Best filtering plant

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
T

ThePBM

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 26, 2007
602
1
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Hawaii / Wisconsin
What is the best plant to use as a filtering plant? All plants do take up ammonia and that other junk, but I was wondering what plant is the 'hungriest' i guess you could say. I've read that Nomophila stricta (i think that's what you folks call hygrophila) are the best to use for this purpose.
I want to set up a tank with plants as the only filters (no man-made products other than the powerhead for circulation), and a very tiny bioload of either cherry shrimp or a small school of white clouds. It would be great if it could support a betta, but that's not essential.
 
i got basicly the same set up .

not sure on the type of plants but if u get high nitrates duckweed is great

i think

green hydo
spiral vals
Hygrophila corymbosa
amazon sword cutting

with a betta couple of sword tails guppys
thats it
 
Im gonna say any of the rotalas. I have like 3 kinds growing thick together and my water stays pristine. I am using other filtration though.
 
I've read one of the best plants for what you're asking for is that common pond plant you see with a big bulb, called Water Hyacinth. You can easily find it at any plant nurseries. Call them first to doublecheck if they do and pricing. Oh yea, water hyacinth needs really strong wattage lighting, dont quote me on this but I believe it's around 3 watts per gallon?
 
3 posts, 3 diff answers. right now what i have is hornwort, 2 ludwigias, limnophila aromatica, java fern, java moss, something unidentified, and soon to have dwarf sag and a sword. not all in the same tank, of course. so i'm satisfied with the form and variety, just need something that's a workhorse for function.
 
Many plants can be used. For a low light setup, hornwort is about the best you can get. Najas grass isn't bad either, but requires a little more light. Amazon swords, work well, floating plants are some of the best.
 
I've always heard Lemna Minor, ie, common duckweed, was pretty effective at filtering water.
 
I have a big Monstera cheese plant that is in a pot outside the tanks but has sent the aeriel roots into the aquarias. I never water it and it is an excellent vegetable filter!
 
Floating plants and or Anacharis/Elodea/Hornwort will just suck everything out. But I wouldnt feel safe without a filter, even if its a peice of sponge over a powerhead.
 
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