Tropical Fish Forums

dale · Advisors Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Location: Abbotsford Canada

We used a similar process in a greenhouse application growing herbs. Fiber matting impregnated with herb seeds was cut to fit in the bottom of rain gutters that were sloped at a slight angle. Feed water was pumped from a tub at one end and gravity drained it out the other end into the tub again. The roots grew into the matting but the leaves grew up and over the gutters. To harvest, the matting was just lifted out of the gutters.

Three points about such a system:

expect a lot of evaporation
nuisance algae can be a problem
everybody wants to come over and borrow some basil
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arachnar · Regulars Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Location: Boise,Idaho

thanks dale though I don't plan on making this anytime soon,and as long as the algae stays in the plant filter container I won't mind,I might want to rethink mabe putting holes in so only stems can come out,to reduce evaporation
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arachnar · Regulars Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Location: Boise,Idaho

well the plant I put in has grown nice long roots into the aquarium these is cool and will hopefully help suck up nitrites and ammonia
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RaiderFan92 · Regulars Joined: 12 Jun 2006

Thats a cool idea. And is that what a refugium was? I never knew, but didn't want to ask and look like an idiot.

Well I geuss I am asking and lookign like and idiot now. Laughing

arachnar · Regulars Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Location: Boise,Idaho

no big deal most people don't know what one is either even if they have fish ,the plant is really taking and the taproots are producing their own little roots really cool,a small leaf close to the water has started coming up.
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msta · Regulars Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: New Zealand

any chance of a photo?
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arachnar · Regulars Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Location: Boise,Idaho

[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pa4f2217f904b9153844c50b5aaa07ff4/ea3b3a0b[/img]

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Fern · Regulars Joined: 26 May 2009 Location: SW Florida

You can also do an outdoor pond as a filter just cram it with tons of plants. I will be building one at some point in the future for a multi-tank system. Its the same concept that several university's use for the final stage of their sewer/septic systems. I believe Lakes Park in Ft Myers FL has this system as well. Do a search on filtration ponds and see what comes up.