Aquarium that dosent require cleaning?
- Thread starter eon aquatics
- Start date
A lightly stocked, quite heavily planted tank with minimal feeding will put you on your way to what you describe.
But, although the plants can take care of the nitrate issue that's only part of the story. There are also other unwanted trace chemicals/elements/minerals that build up just as nitrate does, which plants won't take out.
You'd still have to do water changes once in a while to remove these, as well as replenish the numerous good elements and minerals which freshwater contains too.
So, I'd say for a perfectly healthy system you'd still have to do some maintanance along the way. Never ever doing any maintanance will only lead to potential issues down the road.
But, although the plants can take care of the nitrate issue that's only part of the story. There are also other unwanted trace chemicals/elements/minerals that build up just as nitrate does, which plants won't take out.
You'd still have to do water changes once in a while to remove these, as well as replenish the numerous good elements and minerals which freshwater contains too.
So, I'd say for a perfectly healthy system you'd still have to do some maintanance along the way. Never ever doing any maintanance will only lead to potential issues down the road.
There are some individuals who specialize in "dirted tanks" who utilize specialized concoctions of dirted substrate & heavily planted tanks. Diana Walstad & A gentleman who resides near me Father Fish practice this.
An empty tank that sits upside down on a shelf doesn't require water changes but it still gets dirty.
I don't gravel syphon my planted tanks so that I don't damage plant roots. I have done dirted tanks but they still require water changes.
I don't gravel syphon my planted tanks so that I don't damage plant roots. I have done dirted tanks but they still require water changes.
A closed loop system such as an aquarium can never be compared to a natural open body of water where water is usually being replenished constantly.
Think rainwater. Think rivers/streams flowing in, and rivers/streams flowing out. Think floodwater run off.
Lakes are in constant water change.
The nitrogen cycle, the sulfur cycle, the carbon cycle (many other cycles we cannot replicate in a closed system) evaporation, precipitation, terrestrial forests, algae, bacteria and other aquatic plants are constantly recycling nutrients.
You might get away with a 50 gallon aquarium, so thick with plants you cannot see thru to the back, and 1 Betta, or only one guppy for a while.
The nitrogen cycle, the sulfur cycle, the carbon cycle (many other cycles we cannot replicate in a closed system) evaporation, precipitation, terrestrial forests, algae, bacteria and other aquatic plants are constantly recycling nutrients.
You might get away with a 50 gallon aquarium, so thick with plants you cannot see thru to the back, and 1 Betta, or only one guppy for a while.