filtration… do we know what is really needed???

[Magnum Man]

of coarse the type of fish, and the fish density have a lot to do with this… but I’m questioning, if your fish aren’t “dirty” do you really need mechanical filtration???

I have several small tanks, that just have basic sponge filters, and they appear fine, all also have a lot of plants…

it would seem that with the correct amount of plants, and water flow, weather air or impeller powered, even the elimination of sponges could be acceptable, that a normally stocked tank, with lots of plants, and water movement would be fine… the nitrifying bacteria is on most all surfaces , including on the plants…

I realize “plants” is a pretty general word… I use many terrestrial plants rooted in the aquarium… my aquatic plants are generally anubias, and java fern, but I also have several mosses thriving in smaller tanks, plants that act as the best at filtering, are generally aggressive growing plants like vines…

it’s amazing all the “consumable” junk kits include for new aquarists to keep their filters running at “peak” performance… things like carbon… with standard water changes, and the plants I use, there has been no carbon, in any of my dozen or so tanks, for many years…

a lot of people don’t like air stones, and I’m not a fan of “normal sized” stones but I have several highly planted tanks, with 10 inch air bars in them, that I could likely shut the mechanical filters off, with no ill effects…

anyone else have thoughts on filtering???

 

[Back in the fold]

Some fish are just plain dirty . The dirtiest fish I have and have ever seen are my Fundulopanchax gardneri . They do nothing but eat and they crap like German Shepherds afterwards . The sponge filter does nothing to get the turds out . I siphon them out with water changes . This is where my bare bottom aquarium is nice . Filters fulfill their biological filtration duty and sift out suspended matter but they don’t get the sinkers . Filters also remove and detoxify dissolved gases but you are left picking up the yard just like you do with a dog .