Self sustaining tank
- Thread starter SuperNemo
- Start date
fatdaddy
New member
Well, in a way, I've done that. I left my second tank fallow for 6-months thinking that it would eventually work the nutrients out of the system through the nitrogen cycle. It was teaming with pod life after just a few weeks. It just ran on it's own with lighting and the rare water change.
However, if you mean supporting fish, corals, etc., I doubt it. Just look at the nitrogen cycle. It releases Nitrogen back to the atmosphere, so what is fixing nitrogen to maintain that cycle without constant feedings.
In the wild, plankton do a lot of work, but maintaining that in a microcosm would take a large amount of volume. In theory, it's possible, but I would think it would be unstable for anything but the largest setups.
However, if you mean supporting fish, corals, etc., I doubt it. Just look at the nitrogen cycle. It releases Nitrogen back to the atmosphere, so what is fixing nitrogen to maintain that cycle without constant feedings.
In the wild, plankton do a lot of work, but maintaining that in a microcosm would take a large amount of volume. In theory, it's possible, but I would think it would be unstable for anything but the largest setups.
reefergeorge
New member
sassafrass
New member
Yes it can and has been done to varying degrees,generally speaking the less bio-load the easier it is to do.Also generally speaking many low bio-load mature tanks need little nutrients added to sustain themselves.
phish guy
New member
you need a BIIIIIIIG tank with little in it. that being said, you would want the system to mature for a while with nothing in it. then add small frags and small fish, and only a few, and let them just grow...and grow.... and grow. so for a while it may be self sustaining with only water changes for a few years. but im sure you'd still have to feed the fish somewhat, but hey thats the best part.
reefergeorge --> that eco-sphere thing looks sweet.
reefergeorge --> that eco-sphere thing looks sweet.
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agreeive?fish
New member
The closest i can think of would be a gigantic tank with massive amounts of live rock with a faboulus pod population.. throw in a few mushrooms and a mated pair of mandrins..but would you still have to feed the pods????
fatdaddy
New member
Phytoplankton? You'd need to get a self-sustaining colony setup and then make sure every creature has a food chain that can sustain it.
It's an interesting question. I'm really wondering now what fixes nitrogen in a marine environment. I guess I should just get a good "Marine Science 101" book.
