The Journal of my 10g: 4/18/12 Onward
The Beginning
Having had aquaria at other times in my life, My 10 gallon tank began in 2012, coming up on two years now. A friend gave me a 10 gallon, and of all the pieces I bought at Petco, the one I remember most is the gravel, marked "Natural Gravel." It had pieces the size of kidney beans, and I just poured it right into the tank. Way too big.
When I was cycling it, the cycle stopped in the middle, and this guy on a board told me I could put in a lot of fast-grower stem plants and it would work fine. This method has been known as the "Silent Cycle." I bought plants at this great lfs in Quincy, MA called "Lovely Pets", and also bought six Pristella Tetras. I later bought another one to make it seven. Much later, I bought a blue female Betta and some Betta food - little round pellets. A couple of weeks later one of the Pristellas died, I think because of an intestinal blockage from a Betta pellet, but the rest of the Pristellas and the Betta are fine.
I have just completed a substrate swap from the gravel to Miracle Grow Organic Choice Potting Mix with a black sand cap. I promise to put a picture here in the journal ASAP. I can also add a picture from when I started the tank for reference. The pH went from 7.6 to 6.6, and nitrates are 0. I planted the last few plants and did a water change today. I've been thinking about doing this for weeks.
So, now for the good stuff:
Hardware:
10 gallon glass tank
No cover
2 10W CFL bulbs, 8-hour photoperiod
2 aluminum dome reflectors
Fluval U2 filter
Antique heater
Flora:
Not sure of the new stuff I bought except 2 Java Fern
3 unidentified Swords
2 unidentified Crypts
1 Water Sprite
Java Moss
Fauna:
6 Pristella Tetra
1 Betta Splendens (f)
Several Malaysian Trumpet Snail
About 6 small Ramshorn Snail
Millions of bacteria
This is the end of the first installment. Plase watch for the next one.
The Beginning
Having had aquaria at other times in my life, My 10 gallon tank began in 2012, coming up on two years now. A friend gave me a 10 gallon, and of all the pieces I bought at Petco, the one I remember most is the gravel, marked "Natural Gravel." It had pieces the size of kidney beans, and I just poured it right into the tank. Way too big.
When I was cycling it, the cycle stopped in the middle, and this guy on a board told me I could put in a lot of fast-grower stem plants and it would work fine. This method has been known as the "Silent Cycle." I bought plants at this great lfs in Quincy, MA called "Lovely Pets", and also bought six Pristella Tetras. I later bought another one to make it seven. Much later, I bought a blue female Betta and some Betta food - little round pellets. A couple of weeks later one of the Pristellas died, I think because of an intestinal blockage from a Betta pellet, but the rest of the Pristellas and the Betta are fine.
I have just completed a substrate swap from the gravel to Miracle Grow Organic Choice Potting Mix with a black sand cap. I promise to put a picture here in the journal ASAP. I can also add a picture from when I started the tank for reference. The pH went from 7.6 to 6.6, and nitrates are 0. I planted the last few plants and did a water change today. I've been thinking about doing this for weeks.
So, now for the good stuff:
Hardware:
10 gallon glass tank
No cover
2 10W CFL bulbs, 8-hour photoperiod
2 aluminum dome reflectors
Fluval U2 filter
Antique heater
Flora:
Not sure of the new stuff I bought except 2 Java Fern
3 unidentified Swords
2 unidentified Crypts
1 Water Sprite
Java Moss
Fauna:
6 Pristella Tetra
1 Betta Splendens (f)
Several Malaysian Trumpet Snail
About 6 small Ramshorn Snail
Millions of bacteria
This is the end of the first installment. Plase watch for the next one.