10 gallon questions

aquarium1

aquarium1

AC Members
Jun 19, 2009
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Central Kentucky
Right now I have a 10g that is a QT tank. However, hopefully lol, in a few weeks I plan on tearing it down and starting a planted tank (if I don't change my mind by then :duh:). So I have a few questions...
I need to find a light (it doesn't have one right now, because the one it came with stopped working) however so far this has been a pretty difficult task because its hard to find a 20" fixture other than NO Flourescent (which I might just have to go with). However I did find this: http://www.amazon.com/Aqualight-Pow...3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1265912553&sr=8-3 What do you think? Any other suggestions?

Btw, I'm thinking about going with med. light plants. I was wondering if it'd be worth it to do a DIY CO2 set up or if I should just use ferts? What different fertilizers should I look into?

For substrate, right now, I just have some pfs in there, but if I start it up as a planted tank I was thinking just covering it with Flourite.

For now, those are the main things running through my mind, but I might have some more ?s later. Any help is appreciated, Thanks :)
 
check out my "10g low tech" thread. it started in a similar fashion- was going to be a breeding tank. i am using the light that came with it. just be smart with your substrate and hardscape and you can make them look pretty nice. I dont use any co2 in mine and only put a little excel in every once in a while...
 
That light is rather excessive for the tank size IMO.

I'd go with this hood:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Culture-Aquarium-Hood-Incandescent-10-Gallon-Pets/10311306

And use these CFLs (I don't remember exactly which bulbs I used but they were like these):
http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-F...ation?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

As for CO2, it's really up to you. I think that DIY is a hassle and the fluctuations it causes can lead to some ugly BBA outbreaks, but it can just as easily be a blessing. As for fertilizers, I would go the dry fert route and save money by buying from www.aquariumfertilizer.com

You would want to get

KNO3 (potassium and nitrate)
KH2PO4 (potassium and phosphate)
K2SO4 (additional potassium - optional)
CSM+ B Plantex (micros)

A mix of excel and flourish comp. could work also. Just depends on what you want out of the tank and which plants you're going to try.

I wouldn't go with flourite personally. I'm using some right now and it really hasn't made a noticeable difference IMO. I've heard eco complete works well if you're going for a specialty substrate but plain ol' sand or gravel wouldn't hurt.
 
jpappy789 said:
That light is rather excessive for the tank size IMO.

I'd go with this hood:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Culture-Aquarium-Hood-Incandescent-10-Gallon-Pets/10311306

And use these CFLs (I don't remember exactly which bulbs I used but they were like these):
http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-F...ation?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

As for CO2, it's really up to you. I think that DIY is a hassle and the fluctuations it causes can lead to some ugly BBA outbreaks, but it can just as easily be a blessing. As for fertilizers, I would go the dry fert route and save money by buying from www.aquariumfertilizer.com

You would want to get

KNO3 (potassium and nitrate)
KH2PO4 (potassium and phosphate)
K2SO4 (additional potassium - optional)
CSM+ B Plantex (micros)

A mix of excel and flourish comp. could work also. Just depends on what you want out of the tank and which plants you're going to try.

I wouldn't go with flourite personally. I'm using some right now and it really hasn't made a noticeable difference IMO. I've heard eco complete works well if you're going for a specialty substrate but plain ol' sand or gravel wouldn't hurt.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much. I have that fixture on my other 10g, do you have to do any mods to make those bulbs fit? cause it doesn't seem like much room under the protectors. Also, is there any way to modify the reflectors to make them a bit brighter or is that unnecessary? lol
 
I wish I knew exactly which bulbs I used because I'm pretty sure they fit...but I want to say you can remove the guards if you need to. Other than that they just screw right in. I'm sure someone else will chime in as this is an idea I picked up from other members here.
 
Ok thanks. Btw with those ferts you listed, what would be a good dosing regimen?
 
aquarium1 said:
Thanks so much. I have that fixture on my other 10g, do you have to do any mods to make those bulbs fit? cause it doesn't seem like much room under the protectors. Also, is there any way to modify the reflectors to make them a bit brighter or is that unnecessary? lol
Click to expand...

My Walmart sells fluorescent bulbs that fit in this light fixture right next to where it sells the light fixture. It's about dollars a piece. I'm using 4 of them for my 2 10g tanks. I would say they work pretty well for the java fern, moss, etc.. except my dwarf sags are kinda dying off one leaf at a time.
 
The ones I saw by them in my Walmart were only like 10w, which I kinda want a little more than that. For fish I have three that I really like right now, Harlequins, Cardinals, and Endlers. Also I was thinking maybe having some shrimp in the tank too, if that would work.
 
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