plants and filtration help

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pshtex

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Nov 8, 2010
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united states
i am looking at adding some plants to my tank and sump for filtration purposes. it is a 100 gallon with 4 small datnoids 2,2,3,5 inches 4 frontosas all 2ish inches and two 2 inch diameter silver dollars.

i need plants that can tolerate a little salt and do well in low-medium light.

i was also wondering if i would still have to add fertilizers and CO2 with these fish and if so how much. i am not looking for something that is going to cause much more work.

i would also need to keep these plants potted i don't want to add substrate on top of the tile

i was looking at amazon sword or maybe some kind of aquatic grass that grows fairly tall about 28"

i am at a loss as to what i should do for the sump as the light level is low and the portion that i set aside for holding plants is not big. possibly hornwart??? or some other vine-ish like plant

any suggestions would be great thanks.
 
Hornwort is a good choice because it grows well simply floating around the sump, but beware because like any other plant it sheds. In hornwort's case instead of leaves its got needle like stems which enjoys shedding which can turn into a serious headache.


My recommendation would be a prolific grower like a specific species of Hygrophila which grows well flowing or weighed down. I've had a lot of luck growing Hygrophila polysperma under low lighting.
 
Hornwort and Duckweed.

I have Zero Nitrate since adding the Plants, Haven't HAD to do a water change in over a Month (I still vacuum the Tank and do a partial water change) but it's not because I HAVE TO do to climbing Nitrate counts

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I keep some crypts potted in one of my low light set-ups.. my bichir like to swim up and chill out on the edge of the pots. I use plain jane red clay pots from I think hobby lobby.
 
The Key here is really FAST GROWING PLANTS, the faster they grow the more Nitrates they suck up. Floating plants do a better job of Nitrate removal from my experience.

Hornwort grows stupid crazy fast. I'm clipping off a 1/4 filled grocery bag and tossing it every two weeks, the more I clip the faster it grows, the faster if grows the more I have to clip. You can't kill this thing.

I swear I'm going to come home to this one day:

audrey2B_2514.jpg
 
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