Balanced Aquariums (by request)

[mfdrookie516]

Diana Waldstad... Walstad method - The Free Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Encyclopedia Anyone Can Edit - The Aquarium Wiki

 

[eco23]

A couple things I noticed after a brief glance at the Walstad system-

-At first she recommended just a PH, now she advises you use mechanical filtration (aka...a filter)
-The initial idea was not needing water changes...now she recommends them every 6 months (I knew TDS would be a big part)
-Says there is need for aeration if the fish are gasping at the surface. So you need an air stone, haha

So basically it seems like her initial idea of a "natural aquarium" has turned into a regular, planted and poorly maintained aquarium which simply uses the plants for the same purposes the rest of us use them for.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

To much detail with the lights. Yes it's heated I forgot to ad that. It's not entirely self sustaining you need to feed the fish. Most of what ur asking I already posted

What do you mean buy 'too much detail with the lights'? I'm finding you are giving the very basics but can't go into detail about this setup.

 

[maxwellag]

A couple things I noticed after a brief glance at the Walstad system-

-At first she recommended just a PH, now she advises you use mechanical filtration (aka...a filter)
-The initial idea was not needing water changes...now she recommends them every 6 months (I knew TDS would be a big part)
-Says there is need for aeration if the fish are gasping at the surface. So you need an air stone, haha

So basically it seems like her initial idea of a "natural aquarium" has turned into a regular, planted and poorly maintained aquarium which simply uses the plants for the same purposes the rest of us use them for.

I agree... it turned into an aquarium that a noobie might have. (Before they learn and do research)

 

[ashleynicole]

It would help if I could understand the thread/article that you wrote. There were so many typing errors and misspelled words I was very confused. Really makes it sound like you don't know what you are talking about. Is it really that hard to type out "you" instead of "u", and type out "your" instead of "ur"?

 

[ashleynicole]

Diana Waldstad... Walstad method - The Free Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Encyclopedia Anyone Can Edit - The Aquarium Wiki

Now this I have heard of and understand completely . It is still a very tedious process and a lot of work. I like my planted aquarium with heater, filter, and frequent PWC's.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

A couple things I noticed after a brief glance at the Walstad system-

-At first she recommended just a PH, now she advises you use mechanical filtration (aka...a filter)
-The initial idea was not needing water changes...now she recommends them every 6 months (I knew TDS would be a big part)
-Says there is need for aeration if the fish are gasping at the surface. So you need an air stone, haha

So basically it seems like her initial idea of a "natural aquarium" has turned into a regular, planted and poorly maintained aquarium which simply uses the plants for the same purposes the rest of us use them r.

I'm affraid I'm going to have to (sadly!) agree with your statements. I did a lot of research on the Walstad method when I first started out. My 70g was a NPT in the beginning but with the addition of a canister and better lighting and the desire for better plant growth it has become a low tech planted tank. But Id have to say the silent cycle at the beginning was a success.

 

[Wy Renegade]

Haven't read through the attached links, do that later when I have a bit more time, and at that point I'll probably have a little more to say . At this point I have to say that I find this system to be very unlikely to to succeed in the long run. For many years, one of the popular activities in biology class was to set up a 2 liter pop bottle with goldfish, snails, soil (or gravel) and elodea. The bottles were supposed to be self-sustaining (minus food for the gold fish). I've never seen them run successfully for more than two months. The initial idea sounds very much like the same experiment taken to a much larger scale, and IMO is just as likely to fail.

 

[absolutangel04]

From what I gather, the only real difference in the "balanced tank" is that ammonia is kept under control through pwc instead of a filter and pwc (in addition to it being taken up by plants and BB. To me, it just sounds like a lot of work. The OP said you still do parameter checks and schedule our pwc around the results to keep ammo ect. in check. After all, fish food, water circulation, and a heater are all still necessary. I agree with ashleynicole that it seems like a very tedious process.
Most plants that I am familiar with need nitrate to take up more than anything else. Of course, I am not familiar with a ton of aquatic plants specifically, so most of my knowledge comes from the dozens of classes in which I learned about the nitrogen cycle in natural water systems. Thats just a generaliztion and not specificly meant toward the elodea the OP discussed which the OP said was chosen for its gas exchange ability and hardiness.

 

[GhillieSniper115]

A couple things I noticed after a brief glance at the Walstad system-

-At first she recommended just a PH, now she advises you use mechanical filtration (aka...a filter)
-The initial idea was not needing water changes...now she recommends them every 6 months (I knew TDS would be a big part)
-Says there is need for aeration if the fish are gasping at the surface. So you need an air stone, haha

So basically it seems like her initial idea of a "natural aquarium" has turned into a regular, planted and poorly maintained aquarium which simply uses the plants for the same purposes the rest of us use them for.

Ya that's y o had a feeling her idea wouldnt work

 

[GhillieSniper115]

What do you mean buy 'too much detail with the lights'? I'm finding you are giving the very basics but can't go into detail about this setup.

Actualy just the lights. Idk what kinds they are. I know the light needed has to support a decent amount of plant life though.

 

[GhillieSniper115]

It would help if I could understand the thread/article that you wrote. There were so many typing errors and misspelled words I was very confused. Really makes it sound like you don't know what you are talking about. Is it really that hard to type out "you" instead of "u", and type out "your" instead of "ur"?

No I was just speed typing. I do know wat I'm doing

 

[GhillieSniper115]

Haven't read through the attached links, do that later when I have a bit more time, and at that point I'll probably have a little more to say . At this point I have to say that I find this system to be very unlikely to to succeed in the long run. For many years, one of the popular activities in biology class was to set up a 2 liter pop bottle with goldfish, snails, soil (or gravel) and elodea. The bottles were supposed to be self-sustaining (minus food for the gold fish). I've never seen them run successfully for more than two months. The initial idea sounds very much like the same experiment taken to a much larger scale, and IMO is just as likely to fail.

That's because ur using gold fish. Gold fish are very dirty

 

[maxwellag]

That's because ur using gold fish. Gold fish are very dirty

Goldfish or not, its still a system that eventually fails. Waste would build up, and eventually the plants wouldn't be able to handle all of it.

 

[GhillieSniper115]

From what I gather, the only real difference in the "balanced tank" is that ammonia is kept under control through pwc instead of a filter and pwc (in addition to it being taken up by plants and BB. To me, it just sounds like a lot of work. The OP said you still do parameter checks and schedule our pwc around the results to keep ammo ect. in check. After all, fish food, water circulation, and a heater are all still necessary. I agree with ashleynicole that it seems like a very tedious process.
Most plants that I am familiar with need nitrate to take up more than anything else. Of course, I am not familiar with a ton of aquatic plants specifically, so most of my knowledge comes from the dozens of classes in which I learned about the nitrogen cycle in natural water systems. Thats just a generaliztion and not specificly meant toward the elodea the OP discussed which the OP said was chosen for its gas exchange ability and hardiness.

Hhmmm. Alot of people said the same thing as you. It wouldn't work, shouldnt try it. Remember that I Actualy had a set up like this and it worked. Circulation prevents sluge build up

 

[GhillieSniper115]

Goldfish or not, its still a system that eventually fails. Waste would build up, and eventually the plants wouldn't be able to handle all of it.

Waste build up? Just clean the gravel and do a water change.

 

[blert]

Hhmmm. Alot of people said the same thing as you. It wouldn't work, shouldnt try it. Remember that I Actualy had a set up like this and it worked. Circulation prevents sluge build up

Hmmm.... Curious. You never said what happened to this tank just that you HAD one. What happened to it?

 

[Wy Renegade]

That's because ur using gold fish. Gold fish are very dirty

Dirty in that they stir up bottom debris because they are bottom feeders, or dirty because of the amount of waste they produce? Actually they would be much better suited for this type of system than the livebearers that you are recommending due to their low demand for DO (dissolved oxygen), which is going to be in very short supply in the aquarium that you initially described. Hence the required addition of a powerhead to move the water and provide additional DO for the fish, as well as to helping out with other issues. Most people don't run DO tests on their aquariums because they don't need to, with filters and powerheads moving water ample DO is able to enter the water through diffusion to support the inhabitants of the tank. However, with the initial proposal (a stagnent tank) I can assure you DO would be a major issue.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

I'd have to say I'm confused! Mostly because your posts don't contain enough information. We are suppose to take your word as truth but you need the proof to back it up. So basically it is a NORMAL tank with no filter? Your obviously not talking about Walstad tanks. Your still doing water changes and gravel vacs. It sounds like an extreme amount of work just to say 'i have a tank that doesnt need a filter'.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Hmmm.... Curious. You never said what happened to this tank just that you HAD one. What happened to it?

+1
Yes. How long did you have it running? Months/years?

It might seem like I'm badgering you but I would just like some answers to my (and everyone else's) questions.