Filtration for planted tanks

[Kittycat]

What filters can be used for planted tanks? Canisters are not an option for me, they're just too expensive...I heard UGs are not a good idea. Presently I'm using an overhead, I'm not sure that might be too much water movement for plants?

 

[BigC]

Try an internal filter with a flow regulator, that way you can control the outflow rate..
Hope this helps..

 

[panboy]

ive heard overheads like aquaclear or emerpors are ot much water movement, but i have a emperer400 i think, (i konw its the largest one) and my plants grow pretty well.

i also have flourite as gravel, co2 injectoin, and dose small amounts of kno3 though. but i dont think it's a big problem, plus they are very affordable.

 

[Kittycat]

Thanks, but I live outside the US (Philippines), filtler brands are different. Do you know the flow rate of yours? Maybe that's what makes the difference? So far the only plant that has survived in my 50 gal with an overhead filter (about 2200l/hour) is java moss.

How about air-driven filters (corner filter, sponge), could those be workable in planted tanks?

 

[BigC]

My tank is only 70ltrs and the powerhead which is incorporated within the filter chamber operates at 400ltrs per hour. It may not necessarily be down to your filter though, There are many different aspects you need to address to sucessfully grow aquarium plants. For a start air driven filters have no place in planted aquaria.
Read some more into the following;
Undergravel heating cables
Type and depth of substrates for planted aquariums
CO2 for growing aquarium plants
Lighting
Address these and your on the right road, check out these forums, there are no experts really and that includes myself, but there are people with more experience than others and know of the pitfalls that will at some point be encountered.
Hope this is of some help..

 

[Kittycat]

Thanks, BigC. I think the water disturbance is the problem, because I keep the 50 gallon tank (where nothing survives) in a double stand with a 35 gallon tank in the bottom, both natural light, and both injected with CO2 and fertilizers, pretty much the same treatment, conditions and biological load, yet the plants in the 35 thrive, though it gets less light, being the bottom tank. The 35 has air-driven filters, with flow rate at low--plants are potted, not planted into gravel. I'd like to convert the 50 gal to full planted soon, though...