Re: NANFA-- anyone ever toyed with this idea?

matt ashton (ashtonmj2003_at_yahoo.com)
Mon, 19 Jan 2004 08:03:01 -0800 (PST)

Yes I agree the organisms and invert part of it wouldnt really be involved in this set up. I would be combining the planted sand gravel aspects though. I guess what I am aiming for answers on is the feasibility of this acting as a more effiecient under gravel fliter / less effiecient than SW plenum. Again, knowing what Todd Crail uses as a reference and just slightly altering it is what I would hope to give me this effect.

Really hoping that it would act as something to pack in the bacteria and their functions in the sand and below in the plenum ( i guess its really a pseudo plenum ) and aide in filtration because i can't justify what an Ehiem costs to act as my primary filter, when i can use the in tank improvements along with a decent canister or power filter.

Joshua L Wiegert <JLW_at_dune.net> wrote:
I'd think it would be an interesting thing to try -- the sand plennum over
the planted tank. It would open up an entire new avenue of habitats in the
aquarium.... Rather than having small gravel, you'd have fine sand which
would be an interesting tank set up for numerous natives which live over
sand. Some of these will even fill the role of the marine sand-sifters,
such as gobies or starfish, helping to keep the sand bed turned and avoiding
too much anaerobic area. Keep in mind, though, that part of the reason the
sand bed works in marine set ups is the live rock -- this provides not only
increased area for bacterial growth, but also a substantial source of
organisms, beyond the bacteria, to help break down wastes. Although in some
cases sweetwater counterparts exist (e.g., scuds), you're gonig to have some
trouble keeping all but a few in the aquarium. I'd write the FAMA guy, too,
and see what his thoughts are. He very oftne mentions sweetwater sandbeds.

JW.

--
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><,DARWIN,>
Joshua L. Wiegert

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