Planting a 10 gallon tank

[codeoverride]

I am setting up a 10 gallon tank and although I have already purchased some artificial plants, I really love the grassy looking plants that I've been seeing on photos.

I have a fluorescent light for the tank and it is currently cycling (one week) with fish - I didn't know it was bad for them but they seem to be doing okay so far..

This is what my tank looks like right now. I wanted to remove that fake breeding grass and add a real grassy carpet bottom to it. Would that be possible and how would I go about setting it up?

I really like the LILAEOPSIS BRASILIENSIS but my fluorescent bulb is only 17" and I couldn't find out the watts so I hear it might not work out :(

I was also thinking about java moss but I'm afraid it won't attach to my rocks at the bottom. I'm also wondering if fish would eat it or cause it to float up. I'd like to get 2 clown loaches and a dwarf gourami.

Another plant I just started looking at is riccia but I don't know anything about it yet. Do you guys have any other recommendations for the grassy carpet look?

Thanks!!!

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/6573/01an6.jpg

[twig]

Microsword need as close to 3 wpg as you can get ...

[codeoverride]

I was also wondering about glosso..
How do I find out how many watts per gallon I have?

[RISK2123]

divide total wattage by total gallons of ur tank.


ie. 80 watts over a 20 gallon = 80 / 20 = 4 watts per gallon (wpg)

[twig]

I've never had Glosso but I hear it needs _A LOT_ of light and co2 to thrive and given those circumstances it can take over a tank quite easily.

Carpet plants are generally high light demanding ...

I was recently recommended, by a friend who is nothing short of a plant guru, some Aquarium Clover as a foreground plant for smaller aquariums (microsword is all I have now) and I cant wait to get some =)

http://www.floridadriftwood.com/aquariumplants_marsilea_quadrifolia.html

Marsilea minuta is the one i'm interested in ...

as for your light? It should say on the box yoru aquarium came in. My bulbs all say what kind of wattage they are so maybe you just have to take the bulb out and look?

[RISK2123]

with the watts you most likely have the only thing you could grow would be java moss. get some flat slate, or just a flat rock and tie the moss to the rock with some black cotton thread. the moss will eventually cover the slate/rock and spread over your substrate. the black thread will rot away (not harmful to ur fish) so u dont have to worry about talking it back out and taking something off (some peopel use rubberbands or fishing line also, but black thread is my favorite)

[codeoverride]

Okay, it seems like the java moss will be my best bet for that grassy looking bottom. I found this article about planting and I was thinking of using a wire mesh like that to plant my java moss.

Article: http://www.petfrd.com/forum/articles.php?action=viewarticle&artid=8

How many hours of light does it need daily?

Thanks :)

[phanmc]

You'll want to leave the light on for 8hrs a day.

I suggest you replace some of those plastic stem plants with hornwort and/or anacharis. Both of those plants are hardy low light plants that are fantastic nutrient sponges, they'll help control algae.

[Marinemom]

I like the idea about the java moss but I think you will have to rethink your fish selection. Clown loaches get way to big for a ten gallon. They need a much larger aquarium. May I suggest a coupe of yo-yo loaches instead. They stay a lot smaller and are more appropriate for a tank your size.

Marinemom

[phanmc]

Overlooked your fish options, pretty much all loaches gets too big for a 10g tank. Even the yoyo loaches will grow 5+ inches given good conditions. If you want a bottom dweller I'd recommend a small group of panda or pygmy cories instead.

[H3D]

I like the idea about the java moss but I think you will have to rethink your fish selection. Clown loaches get way to big for a ten gallon. They need a much larger aquarium. May I suggest a coupe of yo-yo loaches instead. They stay a lot smaller and are more appropriate for a tank your size.

Marinemom

Yoyos get too big (4"+) to be kept in a 10 gallon.

[codeoverride]

Oh, that really sucks
I had 2 clown loaches in this tank before and they lasted 3 years and seemed very happy.
I guess I'll look for something else this time around.

[H3D]

Oh, that really sucks
I had 2 clown loaches in this tank before and they lasted 3 years and seemed very happy.
I guess I'll look for something else this time around.

If well taken care of clown loaches can live over 25 years and reach lengths of 10 to 16 inches.

[codeoverride]

That's crazy! I love those little guys. I'll try to get a bigger tank in the future.

So what do you guys recommend? I like colorful fish but the cichlids that I had in the past would dig up my gravel :(

I do like the dwarf gourami..
Is there a shrimp or lobster type fish that I could get for the bottom?

[phanmc]

red cherry shrimps would be good for a 10g tank but I'm not sure they'll be compatible with dwarf gouramis, I know bettas will pick them apart because they're only an inch big. Amano shrimps are a bigger alternative that doesn't get picked on by bettas and dwarf cichlids but they're not as colorful.

There are some dwarf cichlids that will not dig up the gravel, like german blue rams and most apistos. They're not as aggressive as other cichlids either, though only 1 male for a 10g tank.

Not too many other choices for a 10g tank. You got fancy guppies, platies, neons and cardinal tetras, some of the new rasbora species if you're into colorful fishes.