Hamster Central - View Single Post

Reduce Reuse Hamcycle · 08-11-2015, 12:59 AM

Hey! =]

I tried to type up a long reply but the short of it is if you use fast-growing plants, and you use enough of them then you don't have to cycle your tank because the plants absorb the ammonia and use it to grow. As a rule if you want plants that help with filtration get fast growers. The reason Watersprite is my all time fave is it's fast growing, low to mid light but stands up will in high light, and it propogates like noone's business. Any small bit of leaf will grow babies if it;s ripped off. Which is great if you're a perpetual dead thumb or a plant destoryer by nature. if you get rid of all the roots though and don't allow new ones to grow then you will lose it.

Here's a few helpful threads on Planted Tanks:

How to: Natural Planted tank

LONG Water Sprites!

--- A Hand-drawn Plant Guide ---

Also check out "Ripariums" A Riparium is where the bulk of the filtration for a tank is made up of emersed roots or half emersed plants. I like Ripariums a lot. I had one set up for a year, although I never put any fauna in it. (I was told I'd be kicked out of my family home if anyone so much as saw a fish! :'D I was a tad bit fish crazy in college... just a bit)

The plants I recommend are Zebrina (Wandering Jew) both the fuzzy kind and the not fuzzy kind (though the not fuzzy kind seemed to do better), pothos (almost everyone has access to purchasing this plant or knows someone or somewhere that they can take cuttings from), peace lily, and any other low-mid light and mid-high water requirement.

Really all you need are the plants, the patience, and the light/lights and you're good to go.

Here's the end of a small tank thread (1-3 gallons) where you can see an example of a riparium. from this page to page 117 you can watch his riparium evolve.

1-2 gallon tanks/bowls - Page 114

How's the little guy doing? Is he still alive?

There is something to be said for the thrill of getting a result that you're looking for when cycling and being able to change tanks relatively easily with less start-up cost. Cycling gives you that quick stability (well quick if you already have cycled media). I'd have loved to have gotten it right at somepoint but it just never did work out for me. I was happier underwater gardening anyway though. :P

Gosh darnit you've gotten me hooked again! XD It took years to break my fish addiction now I'm plotting another riparium that I'm not allowed to have! XD

08-11-2015, 12:59 AM
Reduce Reuse Hamcycle Newborn Pup Join Date: May 2015 Location: East Coast U.S. Posts: 43	Re: Help with betta fish! Hey! =] I tried to type up a long reply but the short of it is if you use fast-growing plants, and you use enough of them then you don't have to cycle your tank because the plants absorb the ammonia and use it to grow. As a rule if you want plants that help with filtration get fast growers. The reason Watersprite is my all time fave is it's fast growing, low to mid light but stands up will in high light, and it propogates like noone's business. Any small bit of leaf will grow babies if it;s ripped off. Which is great if you're a perpetual dead thumb or a plant destoryer by nature. if you get rid of all the roots though and don't allow new ones to grow then you will lose it. Here's a few helpful threads on Planted Tanks: How to: Natural Planted tank LONG Water Sprites! --- A Hand-drawn Plant Guide --- Also check out "Ripariums" A Riparium is where the bulk of the filtration for a tank is made up of emersed roots or half emersed plants. I like Ripariums a lot. I had one set up for a year, although I never put any fauna in it. (I was told I'd be kicked out of my family home if anyone so much as saw a fish! :'D I was a tad bit fish crazy in college... just a bit) The plants I recommend are Zebrina (Wandering Jew) both the fuzzy kind and the not fuzzy kind (though the not fuzzy kind seemed to do better), pothos (almost everyone has access to purchasing this plant or knows someone or somewhere that they can take cuttings from), peace lily, and any other low-mid light and mid-high water requirement. Really all you need are the plants, the patience, and the light/lights and you're good to go. Here's the end of a small tank thread (1-3 gallons) where you can see an example of a riparium. from this page to page 117 you can watch his riparium evolve. 1-2 gallon tanks/bowls - Page 114 How's the little guy doing? Is he still alive? There is something to be said for the thrill of getting a result that you're looking for when cycling and being able to change tanks relatively easily with less start-up cost. Cycling gives you that quick stability (well quick if you already have cycled media). I'd have loved to have gotten it right at somepoint but it just never did work out for me. I was happier underwater gardening anyway though. :P Gosh darnit you've gotten me hooked again! XD It took years to break my fish addiction now I'm plotting another riparium that I'm not allowed to have! XD