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Currently I have a 20 gal tank that is overstocked with fish.
nitrates are around 20
ph 7.5
lighting around 3.5 wpg with hagen yeast c02
My tank is moderately planted hygrophilias (I think how spelt and some others.

Any way I'm thinking of ripping out plants altogther, for the sake of ease of cleaning tank, reducing bioload and boosting water quality.

What do people think.

Actually, having plants in there will allow you to have more fish and increase the water quality. What fish do you have in there? Do not rip out the plants, they are very beneficial. If you give us the stocking it will really help.

Last edited by Hooktor at 21-Jul-2005 23:32

Sounds good to me. You could try to add some anarchis or hygrophylia to suck up some extra nitrates.

I would advise you to keep the plants. Perhaps add other plants which are easier to maintain instead of some of the plants you have now, but healthy plants contribute so much to keeping water quality good, so it's worth having a planted tank.

The plants have only a slight detrimental effect on the bioload. And it is considered a mute effect because of the great benefit they serve. They take out ammonia and nitrates out of the water. Thus increasing the water quality, and thus, the need for water changes can be extended. The only detrimental effect, is when the plants die and start to break down. This will add to the bioload, but in a very small amount. If done properly, a heavily planted tank is a complete ecosystem. I know of many heavily planted tanks that get only about 1 partial water change every year (give or take).

HTH.....

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There is always a bigger fish...

Hi, what filter/s and media do u have at the moment?

you may be able to make some changes that will fix the water.

if you have fish that will eat greens, try putting a lettice leaf in there for twelve hours or so, i wedge it in the gravel and leave it there overnight, my fish will eat some, then the next day i pull it out, lettice can absorb some of the bad stuff in the water, though it wont do alot with levles as high as yours it can help and its good for the fish too.

Also ive found Elodia (Anacharis)to be very good with nitrates, its also very easy to keep.

Anacharus is excellent with nitrates, as well as hornwort, guppy grass, java moss, and many other fast growing plants. And, most of these do not require high lighting.

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There is always a bigger fish...

Hi,
Any of the floating plants mentioned draw their nutrients
directly from the water and will reduce your nitrates
and nutrients. Because they are floating plants at the
surface, they don't actually require as much light (wpg)
as many are rated at.

Jaki, What kind of lettuce are you talking about?
If you mean the kind of lettuce that one puts on sandwiches
and in salads, it will furnish greens for the fish, but will
not absorb anything in the tank, and in fact polute it as
it rots.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks everyone for your replies.

It was the decomposing of the leaves etc that I was thinking of, when I was thinking about plants adding to the bioload.

In my tank I have a very young angel fish, a purple spotted gudgeon and 5 bronze corries about 3 inches each.

Hey I'm into fish. Changing water is my business