Walstad Tank
#1 Guest_FishandFire_*
Posted 28 January 2008 - 11:08 PM
For those of you not familiar with a Walstad tank, the premise is to use a top soil substrate with pea gravel on top of that. The soil will break down the fish waste into nutrients for the plants. By doing this, you only need to do water changes every six months. You should never have to vac the substrate. To go along with this is the only equipment you should have in or on the tank is a powerhead to move water (no filtration).
Now to the good part of the story. Bought the top soil. It had been sitting outside and it was frozen. Instead of being patient enough to let it thaw, I thought I could chip it apart and crumble it up in the water. That proceeded to make soup. After having around 1.5" of dirt in the tank, you are supposed to add a few inches of water and then plant your plants. After that you are supposed to put the gravel in. Well, because I had messed with the dirt too much, I couldn't see to place the gravel without burying the plants. I did the best I could and filled the tank. Filled it too fast and enhanced the mud effect in the water. Tried adding a sponge filter and a HOB to clear it up. A week later I still could not see through the tank.
By this time my fine fishy friends in the Quad Cities are getting a great laugh at my Mississippi River bottom.
Yesterday I drained the tank and removed the plants. Surprisingly, the plants were still alive. (I wasn't sure as I had not seen them in well over a week. I added 1.5" of gravel and left if for the night. Tonight I planted the plants through the gravel with no water in the tank and VERY SLOWLY filled the tank trying not to disturb any of my wonderful mud that I now had buried under the gravel. The tank is full and I can see all the way through! It is a little cloudy, but not much more than any other new tank setup. I probably would have given up on this project if it were not for everyone laughing at me. Thanks, guys---you gave me the motivation to continue.
The fish will house my North American native freshwater fish. I have added a couple of pics.
I will keep you updated as the tank clears, fish are added, and the plants grow.
#2 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 28 January 2008 - 11:27 PM
Todd
#3 Guest_joia2181_*
Posted 28 January 2008 - 11:35 PM
#4 Guest_natureman187_*
Posted 29 January 2008 - 12:15 PM
I'd love to see the outcome
#5 Guest_nativeplanter_*
Posted 29 January 2008 - 12:21 PM
#6
Posted 29 January 2008 - 12:58 PM
#7 Guest_arnoldi_*
Posted 29 January 2008 - 09:26 PM
I set up a walstad over a year ago and haven't changed the water ever. I have 0 nitrates, its crazy.
#8 Guest_FishandFire_*
Posted 29 January 2008 - 09:27 PM
5 Red Shiners
2 Blacknose Dace
1 Central Stoneroller
6 Northern Redbellied Dace
3 Johnny Darters
1 Fantail Darter
When spring hits, I am hoping to find someplace that I can collect some topminnows to have fish in all parts of the tank.
#9 Guest_arnoldi_*
Posted 29 January 2008 - 09:29 PM
#10 Guest_FishandFire_*
Posted 29 January 2008 - 11:24 PM
#11 Guest_nativeplanter_*
Posted 30 January 2008 - 09:33 AM
Tonight the water is almost completely clear. I will probably add the fish on Thursday. I am now being cautious and will be putting an established sponge filter in the tank for a while to make sure the biological filtration establishes completely. Thanks for the encouragement. The fish that will be going in are:
5 Red Shiners
2 Blacknose Dace
1 Central Stoneroller
6 Northern Redbellied Dace
3 Johnny Darters
1 Fantail Darter
When spring hits, I am hoping to find someplace that I can collect some topminnows to have fish in all parts of the tank.
#12 Guest_FishandFire_*
Posted 31 January 2008 - 06:56 PM
Fantail Darter
Johnny Darter
#13 Guest_octavio_*
Posted 02 February 2008 - 01:54 AM
#14 Guest_fishlvr_*
Posted 03 February 2008 - 04:12 PM
#15 Guest_FishandFire_*
Posted 23 March 2008 - 02:33 PM
Fish:
Red Shiners, Lowland Shiners, Blacknose Dace, Longfin Dace, Spotted Dace, Northern Red Belly Dace and also Ghost Shrimp.
Full tank pics:
Ghost Shrimp:
The next plant started as a bulb when this tank was started. I'm not sure what it is. Lowest part:
Middle of plant:
Floating on top of water:
#16 Guest_NVCichlids_*
Posted 18 April 2008 - 10:49 PM
Anyways, AWESOME!!
NV
#17 Guest_FishandFire_*
Posted 19 April 2008 - 12:08 AM
absolutely awesome! I am going to do this in my 10 gal once I get my two 20 gal L's set up. Do you have lighting on the top? I remember in the articles I have read about these tanks they don't, maybe I just missed that part while reading.
Anyways, AWESOME!!
NV
Just have a standard strip light with a Zoo Med plant bulb. Bulb is only around $20. It's typically on anywhere from 4-12 hours per day. I need to get a timer, but just haven't gotten around to it.
#18 Guest_SnowShrimp_*
Posted 29 October 2008 - 09:12 PM
#19 Guest_natureman187_*
Posted 30 October 2008 - 12:40 AM
#20 Guest_schambers_*
Posted 30 October 2008 - 03:27 PM
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