My Fishroom Update

chefkeith · Post by **chefkeith** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:00 am

This morning I finally figured out what I'm going to do with my 190g tank that has been fishless for a few months now. Instead of getting rid of it and building a new tank, I've decided to leave this tank as is and turn it into one of the nicest plant sump filters imaginable. I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier.

This tank is already planted somewhat and has about 300# of Eco-Complete in it. The idea is so simple that I just never thought of it.
To make the transitition, all I have to do is move a few hoses around, and add a new external overflow to "the dream sump". I guess it's not really a sump at all because it's not underneath my main tanks, but it is about 6 inches lower than them.

Anyways, I'm finally pumped up about growing some plants again. I'll probably start setting this all up next week.

chefkeith · Post by **chefkeith** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:22 am

I have a question about planted only tanks; you know tanks with no fish in them.

How much water flow do they need? Does water need to be circulating much throughout the tank?
Right now the only planned water flow would be coming from an overflow pipe thats from the main tanks. I'd also have a pump returning water back to the main tanks. Water would also be exiting the sump through an overflow that goes to a drain.

I want this planted sump filter to be very low maintenance.

Plants in the tank now are crypts and tiger lotus.

shari2 · Post by **shari2** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:41 am

Do you have any lighting on the tank?

And that's a very good idea.

mistergreen · Post by **mistergreen** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:59 am

The flow should be mild but not too strong like a river tank.

Are you going to use it only as a sump or have it as a display tank/sump?

If only as a pure sump, it doesn't have to be pretty and only functional, you can use floating plants that soak up nitrates & phosphates like nobody's business and not worry about the appearance of algae.

As a display sump, you'd have to worry about complete nutrients, CO2, and lights. And of course, you have to battle algae once in awhile.

chefkeith · Post by **chefkeith** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:10 am

Yes, there is lighting. There's 4- 55w and 2- 95w Compact Florescents in the hood. I don't like using them at the same time though because of all the $ they burn. I think at first, I'll try running just 2 of 55w lights about 8 hours per day and fill the tank only about 1/2 way full with water. If the plants grow out nicely I'll add more water and lighting.

For the past 2 months I've only used 4 hours of light per day with the tank only about 1/4 way filled with water. The plants seemed to do OK and there was no algae growth anywhere.

I gave away my CO2 tank last month, so I won't be going high tech with this at all.

chefkeith · Post by **chefkeith** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:24 am

It'll be a display sump. With plants, snails, shrimp, and fry.

There's 1 nice sized rainbow fry in there right now that I just spotted. I haven't put any food in the tank for the past few months either.

Keith Wolcott · Post by **Keith Wolcott** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:39 pm

Excellent idea chefkeith! Do you or does anyone else have any data on how much nitrates can be effectively eliminated by having such a sump. Essentially I would like to know if it can significantly reduce the amount of water that it is necessary to change.

mistergreen · Post by **mistergreen** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:37 pm

I don't think there are reliable data out there because there are so many variables like sump size, amount of plants, kinds of plants, nutrients, co2, & lights.

If you want to have an effective sump, i'd have the lights medium/high and inject co2 (DIY), and dose ferts like micros & potassium especially... Without potassium, magnesium & sulfer, the intake/uptake of nitrate & phosphate are limited by plants.

oh, you can bypass the injecting co2 by having mostly floating plants like frogbit, water hyacinth etc.. They'll get CO2 for the air.

newshound · Post by **newshound** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:22 pm

some plants do not need much light.
It is better for max light and lower hours. Algae need time to "warm up" but plants really don't need much time to start using the light for energy.

BlueFrog · Post by **BlueFrog** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:27 pm

I found this site useful for plant information --

http://www.plantedtank.net/

chefkeith · Post by **chefkeith** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:34 pm

Keith, I wonder also. It would be nice to lower the amount of water that I waste. Right now, with the drip system I change about 25-30 gallons per day.

Also, I'm hoping that if I fill the tank only 1/2 or 3/4 full tht I'll get some greenhouse effect, where the CO2 will build up in the tank.

There is really a great vibe in my fishroom today.
I emptied 2 badly neglected 15 gallon snail/shrimp tanks that were filled with MTS, Ramshorn Snails, and Cherry Shrimp and put them all in the 190g sump. They went from the outhouse to the penthouse. They finally have a good home where they won't have to worry about getting eaten up by my loaches.

mistergreen · Post by **mistergreen** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:46 pm

Obviously fast growing plant take up more nutrients like nitrate and they require a bit more light too... Yes, some plants require less light but they don't take in nutrients as fast. Think of different species having different metabolism.

I can tell you from my experience that, in my 29G tank which is full of fast growing plants reduces nitrate by 2-4ppm in a week. It has medium/high light, CO2 and dose nutrients beside nitrate & phosphate regularly..

this is a good site too
http://aquaticplantcentral.com/

Mark in Vancouver · Post by **Mark in Vancouver** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:48 pm

When this gets up and running, I think a photo essay is in order. I'm very curious if you could measure the difference of a planted sump somehow. It's a great idea.

Keith Wolcott · Post by **Keith Wolcott** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:05 pm

Thanks for the links mistergreen and BlueFrog. They look very interesting.

mistergreen- Thanks for the information on your 29 gallon tank. I have been collecting data on the nitrate accumulation rate on my tank so this gives me some idea of the effect of a planted sump.

chefkeith- Yes, the water waste is my concern (for both cost and ecological reasons). When I get a large tank next year, I will be changing about 30 gallons of water per day and since I am using RO water it uses 3 to 4 times that amount per day. If a planted sump could reduce that, it could be worth it. On the other hand, if the electricity for lights costs as much as water or has a similar negative environmental impact it may not be worth it. I'll have to do some calculations. Please keep us updated on how it works out.

mistergreen · Post by **mistergreen** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:22 pm

here's my 5G natural planted tank running on pure sunlight

hey, use what nature provides, that's what I say.

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