do I need a filter in a planted tank?

[jcardona1]

yes we did have opposite opinions on the injected tanks
surface agitation WILL gas off CO2 (as well as oxygenate)

I said to avoid it so you minimize gas off
j sais to just increase bubble count

6 vs 1/2 doz amirite




This is really the take-away from the discussion

urrite.

Like Tom Barr says, keeping aquariums is all about the fish. Fish health comes first, then plants. Co2 is cheap, so if you gas some off, no big deal. I would hate to kill of my denisoniis due to co2 poisoning. Those suckers aren't cheap, most places sell them for $20+.

With low levels of dissolved o2 (no surface movement), you can't push your co2 levels as high. Anything passed 30ppm (dark green drop checker) and the fish start to stress and hang out at the surface. This doesn't give you a lot of flexibility if you're battling some algae - which is caused by low levels of co2.

But with plenty of surface rippling (not a whirpool or niagra falls), there is a higher rate of gas exchange at the surface, which leads to more dissolved o2 in the water. More o2, means the fish can withstand higher levels of co2. My drop checkers are yellow, which means 40-50ppm of co2, maybe even more. This is due to my surface rippling, and the sump I'm using.

With plenty of o2 in the water, I can push co2 higher while keeping the fish safe, which leads to happier plants which leads to zero algae

 

[Sab_Fan]

thanks for all the opinions,
this is a small tank that I'm currently working on, which is only 7g .
I put a filter in as I've recently added some more fishes, which are not shown on the photo yet, including hillstream loaches, oto catfish, snails, and more cherry shrimps. I plan to keep the tank simple, but its been torturing me trying to select kind of plants which would go in there. Well the green bits in the middle part is at least I could start with... Lighting is only 10 watt, not much.
View attachment 559270
pls let me know what do you guys think? and what kind of plants which would suit best for my little tank??
cheers

back more on topic, looks like you're using plain sand a substrate?

I know there are differing opinions on this, but in my planted tanks I have generally avoided sand and gone for more plant-friendly substrates ...

and you might as well mention, what type of 10W bulb are you using?

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Might wanna use some root tabs if you are using sand. But if you wanna keep it really low tech just grow some moss and java ferns and crypts.

 

[ricardo1]

you could do with sum sort of water movement at least.

 

[Liquidplants]

Interesting Read....

 

[Blacken]

if u have enough plants then no i have no filter go to wikipedia and look up diana walstad