Starting a 10 gallon planted

[Sahabo]

Wow! Thanks John Paul! That was really helpful info about the plant growth! I've definitely considered manzanita. But since I have black gravel, I was thinking about some darker driftwood. On the other hand, maybe the light manzanita would make a nice contrast.

 

[SpeedEuphoria]

I just thought I would add, in my 10G I have about the same amount of reg gravel. Things grow just fine.

I'm just leery of using root tabs in such shallow gravel. Just b/c it would be just like letting them dissolve in the tank.

I have some mulm built up since its been running since March(started with goldfish, and they are dirty) and does mine good.

 

[Sahabo]

Thanks I'm still debating...either add more gravel and root tabs, or leave things as they are. In the meantime I'm obsessing about my hardscape possibilities

 

[Sahabo]

Plant Ideas

10 Gallon
30 watts compact fluorescent
2 inches fine gravel
root tabs where needed

Alright, here is a list of plants I think might be good for my tank. These are just ideas, not all of them will go in.

I've grouped them by possible tank placement

Foreground:

Anubias barteri var nana
Anubias barteri var nana petite
Dwarf Clover (Marsilea Minuta)
Pygmy Chain Sword (Echinodorus tenellus)
Dwarf Sagittaria

Midground:

Anubias barteri v. barteri
Anubias barteri v. marble
Cryptocoryne x willisii (Cryptocoryne x willisii 'lucens')
Philippine Java Fern
Primrose (Ludwigia repens)
Lace Java Fern

Background:

H. Micranthemoides
Corkscrew Vals
Echinodorus 'vesuvius' (Echinodorus Angustifolia)
Hygrophila polysperma
Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides)
Water Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis)

Some Taiwan, java and/or peacock moss here and there


What do you think??

 

[Purrbox]

The Anubias barteri are probably going to be too large for your aquarium. I'd cross those off your list and move the Anubia barteri v. nana to the midground.

Hemianthus micranthemoides would be more of a foreground or midground plant. It's also going to be more iffy with the amount of lighting you'll be providing. Worth a try but don't be surprised if it doesn't make it.

Hygrophila difformis is such a weed that I would not recommend keeping it long term in a 10 gallon, although it would be good for getting the aquarium established.

I look forward to seeing the scape.

 

[Sahabo]

THANKS, Joy!! You are such a help!

 

[Sahabo]

What if I used two of these bulbs instead?

Coralife 20W Mini Compact Fluorescent - Colormax

That would bring me to 40 watts. Would I need to do ferts and CO2 or could I stay low tech?

 

[SpeedEuphoria]

I've been looking at those bulbs as they are the only ones like it. I was at the hardware store today and Feit had some but they were 7watts.

On those lights I would think you are pushing the limits of no CO2. Ferts would be needed unless your tank is fully stocked and has been for a couple months IMO.

I went from the stock 15w tube and it was fine, then to 2x20w spirals and my nitrates droped to 0. I had some RCS and 9 Endlers in there so I dont think it was fully stocked. Also any water changes you do is going to drop the nitrates.

If they had those bulbs in 15w I would say thats the limit, but the 10w bulbs are prob comparable to ~stock 15w and ~2x 13w spirals which are all OK IMO for no ferts/no CO2. This stuff is hard to quantify and everyones setup(tank load is different). Those bulbs are T10 AFAIK so they are better than spirals.

Personally I think the 2xGE 15w is the best way to start and should be fine w/o CO2 or ferts, then when your fully stocked try the 20w bulbs and if your nitrates dont drop you should be fine

 

[Sahabo]

yeah, that's what I thought. Sometimes I am torn between wanting to stay low tech ($$$) and wanting to see those pretty medium-high light plants in my tank

 

[FishEggs]

i had to go with medium light for the plant variety.

 

[Sahabo]

So I've been looking around at a variety of aquascapes to get some ideas. I really like this one: ¯«¯µªºªá¶é Secret Garden -- fotop.net photo sharing network

It won first prize in the 2005 ADA contest. I know that I would have to make plant substitutes because of my low lighting, and I know that it's pretty ambitious for my first time... but I'm not looking to copy it exactly. I just like the general layout, the grassy lane, driftwood and rock placement, etc.

What do you think?

 

[JohnPaul]

That's definitely nice looking. Seems like a lot of work to me though!

 

[Sahabo]

true that. but that's a plus for me at the moment. i need something to throw myself into for the time being, a big project of sorts.

think I can get Dwarf Sag to look like that grass?

 

[Purrbox]

Dwarf Sag will look more like Vals in a 10 gallon. You'll want to find Eleocharis parvulus (the shorter of the two Dwarf Hairgrass varieties).

 

[Sahabo]

thanks Joy. Do you think there's any hope of it growing well in my low-medium light with no CO2?

 

[Purrbox]

Probably not, unfortunately. Unless you're willing to bump the light, you're going to have a hard time achieving that look in a 10 gallon.

 

[Sahabo]

Bummer. Well, perhaps a nice moss carpet would be the best. Back to the drawing board!

 

[Sahabo]

I finally got some nice driftwood...I think I like this arrangement. What do you think??

Excuse the cloudy water. The tank still cycling, currently in the midst of nitrite spike.

Pics with and without flash.

 

[JohnPaul]

That's an *awesome* piece of driftwood! I love it!

 

[Sahabo]

thanks it's actually two pieces. the 's' shaped one is resting in a fork of the branchy one.