Freshwater Refugium

...your bio-ball filter section could be competing with your filter-by-plant section, to the point of not just being unnecessary, but actually being counter-productive to the functioning of the whole refugium.

I agree. I wouldn't put a bio-ball section in a plant refugium.

Edited by EricaWieser, 18 August 2011 - 08:29 AM.

Okay, I really wouldn't imagine that ever being the case! But the Walstad is tried and true, so I will have to trust her. Any ideas for some emergent plants that stay small?

For the setup you have been describing, I still think that frogbit fits the bill. Fast grower, short stature, easy to harvest, doesn't need substrate, pulls all of its nutrients out of the water column. Plus your Heterandria will like hiding in the hanging roots.

But the Walstad is tried and true, so I will have to trust her. Any ideas for some emergent plants that stay small?

Don't do that! I used that logic recently when I bought her recommended "Miracle Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix". I saw that its main ingredients were composted bark and chicken litter and I thought, "wood and excrement? Well, it's recommended by Walstad, so I'll try it" and now look at my tank! It. Was. Awful. So, lesson learned: think for yourself. The reason why both bioballs and plants wouldn't be a good idea is because both nitrosomonas bacteria and plants eat ammonium. Because they both eat the same food, they compete with one another. And competition being what it is, one might be better at eating ammonium than the other, taking its food away from it. There is a limited amount of food and two mouths to feed. That is why you shouldn't put bioballs in your refugium, not just because someone smart said not to.

Further reading:
http://www.fishkeepi...ing-article.htm
http://theaquariumwi...ical_Filtration

Edit:
By the way, my advice is to go with a chaeto refugium type design with no substrate and Ceratophyllum demersum. I agree that horizontal refugiums need less pump power than ones stored beneath the tank (and you can look at your H. formosa easier), but disagree about the need for emersed plants because I've witnessed the awe and power that is Ceratophyllum's growing speed. I once read that it's native to both North America and Australia and I was like, "Of course it is. The Pacific Ocean is no obstacle to it." XD (joke)
I've never had experience with frogbit but maybe that's something to look into, too.

Edited by EricaWieser, 18 August 2011 - 01:40 PM.

Sadly, I don't have the option to have it higher up. Also, the reson I want the substrate is mainly so that the formosa are comfortable.

Sadly, I don't have the option to have it higher up. Also, the reson I want the substrate is mainly so that the formosa are comfortable.

If you use a the Ceratophyllum, frogbit, or other non-rooted plant, you can use plain old pea gravel as a substrate to make the Heterandria more comfortable. Since this is a system for removing nitrates, you will need to harvest regularly. It's much easier to do that with a non-rooted plant - you can just scoop some out instead of having to trim.

If you use a the Ceratophyllum, frogbit, or other non-rooted plant, you can use plain old pea gravel as a substrate to make the Heterandria more comfortable.

If you use pea gravel and then in a couple months decide you want rooted plants in your refugium... you're in a tough spot. You'd have to completely tear down the tank and put in a finely grained, nutrient rich substrate.

Edited by EricaWieser, 18 August 2011 - 05:33 PM.

If you use pea gravel and then in a couple months decide you want rooted plants in your refugium... you're in a tough spot. You'd have to completely tear down the tank and put in a finely grained, nutrient rich substrate.

Well, technically, not the tank, just the refugium. Less work because it's smaller and less deep, less stress to the the "show fish" because no hands in their space at all, and less "cosmetic disruptions" to worry about.

It'd still be work, but the downsides nuisance factors would be smaller.

Also, in a refugium, could easily "go modular," and use only plants in pots or other containers.

(Belated disclaimer: I personally have never used a refugium. Why not just have two independent well-planted tanks?)

Well, technically, not the tank, just the refugium.

I meant the refugium when I typed the word 'tank'. But yeah. No biggie. The modular thing is indeed an idea you can do. I like the dollar-ish terra cotta pots more than the less expensive plastic ones because they sink by themselves.

And yes, it is easy to set up two tanks and then use a pump or a powerhead to push water from one tank to another, connecting them and letting the plants in one eat the waste in another. One example of that is a refugium, where one of the two tanks is planted to the extreme to let the other tank produce more waste than it normally could. You could also simply connect multiple aquariums with potable-rated PVC tube. Or clear plastic. Link: http://www.aquatic-e...sh-highway.html

Edited by EricaWieser, 18 August 2011 - 07:04 PM.

You could also simply connect multiple aquariums with potable-rated PVC tube. Or clear plastic.

I thought your Elassoma were grossly deformed until I realized it wasn't actually your tank.

Edited by Doug_Dame, 18 August 2011 - 08:43 PM.