Self contained ecosystem?????
 

Ok...I'm a first timer....I have been given a 75 gallon tank and this is
what I plan to do...let me know if i'm on the right track. I am starting my
first tropical freshwater aquarium and I have built a plenum found at
www.garf.org which is primarily for growing reef. Do ya think the concept
will work?? If it works properly and I'm not mistaken, then my aquarium
should need no additional nutrients or chems except for fish
food....correct?? The whole plenum Idea intrigues me.... so I thought that
I'd get the opinion of all you experts! :P
Thanks
Jennifer

Self contained ecosystem?????
 

you do know that article is about sal****er right ?

Self contained ecosystem?????
 

Plenums create an anaerobic area where nitrate can be broken down into nitrogen
gas...correct? I know some african cichlid keepers who use very deep sand beds for
exactly this purpose, and never have measureable nitrates.

LeighMo wrote:

I am starting my
first tropical freshwater aquarium and I have built a plenum found at
www.garf.org which is primarily for growing reef.

Plenums are used for sal****er tanks. There's no point in using them in
freshwater.

You can still have a fairly self-contained ecosystem, if you want. Try reading
Diana Walstead's "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium."

Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/