Bart Hazes
Member
Hi fellow aquatic planters
I learned the ropes in The Netherlands from 1975-1995 and just got back into the hobby a year ago here in Edmonton, Canada. I run my tanks old-school, all without filter, some without circulation pump and some without anything (sunlight no heater). Plants, especially floating plants, are used as filter in my 14 tanks that I use to keep and breed wild-caught Apistogramma and other South American dwarf cichlids. As a scientist I also like to run experiments in my tanks and write blogs about what I learn at biodives.com/blog. That is how I ended up here as some of the UKAPS members had a very thoughtful discussion about my blogs on running bright light tanks without CO2 or fertilizer and running plant-filtered tanks.
Running low-tech 'jungle-style' planted tanks is just one of many different ways to enjoy this hobby. Not recommended for everyone or suitable for everything but an attractive alternative that is not as well advertised as I think it should be. Minimal water changes and messing around in tanks is IMO beneficial for keeping and breeding fish and so far it has served me well. I look forward to finding out what this forum has to offer and contribute what has worked and failed for me.
Here is a 50 gallon Peruvian biotope tank (120x60x30) that runs without filter or circulation pump. It uses unwashed, but pretty sterile, pool filter sand without dirt or root tabs and near-100% surface cover of Salvinia natans and frogbit. Submerged plants (Heteranthera zosterifolia, Mayaca fluviatilis, Myriophylum brassiliense, Helanthium quadricostatus & tenellum, Echinodorus bleheri) are in extremely dark conditions under the floaters but still growing.
<oops, it doesn't like my image file extension (.jpg) I'll sort this out and post later>
Bart
PS: I used 'bioscaper' instead of 'aquascaper' since I like to let nature guide me in what the tank looks like.
I learned the ropes in The Netherlands from 1975-1995 and just got back into the hobby a year ago here in Edmonton, Canada. I run my tanks old-school, all without filter, some without circulation pump and some without anything (sunlight no heater). Plants, especially floating plants, are used as filter in my 14 tanks that I use to keep and breed wild-caught Apistogramma and other South American dwarf cichlids. As a scientist I also like to run experiments in my tanks and write blogs about what I learn at biodives.com/blog. That is how I ended up here as some of the UKAPS members had a very thoughtful discussion about my blogs on running bright light tanks without CO2 or fertilizer and running plant-filtered tanks.
Running low-tech 'jungle-style' planted tanks is just one of many different ways to enjoy this hobby. Not recommended for everyone or suitable for everything but an attractive alternative that is not as well advertised as I think it should be. Minimal water changes and messing around in tanks is IMO beneficial for keeping and breeding fish and so far it has served me well. I look forward to finding out what this forum has to offer and contribute what has worked and failed for me.
Here is a 50 gallon Peruvian biotope tank (120x60x30) that runs without filter or circulation pump. It uses unwashed, but pretty sterile, pool filter sand without dirt or root tabs and near-100% surface cover of Salvinia natans and frogbit. Submerged plants (Heteranthera zosterifolia, Mayaca fluviatilis, Myriophylum brassiliense, Helanthium quadricostatus & tenellum, Echinodorus bleheri) are in extremely dark conditions under the floaters but still growing.
<oops, it doesn't like my image file extension (.jpg) I'll sort this out and post later>
Bart
PS: I used 'bioscaper' instead of 'aquascaper' since I like to let nature guide me in what the tank looks like.
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Looking forward to it..
