Shallow water plants and filter

Most of my aquatic plants like at least a foot of water. I'm dropping the water level to about 5" in the viviarium I'm making. Wondering if anyone has suggestions as to what would be happy in swallow water.

Also, I believe the swallow water limits the type of filter to in-tank. Any makes to look for or avoid?

Thanks!

I'm no expert but seems to me shallow water is a great oppurtunity to use some emergent plants found at the water's edge or in swamps. I once kept an arrowroot plant in a pot in a shallow turtle tank. Looked really cool but grew too tall for the lighting [kept burning against the bulb]. Depending on how tall your setup is, that's a possible choice. I'm sure there are many more.
You can use cannister filters in shallow water but a low level shut off would be a good idea as the pump could run dry quickly from evaporation in the shallow water.

I'm no expert but seems to me shallow water is a great opportunity to use some emergent plants found at the water's edge or in swamps. I once kept an arrowroot plant in a pot in a shallow turtle tank. Looked really cool but grew too tall for the lighting [kept burning against the bulb]. Depending on how tall your setup is, that's a possible choice. I'm sure there are many more.

Well, the emergents I know of either get too big and or prefer a dry out period, and that's not going to happen in this tank. but I will look into it. I like grasses and forbs.

You can use cannister filters in shallow water but a low level shut off would be a good idea as the pump could run dry quickly from evaporation in the shallow water.

I didn't think you could use a cannister filter for less than a 1/2 tank because you had to have the pressure of the water to prevent air locks.

Is this for your frog tank? Creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) can be rooted in the land section and will trail into the water. Java fern, Java moss, and bacopa are also good choices for the water section.

I didn't think you could use a cannister filter for less than a 1/2 tank because you had to have the pressure of the water to prevent air locks.

I'm not familiar with the concept. My experience with pumps is that "air locks" equals loss of prime, meaning the pump sucked air, ie water level dropped below intake.
That's not to say I'm an expert and in fact I have never tried to run a canister in shallow water.

Running a canister in shallow water generally works fine. You'll work like a dog trying to get it primed in some cases, but other than that you shouldn't run into too many problems.

Try this:
cool filter

Edited by fishlvr, 09 August 2008 - 07:10 PM.

Bacopa caroliniana would be really nice and will flower for you given enough light. Nympphoides cordata would be nice too, since it doesn't like it too deep. Micranthemum umbrosum would be nice, too, and can make a nice terrarium carpet.

Do you really need to filter at all?

Bacopa caroliniana would be really nice and will flower for you given enough light. Nympphoides cordata would be nice too, since it doesn't like it too deep. Micranthemum umbrosum would be nice, too, and can make a nice terrarium carpet.

Do you really need to filter at all?

Wouldn't I? If I don't filter, won't the whole thing grow stagnant and algae ridden?

Thanks for the plant list.

Wouldn't I? If I don't filter, won't the whole thing grow stagnant and algae ridden?

Depends on how much you feed and what your nutrients look like. I have a number of unfiltered tanks. These tanks are lightly stocked, but they do have fish.

Depends on how much you feed and what your nutrients look like. I have a number of unfiltered tanks. These tanks are lightly stocked, but they do have fish.

Are they aerated with an airstone? Any circulation at all? How often do you do water changes?

Thanks!

Are they aerated with an airstone? Any circulation at all? How often do you do water changes?

Thanks!

Some have an airstone, some don't. My pygmy killie tank does not have airstones. I'll be honest; I don't do water changes either in the heavily planted tanks. The pygmy tanks are very heavily planted and lightly stocked. I haven't tested the water in a while, but did frequently a couple years ago (over many months) on a similar setup and did not have nutrient problems; I assume because of the plant growth. I even had to fertilize some of these tanks after a while (bits of Miracle Gro sticks jammed in the soil, and calcium tablets dropped in the water)

That being said, I've never had a frog tank. I suppose you could try it without anything at first, and if you get a bacterial sheen on the water surface then add an airstone. If the water still doesn't keep decent quality, then add a filter. That would be my plan of attack.

I would get a reptile filter if I were in that situation, just because frogs are very sensitive to water conditions and they're messy. If their water gets too messy you get an ammonia spike which = a dead frog.