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dOHd: It sounds like you have attempted to set up a bog filter that avoids the worst risks. Not many folks will do that. Whether it actually accomplishes as much as a moderate water change, I doubt. But, if you find it saves you from needing to change as much water, then you are doing something right. I do not think that occurs very often. I think we end up focusing on whether the pondkeeper is performing maintenance sufficient to prevent the plant filter from causing harm. As Lammi notes, that takes a bit of work. It's not the magical solution so often represented. The aquaculture center you mention is indicative. In an environment heated sufficiently for those plants to thrive, 1" tosai growing to 4" (or 2" tosai reaching 7") over 6 months is not very good growth. Survival with slow growth relying on plant filters is altogether feasible. Let's not confuse that with praise for the benefits of plants... and I do believe plants can provide substantial benefit, in theory. In practice, I think the plants we need to understand are the algae. That's a different thread.
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