Planted Tank Filtration

[bglaning]

I was reading up on how to take care of a planted tank and I found this guy who said that he doesn't use any filters. He said that filters just attract the bacteria that you actually want living on your plants, or something like that. I currently use a box filter. What do you guys think? Should I continue to use the filter? Thanks,
Ben

[smaug]

You wouldnt need a filter if you had minimal fish.An example would be a 20 gal with 75% or more bottom coverage of plants and no more then 5-6 fish under an inch each.They do help alot but you still need a filter to keep ammonia,nitrites and nitrates at there proper levels 0/0 and no more then 20.

[bglaning]

thanks. i do have a 20 gallon tank, but i have more fish than that and my plants are just starting. sounds like im gona need to keep using the filter then.

[smaug]

Yup.What you were refferring to is called a dutch aquarium.

[englandsemo]

Dutch aquariums usually have no fish at all or very few to keep the focus on the plants. If you wanted to run the tank w/o a filter you could. You would just have to stay on top of your CO2 and Lighting as they would become much more important to keep a balance in the tank.