New 10G tank planted and running
- Thread starter oscaremmy
- Start date
The plants were as shown when I bought them - this tank is only about 10 days old. I used to have some success with Amazon swords, so bought that for old time's sake. I bought the grasses as a batch of 6 but it turned out some were banded together and I actually received 9 plants of grass. I am no plant expert! Don't ask me the name of any of these things! I am using a single 17w tube for lighting, which represents quite low light levels - less than 2w per gallon. It is in a darkish corner of the living room, with no direct sunlight. I don't want algae issues and can only tend the tank at weekends, so rapid growth would be a problem caused by high light levels and excessive feeding. Fertilizer is API Pro Series Leaf Zone - used initially at 5ml per 10 gals. It is a 3.0% soluble potash (K2O) and 0.1% chelated iron solution. It was also one of the cheapest (per ml) ferts in the store - why not start with that? Hoping that fish waste makes up the main fert, sooner rather than later.
In theory, denser planting should be able to increase fish capacity (see http://www.barrreport.com/fish-planted-tanks/2925-ei-high-fish-loads.html) provided good housekeeping is practised, with regular water changes (as usual). I want to try to make the plants take up the fish wastes to a large extent and keep maybe 14-16 small shoaling fish (in due course), which is a lot for a 10 gal setup. I'll add groups of fish only if all goes well and the plants establish. I'll add more low growing plants also, to form a softer look and take up more waste.
As I say, this is an experimental tank, so it honestly might look crap in 2 weeks and the danios might need emergency intervention (I hope not). Right now it looks okay, but very much like a moderately planted brand new tank, but of course I hope it will mature nicely. Either way, I'll report and photograph what happens.
I am a newby to planted setups, and I have a huge amount to learn, for sure, but I really care about living things so I will do my very best not to lose plants and fish on the road to gaining a better understanding! As I say, I am inspired by sites like this and also by what I have seen on Tom Barr's excellent specialist planted tank site. Cheers all!
Here's an interesting piece on planting benefits:
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=391
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=391
It is true, I am sure, that UG systems are not ideal for raising all plants, but some plants are of a type that take nutrients from the water, rather than through the roots via the soil/substrate. If you have the right kind of plants, they will do fine in an UG system. Plants that depend on deep roots may certainly struggle. This is 15 days after planting. The hornworts are putting out a lot of 'aerial' roots. I have just added 2 pepper corys to the 6 zebra danios and have also added more live plants. I have taken the Mondo grass out entirely. I will add more plants next week. Ammonia is still not registering on the test scale. I have not yet made a water change, but will change maybe 25% this weekend.
My wife wanted the tuna 'no fishing' ornament - don't blame me!:grinyes:
My wife wanted the tuna 'no fishing' ornament - don't blame me!:grinyes:
irishspy
There is a stargate in my aquarium.
Your situation is similar to mine: I've come back to aquarium keeping after more than 20 years away, and the 10g in my .sig is my way to "get my feet wet" again, before setting up a larger tank. In fact, I'm off to buy some plants today. :headbang2:
I think you've done a great job so far, and I'll look forward to seeing how it develops. :clap:
Thanks, good luck to you too Irishspy! I added two pepper corys today and did a 33% water change, even though there were no bothersome elevated levels - just to give the inhabitants some 'growing room.' All seems hunky dory so far...
Also bought some compact fluorescents for my tank at work...GE 13w CF (60w equivalent 825 lumens) to see how they influence plant/algae activity. I used flourite in the 10g tank at work...pics to follow.Broke my heart to see so many injured/dead fish in WalMart yesterday and today. Dead/dying bettas, tiny bronze corys with no tails left, in tanks filled with still nipping platys...:mad2: I spoke to a worker - she moved the corys into a tank of small neons, but today they were gone...:mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2: I get tempted to buy them just to SAVE them from this slow, painful death Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
irishspy
There is a stargate in my aquarium.
I'm using two 14w mini-CFLs in an incandescent hood. We'll see how things go. :lipssealedsmilie:
I used 2-3" of fine gravel plus laterite in the lower third.
Oh, this ticks me off. :angryfire: It wouldn't cost these major chains a thing to put the bettas in 1qt bowls and change their water daily. That's what my preferred LFS does, and their bettas are healthy, active, and displaying against each other -- unlike the pathetic specimens seen in Wal-Mart, Petco, and PetSmart. (And too many run-of-the-mill LFSs.) Like you, I sometimes want to buy them just to effect a rescue.
(Fairness department: My local Petcos put a single betta in each of their planted tanks, in which he can roam to his heart's content. But most remain in those pint-sized cups.
)Added a C02 system today - a Nutrafin Natural Plant System. Installed it tonight, 11th March. Will take weekly photos to show any effect. First C02 bubbles will start shortly, as I can see gas tube filling. This system uses ordinary sugar, an activator and a stabilizer in a small sachet to generate C02. The LFS in my university town (where I spend 3.5 days each week) has a lovely planted tank using this system and a mainly flourite substrate. My plants are doing pretty well already, but I think 'before' and 'after' pics will be useful for me and for other considering using this system. I'll take my first pics tomorrow, 12th. Mainly, I will take images at week-ends, at weekly intervals, and post a similar view for direct comparison. Still not sure the UGF will be feasible for the welfare of the plants. So far, the danios and corys are thriving and growing pretty fast. I gave them some frozen bloodworm tonight for the first time - I have been giving the corys shrimp pellets and the danios mainly flake food, although they are avid eaters of the shrimp and also enjoyed the bloodworm! I do my best to make sure the corys get some food before the danios scoff it all! Ammonia levels are still not registering at all. The significant plant growth rate leads me to believe that they are doing a lot of work cleaning the water of fish waste. I will have to start trimming some plants back this weekend.
