The mechanical filtration of plants

[Magnum Man]

I don’t think people generally think about the “mechanics” of plants, but their roots have a continuous flow of water and nutrient intake…

A prime example, is this floating water lettuce, it’s easy to see, and I’m sure rooted plants are doing the same thing, it’s just not as visible… being surrounded by substrate…
The faster growing the plant, the more mechanical flow… these plants are in a 45 gallon tall tank, and are competing directly with a Tidal 75 for nutrition… I think the plants are winning… they are in essence making their own soil, around their floating roots….

 

[Magnum Man]

These have been in this tank about 2 months, and I bet there are more solids in these roots, than there is in the sponge in the Tidal…

These grow so aggressively, that I can remove the ones that have collected the most solids, and the babies will look like this again, in 2 months