Filter or not?

Bettanewbie60

Hey everyone! I was originally going to do a "Walstad" method tank. I spent a few days getting the lowdown from OFL. I finally gave up on it, thinking I didn't have enough funds for plants, so I set up my 10g divided tank for my two bettas with fine gravel substrate yesterday. Then last night I found some decent plants at my lfs, so I now have a 10g divided tank, two bettas, and around 10 stem plants per side (cabomba, bacopa carolina, anarchis). I was originally running my Whisper Internal filter, but I've read that the filter media can remove necessary elements for a planted tank..and that the surface disturbance removes needed CO2 that is produced. I opened the media that came with the filter, removed the carbon, and placed it back into the filter. Not sure that was right lol. Anyway, long story short, all of this reading has me just confused..should I just take the filter out all together? I really am afraid that the surface agitation will remove too much of the CO2. I can't afford a sponge filter or an hob at the moment...any help would be appreciated. Only plain language please..I am on technical jargon overload! Thanks.
Oh, and also, I don't think that my substrate is deep enough...if I remove my fish, can I add another layer gently around my plants? I so want this to work.

Boredomb

Removing the carbon is okay. I have read where some ppl say that carbon is oky in planted tanks. I myself don't believe that and don't run it. There are bunches of ppl who don't either so no worries there.
How much surface agitation are we talking about? Is it that the surface is moving like a current so to speak or a bubbling effect? Some is fine but like you have already said too much can let too much of the Co2 out.
Posted via Mobile Device

Boredomb

Also you want about 2-4 inches of substrate depending on the types of plants you have. Being all you have is stems 2" is fine so if you need more removing the fish and adding it is fine.
Posted via Mobile Device

Bettanewbie60

Thanks so much for your reply. Yeah, I know the filter is not truly needed..I guess I'm just nervous, having been fish keeping only a few months, and always needing a filter going. I really want to give the plants the best chance at making it. I guess the idea of no filter in the tank just freaks me out lol.
I have the filter right at water level and on the lowest setting, so the disturbance is not much, just a tiny ripple, but with a 10g tank I'm thinking not releasing ANY CO2 might be a good idea.

Boredomb

The ripple is fine I would leave it like that. That won't hurt the plants. I have a little ripple effect on my tank with plants and they all do fine.
Posted via Mobile Device

AbbeysDad

You could have left the carbon in the cartridge filter as the amount of carbon in these is so small they reach capacity soon and do little good...or harm.

I think it's always good to at least have mechanical filtration and most importantly, water circulation the ensure against thermal gradients and it's more healthy in general for plants and fish. I really wouldn't worry about the CO2/O2 exchange a filter produces by surface disturbance as you actually want some.

As Boredom writes, I think you typically want 2-3" of substrate for rooted plants, sometimes deeper in the rear than the front. You can add more, even with the fish in if your careful - I've used a dish and lowered/dumped where I wanted it.

Bettanewbie60

Thanks so much! I already dumped the carbon out of it, so the cartridge only has the cottony stuff still on it..oh well, I guess from what I've read no big deal.

AbbeysDad

It's okay - 'technically' you don't really want to use activated carbon in a planted tank as it adsorbs elements the plants need. However, the periodic use of carbon can do more good than harm. In the case of the cartridge filters, the amount of carbon is so small, they might be better not bothering. They reach adsorption capacity very quickly so all you really have is the mechanical filtration of the cartridge pad anyway.
So as necessary rinse and reuse this cartridge until it almost falls apart. When you replace it, don't worry about removing the carbon - what little is there won't hurt anything

Bettanewbie60

Cool...I just want my fish and my plants safe and thriving lol...Your advice is much appreciated!

Sanguinefox

Just chiming in to say that I learned the hard way what happens when you have no surface agitation what so ever. You run the risk of things like protein films developing and that's not good for fish or plants. That little bit of ripping is good, keep it that way.