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re: fresh water reefs
Hi,
There has been some discussion on the list regarding freah water
reefs and terestrial plants as filters. I have decided to setup a 10gal
test prior to a 40gal main tank later on. I am thinking of using
Spathphyllums as the filter plant in the outside container and have
found a sm
grained fired clay product used for growing hydoponic orchids to
use as the medium. My question is the exchange rate to and from the
outside container. Should the water trickle in and out like a
hydroponics system via a lift tube arrangement or pour in and out from a
powerhead like
an outside filter? If the latter, can the Spaths tolerate having
their roots constantly submerged? Or would a bog plant like Marsh
Marigolds be a better choice as the filter plant. I would think that you
would want a plant with a fairly high metabolism as the filter plant.
Anyone
have any experience with this? Thanks much.
I have seen tanks with a plastic gutter on top with an airlift
into. An airlift would strip the co2, So if you use an airlift I would
assume you wouldn't submerge plants. My question is this the only
biofilter. If it is you need a high turnover rate to remove the ammonia
quickly. If you are trying to remove nitrates the flow rate could be
very slow, or intermittently.