Wondering About Hydroponic Aquariums...

[HarpyFishLover]

So, to start. My mother likes growing plants. Since Mother's Day is in a few months, I decided I should probably start shopping. I came across several hydroponic gardens with small, 3 gallon aquariums below them. Particulary this, http/www.amazon.com/Back-Roots-31000-Water-Garden/dp/B00CN52TRM/ref=sr_1_7?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1457966874&sr=1-7&keywords=Aquarium+hydroponic .
I would like to know your thoughts on hydroponic aquariums and if they are healthy for fish. Thanks in advance!

 

[ShinySideUp]

I don't know much about Betta Splendens but I know that the 'aquarium' shown is just not big enough for a fish, any fish. BS are displayed in LFS in small containers but this is not sufficient for a healthy life.
 
Secondly, are the suppliers honestly thinking that one fish will supply the nutrients required for even one plant, somehow I doubt it.
 
I did consider growing a tomato plant hydroponically on my 640 litre tank but the logistics of giving the plant enough light without causing algal growth in the tank were awkward so I never bothered.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

A 3 gallon tank is the absolute smallest tank possible for a betta.  (Read our betta care article linked on the top panel.)
 
But, generally, unless you are doing a large hydroponics set-up, its better to keep your fish and plants separate.  Just take water from the fish tank and replace the water with tap (aka... water changes) - and use the 'fishy water' to feed your plants.  Fishy water is great for plants.  I use it all the time.  But, I don't have a true 'hydroponics' set-up.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

I actually wasn't thinking about a betta, I was wondering if maybe... 3 guppies might work?
Oh, and my mom did want another hydroponic garden, so I was thinking an aquarium under it would be cool...

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Also, what do you think about this QT: http/m.petsmart.com/h5/hub?id=supplies%2Faquariums%2Ftop-fin-aquascene-180-3.5-gallon-aquarium-zid36-17638%2Fcat-36-catid-300065%3Fvar_id%3D36-5162489

 

[Ch4rlie]

I actually wasn't thinking about a betta, I was wondering if maybe... 3 guppies might work?
Oh, and my mom did want another hydroponic garden, so I was thinking an aquarium under it would be cool...

 
Guppies won't be suitable for a 3 gallon tank either to be honest, a 10 gallon is minimum for these.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Imagine you are living in a room the size of a small bedroom which was completely sealed from the outside world. Every now and again someone would open the roof and let fresh air in, only to close it again and come back at some future time and open it again.
 
All the time you live in that room you have to live with your own crap and pee, breathe your own air and keep your own company; you might not find it to your liking.
 
Now imagine you live on a planet (not hard to do) where the air is constantly renewed, your excrements are removed from sight and smell and there are as many people as you like to interact with; sound good compared to that room?
 
Well, an aquarium is something in between and the nearer you can get that aquarium to match the real world rather than that small room the better off your fish will be.
 
Don't even think about using a small aquarium as all the time you do you will now imagine yourself living permanently in a lonely, tiny room with a crappy atmosphere that stinks and makes it hard to breathe.
 
Grow your plants in a pot and keep your fish in a virtual planet.

 

[NickAu]

That tank is not suitable for a betta, to start with it has no heater and second, In a Betta tank the plants belong on the inside so the betta can hide among them and sleep on them.
 
The second tank is ok its 3.5 gallon while a bit small, With some plants on the inside plus a heater and filter it can work.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Are there any small fish that you can keep only one of? (I'm planning on getting a few plants for inside and a heater, so that it is suitable for fish...) I hope that maybe we can find something that will work...

Also, what do you think about this QT: http/m.petsmart.com/h5/hub?id=supplies%2Faquariums%2Ftop-fin-aquascene-180-3.5-gallon-aquarium-zid36-17638%2Fcat-36-catid-300065%3Fvar_id%3D36-5162489

This link no longer works, let me get a new one...

 

[Zante]

I don't know much about Betta Splendens but I know that the 'aquarium' shown is just not big enough for a fish, any fish. BS are displayed in LFS in small containers but this is not sufficient for a healthy life.
 
Secondly, are the suppliers honestly thinking that one fish will supply the nutrients required for even one plant, somehow I doubt it.
 
I did consider growing a tomato plant hydroponically on my 640 litre tank but the logistics of giving the plant enough light without causing algal growth in the tank were awkward so I never bothered.

 
Have you considered a sump on a windowsill just big enough to grow the tomato plants?
They would be VERY effective nitrate sinks.

 

[Zante]

Hydroponic aquariums, as you call them, are not bad per se, they are simply an aquarium in which plants have their roots immersed. It's not much different from having an aquarium with floating plants, and many people (including me) have plants in their aquariums that only have their roots in the water. In my particular case i have pothos growing out of my discus tank, and all along the windowsill, several times, as I bend the vines backwards when they reach across the window. One of the vines must be well over 4m by now. 
 
They are excellent nutrient sinks, because they are not limited by the CO2 in the water (usually the limiting factor in aquariums) as they have access to the unlimited supply of CO2 in the air. My corys also love the jumble of roots in the water as a natural spawning mop. I've had several generations of corys in that community tank.
 
The thing to keep in mind though is where the focus is.
In an aquarium the focus is the submerged environment. Any emersed or emerging plants will be a biological and aesthetic bonus, but what counts is what's under the surface.
In a hydroponic garden the focus is what grows above the surface. What goes on at the level of the roots of the plants only counts to feed the plants.
 
By all means, if your mother likes plants do get her a hydroponic garden, but don't consider it as an aquarium.
 
 
P.S.
Of course there are such things as paludariums and ripariums where the focus is spread between above and below the water, but it's not something that is relevant here.

 

[ShinySideUp]

 

I don't know much about Betta Splendens but I know that the 'aquarium' shown is just not big enough for a fish, any fish. BS are displayed in LFS in small containers but this is not sufficient for a healthy life.
 
Secondly, are the suppliers honestly thinking that one fish will supply the nutrients required for even one plant, somehow I doubt it.
 
I did consider growing a tomato plant hydroponically on my 640 litre tank but the logistics of giving the plant enough light without causing algal growth in the tank were awkward so I never bothered.

 
Have you considered a sump on a windowsill just big enough to grow the tomato plants?
They would be VERY effective nitrate sinks.
 

 
Unfortunately I think the other half would be a bit peeved if I had pipes running the length of the room from the tank to the sump and back. Credit for the idea though; if my tank was on an adjacent wall instead of opposite the window (and some distance away) I can see that working rather well.

 

[Zante]

Oh well... worth a try...

 

[HarpyFishLover]

I also saw this: http/www.amazon.com/AquaSprouts-Garden/dp/B01B4ZRVR4/ref=pd_sbs_199_12?ie=UTF8&dpID=51G5a2xTnrL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR141%2C160_&refRID=1TW95CVPQZSRBRVEJ82M

 

[Brodeur30]

petco carries filters that are open at the top and accommodate plants, maybe you should look into getting one of those