This is actually a question about my newt tank, but it could definatly apply to fish ponds/tanks.

I've never used live plants before but recently I got two pond plants for my 10 gal newt tank (it's 2/3 water, only about 6 inches deep). I think the plants are water lettuce and salvania (sorry about the spelling there). My question is, how good are they at removing waste? I remember reading somewhere that plants can actually act as filters to some extent. The tank's been set up for a week now and I had to change the water yesterday, it was getting pretty stinky! I think I may buy a filter today, but I wanted to get everyone's opinion on the role of live plants in aquariums.

There is some information about a live plant filter in DIY..... I just have to go find it... let me see what I can do.....

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ACtually, I am finding so much info there - it is all scattered around, and I do not know how big a filter or what you are looking to do......

Somewhere there is a link that shows Betty's (DataGuru's) plant filter set up. Basically it pumps the water from the tank into a large tub that is filled with water plants. She lights the water plants at night, and this makes them release oxygen at night for her, as well as processing the nitrates and such from the water. The water is then returned to the tank through gravity flow......

I will keep looking. Try searching the DIY forum, though.... it is in there somewhere.

interesting

That is interesting, thanks!