New 10 gal planted

[Heck09]

I had a neighbor give me his old ten gallon tank today, i just finished cleaning it and I was hoping for some advice on plant and stocking options, I have a 30g planted that's doing good but I opted for gravel which I'm regretting

All I have now is a filter
15 pounds of caribsea flora max substrate
Heater

Any stocking or planting suggestions?


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[Mattfinn]

Maybe an Indian sort of biotope tank. There are several nano fish for 10gals from that Asian region that are interesting as well as plants that are easy low maintenance.

 

[Heck09]

I'll have to look into those, I am definitely not used to a tank this small


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[Mattfinn]

You could also do a south East Asian biotope. That is probably the easiest

 

[Heck09]

What are some good plants to get started with for that


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[Mattfinn]

I suggest crypts in a ten gal. They have basic light demands and really only require root tabs. I use osmocote plus tabs. Look at various crypts out there. I'm about to set up a SE Asia biotope tank for a betta and use only crypts.

Other easy plants to keep are wisteria, anubias, Amazon swords(too big for a 10), Java moss, Java fern, elodea an hornwort.

 

[Heck09]

I was thinking about moving one of my smaller swords from my 30 and I have some Java fern trimmings so that's a plus though but I'll look at my lfs for the crypts


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[Coursair]

Crypts are awesome
Bacopa
Dwarf Chain Sword
http://youtu.be/aptmdICahvM


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[Heck09]

That's an awesome looking tank what is that on the right side and also is the dwarf chain sword what's at the bottom?


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[Coursair]

Front right dark green is my Crypt wendtii Mi Oya
Far right is one of my dwarf chain swords


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[Heck09]

Just got some plants in I have a question about these crypts though are their roots supposed to be fully buried or no? Here is a picture for reference
I have most of the roots under the substrate but not all

Any advice is very much appreciated as always


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[Mattfinn]

I try to get as many roots under as possible. If not it may just take a little longer to establish itself as crypts are heavy root feeders. Have you placed root tabs underneath? If not go to your nearest hardware/gardening store and look for osmocote aquatics and water plants slow release fertilizer. I got new shoots out of some melted crypts overnight from the osmocote. If you can't get the aquatic and water plants one the regular fruit an vege will be fine you just have to remove the blue solids which is a wetting agent and either fill gel capsules or you can put some in an ice tray crush them up abit and water and freeze them. (You just have to be quick with inserting them).

 

[Heck09]

So the nutrients in the substrate and flourish won't do, I guess it's off to home depot


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[Mattfinn]

So the nutrients in the substrate and flourish won't do, I guess it's off to home depot


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What substrate are you using?
Most substrates only provide enough nutrients for a month or two eventually they'll run out...from the little experience I've had with osmocote (literally started using it two weeks ago) it is so much easier and more beneficial then commercial made root tabs. Not saying they're bad just at my lfs I spend $20 for ten tabs...I bought a 500g bucket for under $10 of osmocote. Spending $20 every two months isn't worth it when the 500g bucket will last me a year or so. Even the commercially made (water plants and aquatics) osmocote root tabs is about $7.50 for 50 tabs. I'll let you do the math there.
Basically though you're going to have to provide root tabs sooner or later especially with crypts.

 

[Heck09]

Ok and it is caribsea flora max substrate but I'll look for those tabs at the hardware store


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[Coursair]

Ok and it is caribsea flora max substrate but I'll look for those tabs at the hardware store


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They won't sell root tabs that are aquarium safe AFAIK.
You can buy Osmocote to make your own or you can buy tabs online or DIY ones from another hobbyist.


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[Heck09]

Oh alright I'll look up how to make them online then


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[Mattfinn]

They won't sell root tabs that are aquarium safe AFAIK.
You can buy Osmocote to make your own or you can buy tabs online or DIY ones from another hobbyist.


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Osmocote have an aquarium safe product that you can throw straight in there.
The only real dangerous thing is the wetting agent which is easily removed.
Which is no in the above product

 

[Mattfinn]

Oh alright I'll look up how to make them online then


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I grind it up a bit and freeze them in water. That's the quickest method. Otherwise you can get gel caps and do it that way.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/showthread.php?t=308735

 

[joebro3333]

What substrate do you use for your tank? And is that drift wood?


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