Tweet
Okay, I was asked by a couple people for pics of my tank after posting my filter for sale.
This was once a high tech, pressurized CO2, EI fertilized plant machine. I recently (mid-October) ripped it all out, put down soil substrate capped with Soil Master Select, and planted back up as a Natural Planted Tank (El Natural). The goal is to keep it heavily planted and heavily stocked with fish. The plants take care of filtering the water, the fish provide the "nutrients" for the plants. CO2 is provided on a slow-release basis by the decomp of the organic matter in the soil substrate.
The downside: Plants grow slower, can NEVER rescape without flooding the water with nutrient load (leading to algae).
The upside: No ferts to mess with, no water changes (except occasionally), easy to keep up with trimming.
Okay, as promised (keep in mind this is a new set-up, so LOTS of filling in needed as the plants grow) :
Here's my daughter's El Natural, several months established:
-Dave
This was once a high tech, pressurized CO2, EI fertilized plant machine. I recently (mid-October) ripped it all out, put down soil substrate capped with Soil Master Select, and planted back up as a Natural Planted Tank (El Natural). The goal is to keep it heavily planted and heavily stocked with fish. The plants take care of filtering the water, the fish provide the "nutrients" for the plants. CO2 is provided on a slow-release basis by the decomp of the organic matter in the soil substrate.
The downside: Plants grow slower, can NEVER rescape without flooding the water with nutrient load (leading to algae).
The upside: No ferts to mess with, no water changes (except occasionally), easy to keep up with trimming.
Okay, as promised (keep in mind this is a new set-up, so LOTS of filling in needed as the plants grow) :
Here's my daughter's El Natural, several months established:
-Dave
).
Comment