New Tank

[Karegg]

Hey, everybody. It's been a while since I've posted. I got out of the groove without having a place to have a tank set up.

But, we're in a house now and just set up our first 10 gallon tropical tank. The cycle just finished the other day, so it's now stocked with four rummy nose tetras and a fire gourami.

I don't really feel like I have the time to keep up with a planted tank so for the time being, we're just using silk plants. I think the tank looks ok, but that's really all. It could use some more... something, to dress it up a bit, but I'm not sure. Any thoughts?

 

[neilanh]

A background and a piece of wood or rocks (either real or fake, your preference) I think would liven it up a bit.

 

[Lager]

I would add some more silk plants as well.

 

[Karegg]

I think a piece of driftwood would look pretty nice, but I've heard they can be a pain to prepare for adding to a tank.

The background is also a good idea. Would you go with a solid color (do you use construction paper or what?) or something more fancy?

 

[Sombunya]

Lighting is what really makes a tank, in my opinion.

My 20 has a small light in a box that sits on top of the glass cover. The 40 and 100 have a light in a box type fixture that hangs over the tanks. At night with all lights off the (except the tank lights) all tanks look great.

 

[Karegg]

I'm not exactly sure how I forgot a hood and a light, but that's a pretty solid idea.

Thanks for the suggestions, everybody. I think I'll get some more silk plants and definitely a light, but I'm not sure on the background still.

 

[jsoong]

You have lots of choices in background. Depending on your tastes, it can be solid color, some natural aquarium scene (say FW plants), or you can go whimsical & create you underwater wonderland.

With a school of small fish, I would personally go with a dark solid background. That & a light (bulb) colored towards the blue end <ie blue white, high K ratings, as opposed to reddish/yellowish light> would bring out the fish. I think small fish would get lost in a busy background. <OTOH, you could focus on some whimsical setup & emphasize that as the focal point ... with the fish being secondary .... Experiment & see what you like, this is the fun part!>

 

[jsoong]

I think a piece of driftwood would look pretty nice, but I've heard they can be a pain to prepare for adding to a tank.

Driftwood don't have to be difficult, if you get the dense self-sinking ones from the lfs ... or the fake ones!

 

[Karegg]

Sweet! Thanks for the suggestions. If I get around to that this weekend, I'll post new pics on Monday.

But, another question: Is it true that higher K ratings on bulbs result in more algae growth?

 

[bluerose]

As far as I know, algae is more from nutrient imbalance.... but excess light can propel it if situations are correct.