ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!

[drobbins27]

Ok, so Im at my LFS. I hear this man talking to another man about their tanks. The one guy says he hates having to always buy food for his fish. The other guy, the store employee replies "Ya, I used to hate it too. But then I turned mine into a perfect ecosystem. I use two Fluvals to keep some filtration on it (100g tank) and the rest of the tank takes care of itself. The fish eat the plants, the plants grow from the fish waste, nice big cycle. I never have to do water changes either, haventlost a fish since I started this (turning his tank into ecosystem)."

I talked to him after , he said he had done this a while ago and its worked perfectlly since, and he NEVER has to touch it. This seems unbelivable! How does one do this to his own tank

 

[Bangin]

Did he mention what types of fish he keeps in the tank?

 

[Tempestuousfury]

The types of fish he has definitely would have an impact on if they can survive[I/], but not on whether they'd be happy or healthy.

However, I bet those fish are starving, and they don't have a varied diet or much protein.

As for not touching it, hell no! The waste buildup would kill all of the fish and eventually the plants by means of algae. How would the nitrates be removed? No amount of plants is going to make a serious dent in the amount of nitrates there are in the tank unless the amount of fish is miniscule and if it's a huge tank.

I'm afraid this person was wrong.

 

[MAM]

well, then where's the fun in having the tank?? if you only wanted it to look at, hire a pro to maintain it. but for me, part of the hobby is the feeding, the maintanence, etc.

 

[Sorrell]

At the university here they have two completely contained ecosystems in the biology department, one has two fish and the other has just inverts. They both have plants also. Both are globe-like structures and as far as I can tell there is no way into them. I wish I had a picture, they are really cool. Both have been there since I have which is almost four years.

 

[Lateral Line]

These "complete" eco systems are usually too "understocked" to be of interest to the average fishkeeper.

There is an enclosed eco system in a cellar in Copenhagen, it is open to the public. It occupies about 150m^2 all told, and processes the water from a domestic washing machine. Stage after stage of planted tanks, and finally some fish. Interesting curiosity for anyone aquatically minded visiting town.

 

[Fiddlesticks]

Sounds interesting

 

[Lateral Line]

It demonstrates what can be done when you truly understand the processes going on in your tanks.

For the rest, you can always go and look at the Little Mermaid statue.

 

[millym]

hmmmmm id like to watch what those fish do if you chucked a bit of flake in the tank. i bet it would be like a whirlpool as they all tried to get some decent food!!!!!!!!!

 

[cometcattle]

It demonstrates what can be done when you truly understand the processes going on in your tanks.

For the rest, you can always go and look at the Little Mermaid statue.

LMFAO

 

[Sky042]

The types of fish he has definitely would have an impact on if they can survive[I/], but not on whether they'd be happy or healthy.

However, I bet those fish are starving, and they don't have a varied diet or much protein.

As for not touching it, hell no! The waste buildup would kill all of the fish and eventually the plants by means of algae. How would the nitrates be removed? No amount of plants is going to make a serious dent in the amount of nitrates there are in the tank unless the amount of fish is miniscule and if it's a huge tank.

I'm afraid this person was wrong.

a nicely planted tank can have a major effect on nitrate levels. my one tank is moderately planted and they seem to be able to maintain a nitrate level around 5ppm.

 

[bahja]

plant ecosystem

 

[Bol]

a nicely planted tank can have a major effect on nitrate levels. my one tank is moderately planted and they seem to be able to maintain a nitrate level around 5ppm.

I don't doubt that. I get close to that level in one of my tanks currently.

In fact, under the right light and carbon levels, you can find that a planted tank removes practically all of the nitrates out of the water.

The "varied diet" point may be valid; but, on the other hand, I have to wonder how varied the diet of many wild fish is.