Increasing Biodiversity in a FW tank

[cbfreder]

I know that in salt water tanks people try to get the largest variety of bacteria and intervebrates in their tanks, going so far as buying live rock from different regions of the world or collecting water from a local beach, but it seems to me that people don't do that in freshwater tanks.

You don't really hear about people collecting water from a local lake to add to their tank (i guess different water parameters and pollution problems cause this) or straining for plankton in the local lake. It seems to me that increasing the variety of life in your aquarium might be a good idea.

My tank has several different kinds of plants from different sources (and algaes...), driftwood, some trumpet snails, fish from several different lfs/suppliers, at least one planarium that hit the sand before getting eaten, and, as of just a few minutes ago, a bunch of black worms.

None of these really cause a problem (as yet) and i expect that they would only cause a visual problem--but them taking over would be an indication of a larger problem, such as overfeeding. They could be an early warning of sorts.

Does anyone have any opinions of this? Does anyone add random stuff to their tank? I mean our goal is to model an ecosystem and ecosystems have this kind of stuff in them.

What do ya' think?
Brandon

 

[importracer]

To me, it's one thing...To raise every piranha I own to its healthiest potential and breeding them...I do this by keeping my parameters at zero...Maintain a PH of 6.0...Weekly water changes...The only known diverse substance that goes into my tanks is the food given...Pellets being the staple diet, my killers eat prawns, mealworms, krill, and white fish fillets...I do not introduce any other species into the tanks...

Keeping the tank simple is my strategy....Sure I may dive into live plants once in awhile, but rarely do I stick with it...

As to what is the equivalant to all the live rock, bagged seawater, and packaged wet crushed coral...The thought also crossed my mind...What about freshwater's little secret cove of bright rainbows???Is Black Water Extract, peat granules, and Ke-Feng leaves the closest thing???Where's the live river rock or the buckets of shipped Amazon river water???

An analogy would be:
Freshwater is to a Camaro, as Saltwater is to a Ferrari...
If tuned right, both have the potential of being extradonary, fast, and powerful...But, I can only leave one parked in the Home Depot lot without feeling paranoid...

I stay with freshwater because it is much more simple and less complex than saltwater...

 

[WyldFya]

The one major problem with using local water sources for many of us is that we like tropical fish, but live in temperate climates.

 

[dannyboy]

i would be to scared i would introduce parasites, disease, etc that due to being an isolated system the parasites would take over...

 

[HarleyK]

i would be to scared i would introduce parasites, disease, etc

exactly. Full committment to "Biodiversity" and "Ecosystem" also means harmful factors.

On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with adding a few invertebrates and plants. Little helpers such as trumpet snails help us to stabilize a tank much more than a "sterile" tank could ever be. Plants improve water quality (nitrates etc) and help us get away with water changes instead of drip systems. But then, that's nothing a increase in maintenance work can't make up for.
As for getting water from local lakes or fish from different LFSs, that"s going a bit too far IMO. I'd rather stick to one supplier whom I can trust.

Bottom line: It's all about personal preference.

HarleyK

 

[Tanyoberu]

Does anyone add random stuff to their tank? I mean our goal is to model an ecosystem and ecosystems have this kind of stuff in them.
Brandon

I know what you mean. And I am one to add diverse "things" to my tank to aid with what I hope, is ultimately a healthy environment for my fish. Water changes are essential, but the chlorine or the variation of quality from the tap to the tank may be dramatic and stressful. So I look for ways to reduce water changes.

I don't add things randomly, but I do research various critters, plants and fish. For example, I love crayfish in my tanks. They are excellent scavengers. I have a colony of black worms in one my tanks as well, I believe they aid in the breakdown of food in the gravel and have caused my biological filtration a boost. In another tank I have intentionally added snails. They behave similar to the black worms. But I don't let anything go unchecked.

The blackworms are consumed by the crayfish and I keep a tiretrack eel in that same tank. The crayfish are consumed by other fish (especially when they molt) The snails are crunchy treats for my puffers. My parameters are excellent and I believe the diversity allows me to feed the fish less in the form of pellets and other resources that easily pollute my water.

But our problem, is that for every element added, that equates to another balancing issue. All live organisms consume oxygen, produce waste and are conduits for diseases and parasites. And I've had the pleasure of dealing with these issues as well. But I have had a balance in my tanks for quite a while and I am always looking for the next best thing for my fish.

I find driftwood to be a very resourceful item in my tanks, (once it stops turning my water red). But this is what the hobby is all about. Do some research. Experiment. Post results. You may find the next best thing to the canister filter or a planted aquarium.

 

[id10t]

You also don't have the scale to be maintainence free. A small pond (2 or 3 acres) could easily be self-sustaining, but you can't get that even in a "large" house tank (say 300 gallons) unless you had very low amounts of animals and lots of "support" like plants, et.c

 

[Tanyoberu]

CLAMS! I need to find out about Clams! Fresh Water or Salt...

POSTING IT!

 

[cbfreder]

Good on all you guys. I really appreciate the comments on this thread.

You also don't have the scale to be maintainence free. A small pond (2 or 3 acres) could easily be self-sustaining, but you can't get that even in a "large" house tank (say 300 gallons) unless you had very low amounts of animals and lots of "support" like plants, et.c

I have actually seen much smaller ponds be self sustaining. Especially with goldfish and koi. In fact, I cycled a tank with three goldfish and put them in a pond with two comets at work at the beginning of summer. Well, they bred and now there are tons. All of this without food. Only water to account for evap. It did have a really long stream. I bet that helps.

CLAMS! I need to find out about Clams! Fresh Water or Salt...

POSTING IT!

I've always wanted some, but how do you know if they're dead or not?

 

[Tanyoberu]

I am currently trying to find information about clams now. I hear they are excellent additions, but the scare is the death thing. I did a post in the Invert section and Zoo is helping with some information when he has the time.

If I find that they are really great, (especially the Fresh Water variety), then I may even set up a refuguim type tank with just clams. Or something to that extent. The clam tank could be set right before the canister filter. I don't know, just brain storming.