What do ya reckon are mechanical filters enough or do we need to have some sort of bio filter as well? :?:

Genrally through mecanical filtration waste is trapped somehow which produces "biological filtration" normally in itself. You definately need biological filtration though to keep fish alive in any case. Uncontrolled levels of ammonia and nitrite are harmfull or lethal to a fish.

I have to disagree that a mechanical filter is needed. I am using the natural method on my tank, which consists of no filter at all. If there is enough plants in the tank, they will filter the water.

My tank has been running now for 3 months without filters, the levels are:

ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrates 10

Its amazing what a lot of plants can do, there are American Flag Fish, Endlers and Monterrey platys. and some albino cories in the tank. The main thing is you want to understock and plant heavy.

No doubt about it planted tanks are #1 in my book but I dont have any as I like my "O"s and they dont get along with plants. So plants aside what do you suggest?

I like to use UGF as well as a HOB power filter and plants, they all have their positive and negative points.
UGF's will trap gunk under them but if you use them with lots of plants the plants will "eat" a lot of the gunk. UGF's also provide a space for the plants roots to grow without having to fight the gravel or sand or whatever your substrata is.
I like the HOB because you can use it with or without charcoal/carbon, the cartridges can be rinsed and reused (if you do this in old tank water at changing time you won't destroy your bacteria colony), and in my opinion they will clear up water fairly quickly.

I have read that a sponge filter is about the best thing you can use for a fry tank, and they are fairly easy to make.


susankatomerit, are you using Diana's version from ERU?