[dwalstad]

I originally posted this question in the DIY part of this forum. After reading a little more I thought it might be more appropriate to post it here.

I am changing my fancy guppy breeding fishroom and putting in a central filter for approx. 45 tanks. What do you think of putting in a refugium type filter? Similar to the refugiums used in reef tanks only freshwater of course. Is this possible?

Rod

I think its a great idea. You'll have to have enough lighting and plant biomass (lots of emergent/floating plants) for 45 tanks.

Also and more importantly, if I were using a central filtration system, I would add a very serious UV sterilizing filter downstream of the refugium. Without a UV sterilizer, one sick fish could easily spread disease to every single one of those 45 tanks.

 

[dwalstad]

MommyI
Could you suggest some plants for the system?
Thanks
Rod

Its hard to predict which plants will work with your lighting, your soil, and your water. Thus, I generally recommend that people try as many plant species as possible. Again, I would emphasize floating plants (water lettuce, frogbit, etc) and emergent plants. See the "Aerial Advantage" chapter in my book. Plants that have access to air grow about 4 times faster than fully submerged plants. And the faster the plants grow and the more plants you have, the more waste they're going to take up. It is that simple.

Some pond people advocate using 7% of the total surface area of their ponds for their planted refugiums. Its called the "7% Solution". I'll let you do the calculations.

 

[dwalstad]

Hi everyone, I'm planning a similar setup for my plants growing tank. I was planning to use a UV filter , until I read than it can oxidize the iron ….. first is it true , and what consequence it will have if the iron in maintain only in the substrate ?..

Jerry

UV light can, indeed, cause iron deficiencies in floating plants, Hornwort, and algae (they all depend on water iron). UV light oxidizes (and destroys) iron chelators in the water. Rooted plants are okay, because they can get iron from a soil substrate. Note: I have UV sterilizers in all my tanks, and all rooted plants are doing fine.

Actually, the UV sterilizers should help with algae control by making water iron less available.

I strongly suggest that a UV sterilizer be downstream from any plant refugium. You don't want to remove water iron before it goes into the refugium. AND if pathogens are breeding in the refugium, you want to kill them before the water goes into the fish tanks.

 

[dwalstad]

Diana,
Yes, I agree- the UV filter is downstream of the refugium. Everything continues to go well. I have been shocked that I have not gotten ammonia yet. I have over 100 guppies in the system and still NOTHING! I really thought I would need more plant mass than what I have.

Rod

Aren't plants great!

 

[dwalstad]

Hello Rod,

Yes, please keep us posted. The refugium concept promotes plants as water purifiers not just tank ornaments. Just like wetland marshes purify waste water (my book, p 143), a refugium will process wastes from fancy guppies. It is all in the plants-- and emersed plants do it better.

Currently, I am writing an article on daylength v. plant growth, which I want to publish in The Aquatic Gardener (for starters). I'm sick of hearing that plants need a "rest period" when all the scientific literature I've found says otherwise.

Your thread ties in with that, because based on scientific literature the refugiums should ideally be run 24 hr per day for maximum plant growth.

For article, I would love to use your experience (and a couple pictures) as a practical application of 24 hr day daylength info and the refugium concept itself. If you are interested, feel free to contact me at: [email protected]

Cheers,
Diana