Does Anyone Else Have Filterless Tanks?

[mlawson]

I am the only person that keeps some tanks without a filter?

Some people think I am crazy, but it's just how I've always done it.
Although my tanks are normally very understocked and I change the
water more often.

Most of my tanks now contain filters.
Does anyone else have filterless tanks?
(Excluding Betta bowls)

 

[kribensis12]

Not really, but yes if a undergravel filter dosent count but that was 2 years ago.

 

[thegnu]

ive heard of people keeping tanks with out filters. they usually have lots and lots of plants in their tanks

 

[mlawson]

Yes, The entire surface of my tanks are covered with a layer of floating plants.
Mainly duckweed. This gets rid of any nitrogens in the water.

 

[LisaLQ]

You'd have to keep them really understocked though, even duckweed couldn't cope with most well stocked tanks. Not something I'd do personally. Hubby's tank is planted very heavily and has three external filters on it, and yet we still get the usual nitrates - certainly not much lower than any other non-planted tank we've had.

 

[t1tanrush]

my 1 gallons and 2 10ers aren't filtered. As long as you have frequent water changes its not bad. But I'd say anything over maybe 30 gallons needs a filter unless you want unreasonably frequent water changes.

 

[MHunt]

I filter all my tanks now, even have a little sponge in with my cory fry. Having seen the difference made just by adding a filter to my goldfishes tank i would never consider not using a filter on a tank again, even for a betta. Tank size has alot to do with it also. A large tank very lightly stocked with regular water changes may be ok, but it's alot of work when the samne tank would be healthier and support more fish just by adding a filter. The biggest issue is the nitrogen cycle, you can live with detrius floating in the water, in an unfiltered tank most of this would settle anyway, but there is no way to break down the ammonia and nitrite. Even if the only thing the filters did was the biological filtration it would be worth using.

 

[mlawson]

I agree that unfiltered tanks are not for the average hobbyist.
If you don't have the time or effort to maintain these tanks, then
they are not for you.

I don't use test kits either on my unfiltered tanks, I see no point.
I only use test kits when starting a tank or if something is wrong.
With my filtered tanks it is vital to use test kits.
All my fish are healthy and are constantly breeding both in my
unfiltered tanks and my filtered tanks.

 

[Bignose]

Diana Walstad's Ecology of the Planted Aquarium is an entire book on how she has successfully kept plant-filtered tanks for years and years now. It is quite an interesting read, and she turns the head on many of the ideas traditionally accepted for the planted aquarium. She doesn't use CO2 injection, for example. Rarely fertalizes since the minerals are in the fish food. Intentionally places her tanks in the sunlight, without algae issue. Uses soil for the substrate. And the tank if very heavily stocked.

It really is quite well-thought out book, and she cites several articles which back up her points. I think that you'd really enjoy picking up a copy of it, mlawson.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

i agree with bignose's recommendation i keep threatening to set up a Walstad tank, but keep being scared off by the use of a soil substrate

 

[mlawson]

I have used Diana Walstads methods in the past but have had bad
results. Maybe I should try again.

 

[Rhiannon]

Mine is filtered, but my friends mum's wasnt when I was little and I remember she used to have a cup sitting next to the tank and walk past twice a day, put some of the tank water in the cup, pour it back in and she said that oxygenated it enough and never had any problems at all.

 

[Torrean]

how do you deal with water stagnation? powerhead? airator? I know I get a film of nastiness on the surface of the water when I fill my tank all the way because the filter can't disturb the surface enough to dispel it.

 

[Bignose]

Walstad uses powerhead to keep circulation in the tank. Sometimes she also puts a screen of some sort on the intakes to act as a mechanical filter.

pica, I too so want to set up a Walstad tank. But, I need to get settled, I've moved twice in the last year, and may move again in 18-24 months, so for now I'm just keeping the traditional ones I got.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

dang, i want that book, but its almost 40 bucks... i can set up another tank with that money