Using Plants As A Filter?

[Confused]

Hi buddies, I came across this informative feature on using plants as a filter on petfish.net

"Plants as a filter? Yup, it's true. Plants are colorful, they remove nitrates and oxygenate the water. Plants love them for cover or as food. A planted tank really adds character and a whole new personality to a tank. Out of the three filtration, chemical, specifically nitrogen removal is the main benefit. Uncommon, however some tanks may have plants as the sole filtration. Odd as it is this can work out especially if the tank has a low bioload and plant conditions are ideal.
Cons? Well these plants need to have the proper environment. In most cases this means proper lighting which most tanks don't come stock with. The plants themselves require care and if they start to die, they will add to the nitrogen waste instead of removing it. If you don't have luck with plants, then this kind of filtration won't help you."

Can I use plants as a filter in a 5 gallons for a single male Betta? I plan to have sand with plenty of plants. The lighting would be a 18 inch tubelight on the tank cover, which I plan to have on for 4 hours. The tank also gets direct sunlight for an hour. Which plants would grow best in this light? Also, if I use plants as a filter, how often would I need to change water in the 5 gallons?

 

[raptorrex]

Hi buddies, I came across this informative feature on using plants as a filter on petfish.net

"Plants as a filter? Yup, it's true. Plants are colorful, they remove nitrates and oxygenate the water. Plants love them for cover or as food. A planted tank really adds character and a whole new personality to a tank. Out of the three filtration, chemical, specifically nitrogen removal is the main benefit. Uncommon, however some tanks may have plants as the sole filtration. Odd as it is this can work out especially if the tank has a low bioload and plant conditions are ideal.
Cons? Well these plants need to have the proper environment. In most cases this means proper lighting which most tanks don't come stock with. The plants themselves require care and if they start to die, they will add to the nitrogen waste instead of removing it. If you don't have luck with plants, then this kind of filtration won't help you."

Can I use plants as a filter in a 5 gallons for a single male Betta? I plan to have sand with plenty of plants. The lighting would be a 18 inch tubelight on the tank cover, which I plan to have on for 4 hours. The tank also gets direct sunlight for an hour. Which plants would grow best in this light? Also, if I use plants as a filter, how often would I need to change water in the 5 gallons?

from reading the forums this seems like a very sound thing to do. i beleave the standard 25% water change is still the norm.

 

[Dude]

yes its a good idea/

but the only thing im concerned about is the direct sunlught... it heats the water alot and it will cause alot of algea problems ....

if you could move it to a spot were it has indirect sunlight that would be best

 

[mikster]

Fast growing plants would be your best option, cant give you a specific list but im sure some one will by the end of the evening, Fast growing plants would probably use more things like the nitrates and therefore work better as filtration? Im no expert but thats my best guess, might need to keep the lights on a bit longer though i think.

 

[Confused]

Thanks buddies for your valuable inputs. It has helped me solve the filter problem.

 

[betta_luv]

Hey Confused, can I also please add on my question?
I intend having 6 female Bettas in a 14g (24 x 12 x 12) with plenty of green plants and sand. Mine would have a 24" fluorescent tube which I intend having on for 4 to 5 hours in the evening. Would plants be able to act as a filter for such a tank?

 

[Confused]

Sure buddy, you can ask your question as the answer would help me when I have a bigger aquarium.