newbie planted tank

[wigglejaggles]

hey now all,

no fish in there yet, but I just placed plants in today. I am wondering if you guys could help me out so that i can keep my plants healthy.

Tank details:
10 gallon 20Lx10Wx12H
all glass deluxe compact flourescant hood
18 inch 15watt flourescant tube
Onyx sand by seachem 15pound bag
PH 7.4
KH 71.6ppm
GH 107.4ppm

Aquaclear 200 filter
Ebo 50 watt heater kept at steady 77degrees

ok...with that said, I bought three java ferns about 5 inches high with three to four leaves on each. Placed them gently into the onyx sand just to keep them still till my driftwood arrives. I bought some crypt wendtii. placed in middle to back of tank spaced out small clumps about inch to two apart. One small banana plant foreground right corner, and now i know i made a booboo here...I bought a sword plant, and I think its the kind that is gonna get HUGE. But its in the far back right corner.

Ok so they all look green and healthy and i want them to stay that way. Is there anything i need to know?
I am wondering...should I buy liquid fertilizer? or fertilizer pellots? will the onyx sand be enough to feed the plants?

Are my readings ok for the hagen co2 system?

If anyone would be so kind to offer some insight I woul dbe grateful!

Thanks so much!

take care,
Jared

[Wingman]

you're doing alright. I'm not sure about the readings for CO2, but you may want to check your lighting. If you're seriously going to try this with some exotic plants, you need about 2 watts per gallon and a full-spectrum bulb. The latter is more important if money is an issue.

A timer for your lights is CRUCIAL. One from the local grocery or hardware store will do.

[djlen]

Fertilization for the tank you describe can be easily done with the SeaChem line of fertilizers. They are more costly than the raw stuff many of us use, but for a 10, in a moderately lit tank, they will serve the purpose.
Give your plants a week or two to acclimate themselves and then pick up some Flourish Potassium, and REGULAR Flourish(not Flourish Trace). They also make, I think, a Flourish for nitrogen and Flourish Excel for a carbon source, but if you're going to inject CO2 you won't need that. Many people report good results with the Excel in small tanks and leave the CO2 out of the equation.
Starting out, I would go with these products at 1/2 strength and see how the plants respond.
At a watt and a half per gallon and with the low light plants you've got, you should be ok. That is if the Sword doesn't take over the tank. They have a tendency to get very large.
Cryptocoryne tends to grow slowly and pretty low, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Java eventually hides them. I would consider planting them more towards the front. Try not to move them once planted. They like stability.

Len

[wigglejaggles]

Thanks Len!

I really appreciate the informative feedback. That is exactly what I was looking for. thanks!!!
Now about moving the plants. They have been in the tankf or just about 24 hours.

Is it ok if I move them around tomorrow? A big als package is arriving tomorrow with two pieces of driftwood and a pagoda stone for decoration.
I figure I will aquascape the tank tomorrow. I sure hope the crypts will be ok.
Last night I planted them and then I moved two of them about an hour later because I thought it just wasnt right. I was so excited to have live plants in there I kept thinking they may just look better somewher else in the tank.
The crypts I planted in the middle because in the encyclopedia of aquarium plants by Hisock published by Barrons he said the wendtii was a background plant that grows very large, but then I see in many other pictures its always in the front.
I thought it would look best int he front too so thats where I will put them.
Ok so I guess my question is. They will be ok if I move them once more right? haha

thanks again very much!

take care,
Jared

[djlen]

Yes, give it some thought and then put them where they will stay for a while. Without question, my favorite plant, but very temperamental in my experience. I've had two of the same species in a tank......one would take off, one would melt and then come back a month later. Also, they will grow differently for no apparent reason. One upright, one flat as a stone. Each seems to be unique in habit. Once you get your tank balanced you can add extra Fe(iron) and you won't believe the color(red) Wendtii will develop on the underside.
Go easy with the ferts to start because until the plants start to grow well, extra nutrients will only feed algae. You don't have a lot of stems and nutrient hogs(I would consider some) in that tank, so easy on feeding(plants and fish) for a while.
I would consider an Otocinclas or two(very small algae eaters, very industrious) and a couple of dwarf Cory. cats for your cleanup crew. I
If your tank is brand new, just a couple of fish to let it cycle and build a nutrification system. Otherwise they will produce more ammonia than your plant load can handle. If you have access to a healthy, established tank, take a sponge or some mulm from it and put it into your filter. It will be loaded with good bacteria that will kick off your biofilter.
Good luck.

Len

[wigglejaggles]

Hey Now Len,

I have biospira ready and waiting in my fridge ;-)

I am waiting till christmas break next to put fish in. I figured why put fish in and get the tank going fully a week before I have to move it home for a month. So, the otos sound great and I was already planning on three corys and 6 neon tetras.
what type of plant do you suggest that will hog up alot of nutrients quickly so algae cannot get to them?
I would love to know I have a plant or two like that in the tank. I will def go easy on the nutrients and food for the fish to start. This is my first tank as you can tell, but I have been researching for a good long while and I know I will have a very rewarding tank. I already love it and thats without fish! The onyx sand is beautiful and I have a solid black background. With the flourescant light and the plants it looks so smooth!!

Ok I will also do alittle more research on some low light plants that eat up alot of nutrients.
How many plants do you think I should keep in there at first? Adding too many plants to a brand new tank might be a bad thing huh?
take care,
Jared

[djlen]

Actually a few stems would be a great addition. New tanks are prone to algae issues until they start to mature.
Generally speaking, the more light, the more the need for plants, but you're in a relatively low light situation, so a few of them in addition to what you have would help a lot.
Look around.....see what you like and pick up a few.

Len

[wigglejaggles]

Hey Now Len,

Ok I think I might be confused but did you say to actually pick up stems...like plain old stems without leaves?
or Is that just another way of saying picking up a few more plants.

I really appreciate you helping me out Len. I am really excited about these plants, I can't believe how nice it looks!

take care,
Jared

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Sorry to inturrupt here boys, :p, but i just have a quick to-do about the crypts. When i bought mine they were growing nicely along the gravel at the pet store. But when they started to grow in my tank they grew upright! I think its cus the lack of light.... but aside from that... they are at the front of my tank and even though they are med-sized plants, they are 'thin' so being at the font isnt too bad i dont think. I started out with two and now i have six plants. They grow like weeds :D
I move mine around a lot when they get too big and such... and they are never bothered by it. They like space too... away from rocks and ornaments.... so they can send up runners in areas where the little plants will get lots of light.
good luck!
:)

[djlen]

Jared -
I meant stem plants:laugh: .
Sometimes, we oldies get carried away and forget that some of the newbies take us literally. Sorry about that.

Krib person -
I've got some of the weirdest Cryptocoryne you've ever seen in your life. I think light or lack of it does play a large role in their habit, but when you plant two of the same variety within inches of one another and one grows upright and is dark green and upright and the other is dark brown and almost flat, you've got to wonder. :p

Len

[wigglejaggles]

Hey guys,

len- right on! Thanks for the clarification. We had some freak snow this afternoon and folks around here aren't used to snow so everything was alittle chaotic so I thought best to not go to the lfs to get more plants. But...tomorrow I shall and I am pumped. I will get some "stems" ;-)

Kribs- thanks for the encouraging words...I really do think the crypt wendtii is my fav!

take care,
Jared