plant filtration

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

rooto56

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Apr 27, 2012
213
27
31
usa
has anyone ever made a sump system that uses plants to get rid of nitrates so u never have to do water changes, if so pls let me know about it cuz im experimenting and looking for options
 
Feel like there's a post on this every week.

Yes it can be done, but you need a LOT of plants and not so much fish, and it helps for it to be a full setup with other biology going on (worms, etc) as I understand it.
 
I have a bunch of water hyacinths in one of my sumps. They do a good job of lowering my nitrates and keeping them in check. But water changes are still important, nitrates are not the only reason for water changes. Chemicals, organic waste, and other things build up in the water and can only be removed by routine water changes. The addition of new fresh water also replenishes trace elements that are vital for a healthy aquatic ecosystem. I wish I could say there was a plant that could do it all but IMO water changes are still important.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
trick1441 said:
I have a bunch of water hyacinths in one of my sumps. They do a good job of lowering my nitrates and keeping them in check. But water changes are still important, nitrates are not the only reason for water changes. Chemicals, organic waste, and other things build up in the water and can only be removed by routine water changes. The addition of new fresh water also replenishes trace elements that are vital for a healthy aquatic ecosystem. I wish I could say there was a plant that could do it all but IMO water changes are still important.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Click to expand...

+1. I have plants as well and they help with nitrates but you still need to replenish the elements and that can only be done by WCs. Theres really no way to get around it
 
but how do rivers and ponds filter them selves if they only get rain sporadiccaly and what if their was pond soil and river pebbles in the plants part of a sump
 
thx for the thread im trying to build a 600 gallon acrylic tank for rays and im on a well system and the pump is not very power efficient so i cant use a drip and im looking for alternatives
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom