What should I do?

[tyspot1000]

I plan on making a planted 10 gallon fish tank with very little fish, So Im wondering what your thoughts and suggestions on what I do with this tank.

So heres what Im planning

Gravel: Eco-complete

Lighting: Im not sure yet, but some light fixture that can hold double florescent tubes. Maybe 2 15 watt sun-glo bulbs.

Filter: Aquaclear 20 with a sponge over the filter intake.

Plants:
Java fern,
Anubias nana,
crypts,
Banana plants.
(What other low light to medium light plants do you recommend I do?)

Also, I will not be using any C02.

Tyler

 

[neilanh]

Since you're going low-tech, I'd recommend a cheaper substrate. You won't need the benefits of eco-complete in this tank and it's not a cheap thing to use.

Won't hurt though, if you have your heart set on it.

 

[fort384]

Anubias barteri v. nana 'petite' is a very nice low light plant, especially for a smaller tank... the leaves are even smaller than the anubias nana, and it makes an excellent foreground plant. It is a slow grower though, but so are most lower light plants.

You could also check out some BACOPA monnieri. It is a neat looking medium light stem plant. Most other stems require more light, but in my experience, B. Monnieri (moneywort) will do ok in med. light tanks.

 

[tyspot1000]

Thanks for the reply! I do want to kinda stick with the eco-complete but if I can find some black sand, then I will possibly stick with that.

What plants would you recommemd me to else have with this setup? How many of each?

Tyler

 

[mudraker]

There are a large number of varieties in the crypt family that are excellent for low/med light. They are not expensive and come low growing and hight growing.

If you want color, dwarf lillies are nice.

 

[Chrisinator]

Pool Filter Sand is a cheap alternative to your Eco-Complete. It also provides a good root bed for future plants. The only probably is you will need to mix it as to not form anaeraobic air pockets that could kill fish.

As for plants, I like having some form of floating plants. A small piece of water sprite makes the tank look taller than it is. Cryptocorynes are one of my favorite plant family.

 

[tyspot1000]

Thanks for thr replies! I am thinking about some dwarf lilies.

Tyler

 

[Marconis]

Thanks for the reply! I do want to kinda stick with the eco-complete but if I can find some black sand, then I will possibly stick with that.

What plants would you recommemd me to else have with this setup? How many of each?

Tyler

3M has a variety of black sands I believe. I've used Tahitian Moon Sand but it was a ripoff.

A thread about 3M. I am not sure how it is with plants, but it's nice substrate.
Cichlid-Forum :: View topic - 3M color quartz

 

[tyspot1000]

Thanks for the link! I plan on getting the substrate from my lfs, they have mostly sand and eco comolete.

Tyler

 

[Marconis]

Awesome. I like the black sand idea. I was going to do it with my planted, but I had PFS sitting around so I just used that.

Good luck!

 

[Filbey]

I'm using black gravel and a black back sheet/decal thing it really brings the colours out in the fish!!

 

[mommytron]

i would recommend pool filter sand as well. i have it and LOVE it. it's cheap, easy to maintain, and looks great. also, with that amount of light, you should really think about CO2. there are some very cheap and easy DIY alternatives that are worth looking into. otherwise, try for 20w or less. more than that with no CO2 and you're asking for an algae outbreak.

 

[tyspot1000]

Do You think that the 20ws or less would be able to support some dwarf lilies?

Tyler

 

[DragonFish71]

I use 3M color quartz in a few of our tanks. The black looks great and plants love it.

 

[mommytron]

Do You think that the 20ws or less would be able to support some dwarf lilies?

Tyler

i'm not very familiar with dwarf lillies. i know that tiger lotuses havebeen known to grow in low-light set ups. just keep in mind with the more wpg you have, the more need you will have for CO2 and ferts. if the balance is not right, plants may suffer deficiencies or die, or you may have algae problems. sometimes it just takes some playing around and trial and error to balance everything properly.

 

[tyspot1000]

Thanks! Hmmm, Could a banana plant go in a low light setup?

Tyler

 

[alisharev]

Do You think that the 20ws or less would be able to support some dwarf lilies?

Tyler

From what I was told Lilies take a lot of light. Sun light is what they are used to. That is why I have my tank by a window so that my Dwarf lilies will grow nice and full. If the light isn't strong but dim, the lilies will still grow. but it won't develop the shoot that become lily pads.

 

[mom2reds]

Bannana plants will grow in low light tanks

 

[tyspot1000]

Thanks for the reply! I heard from somewhere that banana plants are a dwarf lily, Is that so?

Tyler

 

[mom2reds]

I don't think they are the same, a bannana plant i think is a type of anubias