Everything should be here in a week (web/mail order) for my semi low
tech goldfish aquarium (no CO2, use of natural light, lots of plants)
finally! This should be quite an adventure. I have done lots of
research and had some experience with smaller plant/fish low tech
aquariums.

I would like to thank all you guys and gals out there who have
answered questions and provided suggestions! This and other fish
newsgroups have been extremely helpful! thank you someone (cant
remember who she was) that recommended Ecology of the Planted Aquarium
by Diana Walstad, I had actually ordered this book before the
recommendation taking a leap thinking this book might be helpful.
Also, thank you to another guy (?) who does the growing of trees (like
bonsai) in an aquarium. I would like to get a hold of you and just
learn more about your aquariums. I will have to find the past message
and try to email you.

Diana Walstad's book is amazing, to say the least. If you are
embarking on a low tech aquarium or just interested in plants and
using them religiously as sewage treatment centers in the aquarium,
take a look at your library for this book or buy it. I found it at
Wal-Mart's book website (I know what you are thinking. damn that
Wal-Mart and all of scandalous and unethical practices! if only they
didn't have such a great selling strat). Just in case you are
interested and want to know more about it is broken up into main
sections discussing plants as purifiers, bacteria, plant nutrients,
carbon, nutrition and ecology, substrate, aerial growth, algae
control, and she finishes the book with a set up and maitance guide.
She has tons of research, drawings, charts, and faqs which make all
the information a lot easier to understand.

The only complaints I would have (very few) are that it does take some
time to read (almost 190 pgs). You do have to have some basic
knowledge of aquariums, general chemistry, and data interpretation
skills. The only part I question in the book is her major advocating
of soil in the aquarium. I haven't tried soil/rock substrate, yet,
and I am too scared to do so for various reasons. It does make
perfect common sense that you should use plants, natural sunlight, and
a soil/pebble rock substrate to produce a balanced ecosystem in your
aquarium. I am still open to being talked into it though, so e-mail or
post if you have had good experiences!

BORING zzzzzz anyways.

I have read many different places that charcoal is not recommended or
very effective in chemical filtration for filters, so now what? Has
anyone had any experience with SeaChem Matrix Bio Media? I was
thinking of maybe sticking this in my filter (2-3 marineland emperor
400s in a 125) stuck in a pantyhose sac or filter bag then putting
some sort of filter padding before and after. The only question I have
about this is how big are the compartments of the marineland emperor
400 filter (same as 280 but what size)? Will the Matrix Bio Media
leave nutrients for the plants? Is my idea feasible?

word picture to maybe help

U---H--- I X I---H

U = the tank
H = filter walls
I = filter pads to stop large particle from going back into water
X = Matix Bio Media wrapped in panty hose maybe?
--- = water flow

About cycling an aquarium with plants and filter. I planed on
fishless cycling and have read information on this. I have heard that
cycling with plants can be confusing and varies by tank. I have also
experienced with this. I wish I would have kept journals. I plan on
doing this from now on. Should I leave plants out till later before
fish? Also I heard the Emperors can be difficult to cycle. Is this
true, and how can I combat this? I don't want to take water from
other aquariums because I am starting a fancy goldfish tank and
goldfish can be very delicate. I also am not going to by "cycling
bacteria" again, because this is a rip off, in my experience and
expensive. I thought maybe getting some water from a LFS goldfish
tank, but this is still worrisome.

As I stated I am worried about going the whole nine yards for low tech
tanks. I thought that for substrate I would use 1-2 inches of 3/4
Fluorite Laterite from Seachem mixed with 1/4 walnut gravel then top
that off with larger river pebbles to stop the goldfish from
swallowing/stiring up the substrate. How does this sound and what are
your experiences with this product?

I know that I can never be prepared for or learn everything I need to
know beforehand. I just have to do a lot of it, keep records, and hope
for the best. I would be interested in sharing information if anyone
would be interested in my endeavor. The main problems I will encounter
and will have to fix on my own are getting enough nutrients in the
plants while not growing harmful algae, plant destruction by goldfish,
and no CO2.

Thank you for listening to the ravings of a mad man, for any
suggestions you might have, and reading this long post!

Samuel

P.S.
Phyl (sp?) I am very sorry about your misfortune. I have heard a great
many things about you, your aquarium plant knowledge, your service,
and your merchandise. I have heard these things not only from this
newsgroup but from TONS of plant/fish groups and websites. I was
really looking forward to doing business with you. It's a personal
loss to not only you but to everyone. :***-( I hope maybe someday you
will have the strength to start again or even just come and join the
electronic community that seems to miss you so much!

Sincerely
Samuel