Different Type Of Filter

[teaker1s]

looking at grey water systems and following up on previous questions regarding semi aquatic plants and denitrators. I have wondered if an extremely fast growing plant could be used as water companies and eco friendly toilets use reed beds. basically I was considering a gallon/two gallon container diverting some water and trickling it back to tank after it has been in contact with the plant. next situation is would it need extra light and handle the tank water heat. Would the output water of a filter be okay in it or too low oxygen content?

 

[SkiFletch]

Sounds like you want a sump/refrigium setup

Sumps are commonly used in salt water and especially reef aquarium setups where nitrAtes are even more toxic than they are in FW. The basic idea is this: create a multi-chambered basin underneath the tank (usually housed behind tank stand doors). then, via a siphon, drain water into the basin (sump). In one of the chambers of the sump have larger plants that consume nitrates with a light on them that operates opposite your tank lights to maintain constant pH levels. Finally, place a pump in the last chamber of the sump and push the water back up to the tank. balance the rate of siphon with the rate of pump flow via a couple ball valves and your set. Melev's Reef is a great site that has lots of info about sumps, how they work, and how they're made. go have a look

 

[teaker1s]

thanks I've seen sumps on marine tanks with I think live rock in it.
I 'm limited in under tank storage and considered either a glass tank next to the main tank or a plastic water tank (new) like they use on central heating systems, I've been looking at plants and have had a hard job finding a plant that is suitable, the idea was a plant that was both decorative and practical as scheitmuller metyennis aka silver dollar destroy anything aquatic plant wise in the tank, unless its got a trunk and follage above the water level

 

[SkiFletch]

Are you talking fresh water setup? If so, look into some Anubias species, Java Fern, Anachris, or Echinoderous species. These grow under low-medium light with little to no care and have kept nitrates out of my tank since I started incorpirating them. I havent seen an ounce of nitrate in my system since about 2 weeks after my first couple plants went in.

 

[teaker1s]

fresh water yes, I'd given up on full aquatic plants as most people seem to only get results with co2, would the plants you suggested need more than room light and how are they without co2 injection?

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, they'd probably need more than room light. I have all the aforementioned plants in my own tank. I use no CO2, and only one affordable T8 flourescent tube on a wall timer. T8 flourescents are your regular run of the mill tubes. You can usually get a 24" fixture with tube for around $30 or so. Not sure how big your tank is. If you start getting into T5 lighting (Compact Flourescent) it gets a little pricey. But my plants thrive with just the light. They dont grow like lightning, but they are far from suffering horrible nutrient defficiencies. No CO2, no additives, just some really basic lighting, they're a great bunch of plants.

 

[andywg]

If you were to not use it for a second display tank (like hidden under a tank stand) then algae is far better at nutrient export than higher plants.

Also worth noting is that all plants (including algae and higher plants) prefer to extract ammonia from water than nitrate, so if you have enough plants (or algae) you will not need to cycle your tank.

 

[sharp tooth]

i have your idea running on my tank.

i set it up about 10 months ago but only just decided to add plants about 4 weeks ago. the idea is sound and it works a treat. only difference with mine and your idea is ive used fully aquatic plants in my veggie filter.

i also had the idea of useing semi aquatic plants. ive seen some long potting trays, there about 4ft long 6" wide and 4" deep. i was going to fill with gravel, add some pond plants of some sort trickle water in at one end and have a hole at the other and let the excess drain back into the tank. this is the same sort of idea as my veggie filter but useing a different kind of plants.

 

[mux11]

how would you propagate Algae in a 'sump' tank for FW? and how would you keep it out of the display tank?

 

[SkiFletch]

how would you propagate Algae in a 'sump' tank for FW? and how would you keep it out of the display tank?

Great question but while algae is may be your best biological filter of nitrates, higher plants tend to be able to out-compete algae for nitrates and dont risk getting into your tank and looking nasty. An un-fertilized planted tank is hard-pressed to build up algae as bigger plants survive better in nutrient poor conditions. Like i mentioned, something like an Anubias, Echinoderous, Java Fern, or Sword would be your best bet as they're un-demanding on every front (light, CO2, nutrients). Algae would just be too hard to control imo

 

[teaker1s]

interesting, I guess that would involve uv steriliser or a green tank

 

[andywg]

An algae filter is not best used to get rid of nitrates, but rather ammonia at source, thus preventing nitrates coming in. Higher plants tend to only out compete algae when situations are just right. How many people have tried planted only to get a single thing out of whack (potassium, or phosphates, for example) and to have the tank overrun by algae)?

It is quite hard to keep it out of the main tank, though if you provide a prime site for algae to grow on (such as the screens in an algae turf scrubber) that enables it to export the nutrients necessary for growth in the appropriate amounts (basically: you give a big enough algae filter) there will not be the nutrients left to allow algae growth elsewhere. Algae is not that hard to control, and is far easier to propogate than higher plants (and far more effective at nutrient export, hence a number of reefs running macro (and micro) algae for nutrient export).

However, from a purely nitrate reduction point of view (as an addition to existing filters), then higher plants will be the best way forwards, though in this instance you will have to pay closer attention to levels to prevent algae growth.