BarleyBear
Aquarium Advice Activist
Have a Fluval Edge 12 Gallon using the "bright white" 42 LED light system that came with the tank. I have my lights set on a timer for 14 hours. I've had the tank going for two months. My ammonia and nitrites are 0, and my nitrates are at 20. My Ph is 6.5. I have a small gravel substrate. I just started using Nutrafin Plant Gro. My tank is home to a betta, cardinal tetras, corries, a pleco, snails, and shrimp.
My plants are the following:
Amazon sword
Aponogeton
Water wisteria
Crypt
Cabomba
Dwarf hair grass
Marimo moss balls
Java moss
The swords have been in a while and are growing and producing shoots with baby plants. However, I just pruned away several leaves that we're spotty, brown tinged, or turning yellow. The younger ones left look green and healthy. Was the plant adjusting to a new environment, maybe?
The moss balls have been in since day one and still look fantastic.
I had to remove one of the aponogetons and cut the other one back to the bulb because it took over the tank.
The wisteria has been growing very well, and I just planted some cuttings.
The hair grass has remained healthy looking but isn't spreading. I broke the clump up and planted it in several patches.
The java moss looks okay.
The cabomba and crypts are brand new.
I'm looking mainly for advice on how many hours I should have my timer set. Worried that the swords aren't doing their best because of too much light. Also, what's a good temperature for the plants I have? I currently keep the temp at 78 for my betta, but he can tolerate a little higher if I need to. I also want to make sure the new crypts and cabomba get what they need. I've read some posts on crypts that stressed they do better in tanks at least 6 months old.
Any other advice will be helpful as well. I don't know anything about Co2--how to set it up or anything. Honestly, if it's too costly, complicated, or looks ugly in my tank, I wouldn't be interested in doing that, anyway. I plan to read the articles on it soon, though, and see if it's a doable option for me.
Thanks in advance!
My plants are the following:
Amazon sword
Aponogeton
Water wisteria
Crypt
Cabomba
Dwarf hair grass
Marimo moss balls
Java moss
The swords have been in a while and are growing and producing shoots with baby plants. However, I just pruned away several leaves that we're spotty, brown tinged, or turning yellow. The younger ones left look green and healthy. Was the plant adjusting to a new environment, maybe?
The moss balls have been in since day one and still look fantastic.
I had to remove one of the aponogetons and cut the other one back to the bulb because it took over the tank.
The wisteria has been growing very well, and I just planted some cuttings.
The hair grass has remained healthy looking but isn't spreading. I broke the clump up and planted it in several patches.
The java moss looks okay.
The cabomba and crypts are brand new.
I'm looking mainly for advice on how many hours I should have my timer set. Worried that the swords aren't doing their best because of too much light. Also, what's a good temperature for the plants I have? I currently keep the temp at 78 for my betta, but he can tolerate a little higher if I need to. I also want to make sure the new crypts and cabomba get what they need. I've read some posts on crypts that stressed they do better in tanks at least 6 months old.
Any other advice will be helpful as well. I don't know anything about Co2--how to set it up or anything. Honestly, if it's too costly, complicated, or looks ugly in my tank, I wouldn't be interested in doing that, anyway. I plan to read the articles on it soon, though, and see if it's a doable option for me.
Thanks in advance!