Low-Tech 10g Planted Build

[Aquarium1]

So, since I can't do a reef with my 10g, I've decided to do a planted tank. Today I picked up some pfs at Walmart, washed it out and added it, along with a few rocks. I might fill it up tonight just so I can start cycling. I hope to get some dw and a heater before its done and hopefully some plants. I have an incandescent fixture with 2x10w Tubular Full Spectrum CFLs (which soon I might replace with 15w 6500K spirals but I think I'll let these bulbs finish their job first. Right now it has a Walmart filter, but sometime, if I get the money, I hope to upgrade to an AC 20.

The pfs I got today seems a little finer than the pfs in my mbuna tank. I think it will be ok, but I might get some MTS for it just as a precaution. I stacked it almost 3" in the back and about 2" towards the front.

Here are some pictures of my progress so far:








btw. I have taken out the two slate rocks that stacked on each other since the pictures were taken cause I didn't really feel like they went with the others.

So what do you all think?
I'll keep you updated .

[Aquarium1]

Ok so I'm wondering, if I do PWCs and Top off with RO water (I'm pretty sure it isn't DI) would I have to use prime or another similar dechlorinator? I looked on the filter and it said "Reduces Sediment and Chlorine Taste & Odor". I didn't say that it eliminated chlorine. It is a Whirlpool Wher25 unit in case thats necessary information and uses Whirlpool filters.

[ilostnemo]

taggin along

[corrado33]

There will be no chlorine in it, as chlorine RUINS the membrane in the system.

I use RO/DI and I don't add any dechlorinator.

RO water isn't PERFECTLY pure, but I'm not sure what is left, I don't think any of what's left will require a dechlorinator.

You might want to try to get the water before it hits the big tub thing I see in the picture when I google it, as I THINK that thing adds something to the water to make it taste better, but I MAY be wrong. EDIT: I'm wrong, it's just a storage tank.

[Aquarium1]

well I'm not sure how to get water before that, but I'll take a look at it to see if it adds anything.

[corrado33]

It's just a storage tank... My mistake You'll be fine getting it after the tank.

[Aquarium1]

ok, cool. Thanks

[logansmomma1228]

Originally Posted by ilostnemo

taggin along

+1

[Aquarium1]

Thanks to all those tagging along (mind sharing some popcorn? lol)

[logansmomma1228]

lol

[Aquarium1]

nom nom nom lol thanks. So I'm probably going to fill the tank tomorrow, since its kinda late now. I'll keep you guys updated.

[Aquarium1]

So for starting out I was thinking about stocking with these plants:
4 Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green
3 Cryptocoryne Wendtii Red
1 Anubias Barteri Var. Nana
1 Java Fern Windelov (Microsorium Pteropus "Windelov")
3 Ludwigia Natans (Ludwigia Repens)

So what do you think? More or less of any of them?

[ilostnemo]

sounds good to me

[CA_BroncoFan]

Good start wayne, im tagging along!!

[Aquarium1]

Yay! good. So anyone have any suggestions for a groundcover? I'd love to have one lol .

[logansmomma1228]

I would love to suggest something but I have no idea what you are talking about lol. You mean like a carpet plant? There are lots of things you can do with java moss and mesh... I love anubias too and thanks for that site I will be ordering from there also when I get plants.

[Aquarium1]

np. Yeah, that's what I mean, a carpet plant, one that covers most of the space unused by the taller plants. I've never really seen anubias as a carpet plant, most of them might even get to big for my tank excluding the nana and nana 'petite' (although the petite isn't cheap lol).

[logansmomma1228]

I didnt mean anubias as a carpet plant, I just really like them That would be awesome though! I think marimo balls might be able to be made into carppet plants...

edit: this is really cool: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/my...a_ruralis.html xmas moss is cool too, not sure if they are the same or not.

edit again: nevermind they are saying it isnt a true aquatic moss. but there should be something on here: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/my...rns_Mosses/0/9

[Aquarium1]

I read some of the comments and that moss isn't completely aquatic. I might get some christmas moss, if budget allows lol, but I'm not 100% sure how that would work out as a carpet plant. I'll have to google christmas moss carpet I guess lol. Thanks tho . Are there any species of anubias anyone could recommend for my size tank other than Nana and Nana Petite?

[Aquarium1]

Ok, so I've done a litlle a research and it seems that moss isn't the easiest carpet plant, since I don't really want to use any mesh to try to hold it to the substrate. Maybe I could use Marsilea or Hairgrass. What do you all think?