Live plants instead of a filter?

[sunnycomet]

Hi,

I have a question. I am planning to buy a halfmoon betta as soon as I can get one...they are sooo hard to buy in Canada. I really don't want a filter in the tank...but if it makes it better for my betta I will put up with it. I heard though if I use live plants instead of fakes ones I don't need the filter?

Also what are the requirements for live plants and how do you care for them? Do you do 100% water changes with the water plant and how would that be done?

Thanks

[Essabee]

Many hobbyists don't use a filter in their planted tanks. Some use a pump for water circulation only, but that is needed for heavily planted tanks. Your betta will love still water and plants will do the biological filtration in the tank. Plants need light to survive and nutrients it will get from the substrate and fish excreta. You go with a full spectrum bulb about 1 watt per gallon of water in the tank and slow growing plants like Cryptocoryne varieties till you become more adept.

[sunnycomet]

Thanks Essabee 

But how do I clean the water and how often do I clean it?

[EowynJane]

Unfortunately without a filter the tank can't be cycled.  How often you have to change the water would depend on what size of tank but usually in an uncycled small tank it's 100% every 2 or 3 days. 

IMO you're usually better off with a filter, Red Sea makes a great little nano filter for tiny tanks...  I know you can get them in Canada because that's where I am also.  I got mine at Big Al's, I've included a link to it in on their site below.

http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA/ctl3664/cp17903/si1317886/cl0/redseadecoartnanofilterclear