GuppyTeacher

Are you into plants? Then maybe you should consider this. http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/el-natural/

After reading up and doing some research I am beginning to find an approach that I like. I just planted my first Naturally Planted Tank. I used ~ 1 inch of topsoil and covered it with ~ 1 inch of gravel. I planted several Wisteria and Crypts. I have the tank near a window where it will get a couple of hours of sunlight each day. Fish waste and fish food become your fertilizers for your plants. Depending on what you have planted in the tank and the tanks parameters you may only have to do waterchanges every few months. I don't have any plans to add fish until I know the water parameters are fine. I have Diana Walstad's book on order and can not wait to read what she has to say. I can't wait to see where this is going to go.

Sabi

Quite an interesting thread.

Red_Rose

If you have a tank set up using the Walstad method, there really is no need to do water changes unless there is a problem like a sudden illness or if the plants an/or fish don't look happy. The plants use the fishie poop and uneaten foods as fertilizer.

If you ever decide to set up any tank like this, I strongly suggest you read Diana Walstad's book first so you understand everything because there is a lot you need to know about this type of set up and it's best to educate yourself first before just diving right in.

Both of my tanks are set up this way and I love it because you can enjoy keeping aquariums while conserving water!

Butterfly

Ntruder1400 - A friend just had an article published on Dissolved Organic compounds in the aquarium and it explains what goes on in the aquarium and how to lower these so much better than I did
http://www.aquascapingworld.com/maga...Explained.html
Carol