A Balance

[lisa_perry75]

Is it possible to attain a well planted tank through overstocking of tanks? I can find little info on this method and believe it to be called Diana Welstead or something... Would this be possible? High levels of fish leads to high levels of Co2, then the high levels of plants utilise and reconvert to O2... As long as the filter could cope and you werent building up ammonia, you'd create high levels of phosphates and nitrate with no waterchanges which again the plants would utilise...

Is it possible to find a balance in this way??? Is there anything that would have to be added, like iron? Or could it come from a rich substrate? Just kinda curious really... It would have to be closely monitored so if anything went wrong the fish could be moved pronto. You'd definately have to use something robust like danios and platties.

 

[DevUK]

Is it possible to attain a well planted tank through overstocking of tanks? I can find little info on this method and believe it to be called Diana Welstead

Diana Walstad

She has a book called "ECOLOGY of the PLANTED AQUARIUM" which is basically a book for doing exactly what you are talking about. I haven't got a copy but I understand its very good, if a little on the scientific side. Some have attempted it on these forums but I've not seen any updates lately to see how they got on. Have a hunt around for some of the "using top soil" type posts

 

[lisa_perry75]

Yeah... Thanks very much, Not too much money, I'll have to buy it in.