Question about using no bio media and algae

[SpeshulEd]

Wouldn't this be similar to a goldfish in a bowl? I mean, the fish can live in the bowl for quite some time, longer if you change the water more frequently.

A very lightly stocked tank should be able to handle fish without decor, substrate, or a filter for a period of time, I would imgaine.

I'm not sure how healthy the fish would be though, and not sure what algae would do to the situation. Sounds like a good science project.

 

[Sab_Fan]

I do not use any external bio-media at all, in any of my tanks . . . but they all have 3-4" of substrate and are heavily planted. in my opinion, external bio-media is redundant for such a set-up, since the plants control the ammonia (and nitrite/nitrate) in the tanks, and there is also biological activity in the substrate

I think the OP's scenario, of a bare-bottom tank w/o any biological media, would work only with large daily or semi-daily water changes . . .

as to what the effect would or wouldn't be on algae, I suppose the required regular water changes would also help control algae

 

[cchhcc]

Wouldn't this be similar to a goldfish in a bowl? I mean, the fish can live in the bowl for quite some time, longer if you change the water more frequently.

A very lightly stocked tank should be able to handle fish without decor, substrate, or a filter for a period of time, I would imgaine.

I'm not sure how healthy the fish would be though, and not sure what algae would do to the situation. Sounds like a good science project.

Yes... Similar to a goldfish bowl in which goldfish die after months unless they can survive a year or two instead of the decade or two a well cared for fish would live.

Lightly stocked, as you say, is the key. Probably on a site like this (Monster), nothing applies. I have had some tetras, etc. do well with little to no filtration in heavily planted tanks though.

I do not use any external bio-media at all, in any of my tanks . . . but they all have 3-4" of substrate and are heavily planted. in my opinion, external bio-media is redundant for such a set-up, since the plants control the ammonia (and nitrite/nitrate) in the tanks, and there is also biological activity in the substrate

I think the OP's scenario, of a bare-bottom tank w/o any biological media, would work only with large daily or semi-daily water changes . . .

as to what the effect would or wouldn't be on algae, I suppose the required regular water changes would also help control algae

But again, any large cichlid or typical fish on this site would easily pollute an unfiltered tank.