that has been up and running for about 8 years. I just recently lost my fish due to a stupid thing I did. I introduced a new fish with putting it in quarantine first. It had a parasite and took out my tank.

So I am attempting to make some lemonade out of lemons. I have been thinking for almost a year about doing a plant only tank. I love grass type plants and am thinking about doing a tank of different grass varieties flowing in the current. The movement of the plants are truly relaxing to me.

 

[DaveK]

It's quite possible to do this, and sure the plants will grow just fine.

However, the tank is going to look strange to the "non-believers" (non aquarium people).

I would add a few fish of one species or another. Nothing difficult. Just something to have in the tank. A few cats for cleaning up, and some tetras of one form or another would be great.

 

[Blackheart]

I have contemplated this many times, but always go back on it and pick up having fish. I feel like it would be something that is much nicer done on a smaller tank.

 

[Hoppy]

I look at the fish as the decorations, or the added attraction in my planted tank. So, I don't use expensive fish at all. I like live bearers, in fact. A tank with guppies or platys is always more interesting to look at than a no-fish tank, and the cost is minimal. If some of those fish run into problems you can be pretty sure you will soon have replacements generated by the remaining fish.

 

[BruceF]

I have a number of tanks with no fish. It is much easier to maintain them without fish. I like them a lot but most people who come by prefer to watch the fish.

 

[matt11390]

One thing that appeals to me about a fishless tank is the convenience of low maintenance. In other words keeping a low tech tank with no life other than the plants themselves would give me freedom to travel etc without the preventative care. Also like I said in my original post the relaxing effect of the plants is what I enjoy the most.

Although I may end up keeping an angel eventually. They're my favorites and have had great success at keeping them.

 

[tetra73]

The fish do not generally contribute much to the bio cycle of a high tech tank. You get your ferts from dosing. The only advantage of having no fish is that you can crank up your CO2 level really high though.

 

[Maryland Guppy]

I look at the fish as the decorations, or the added attraction in my planted tank. So, I don't use expensive fish at all. I like live bearers, in fact. A tank with guppies or platys is always more interesting to look at than a no-fish tank, and the cost is minimal. If some of those fish run into problems you can be pretty sure you will soon have replacements generated by the remaining fish.

I would second Hoppy on this one.

If no fish 80ppm of CO2 is the way to go!

 

[Virc003]

I would second Hoppy on this one.

If no fish 80ppm of CO2 is the way to go!

Don't forget plants need oxygen too.