First 10 gallon planted tank

[Beeker]

The postings have been very helpful and I will be setting it up soon. So far I am planning on having 1 beta and then some Platies and Corys. How many will fit comfortably in a 10 gallon planted tank? For plants I am planning on anubias and java fern. My questions about the plants are how do I maintain the plants and nourish them? Are there any other ideas for plantlife and/or inhabitants? Preferably sturdy and easy to take care of. Any other help with secrets on how to set up the planted tank and what to expect chemically?

 

[Blinky]

I think you could comfortably house a betta, three corys and one or two platys. I'd go with male platys, since you really don't have room for the fry females will inevitably produce.
There's a sticky all about fertilization, hopefully that will help. If the tank is low-light and you're keeping slow-growing, undemanding plants, I'd start out with a basic trace element mix - the plants may get enough CO2, nitrogen and phosphate from the fish and not require supplementation.
I'm pretty new to plants, so maybe there are things I haven't discovered yet, but I don't think there are really any secrets - if you provide plants with an appropriate substrate / place to anchor, the nutrients they need, and enough light for their particular requirements, they'll do well. One thing I do think is very important is weekly 50% water changes - plants use up nutrients at different rates, and this helps to 're-zero' everything, preventing bulidup of some nutrients, and also replenishing those found in tap water.

 

[Beeker]

Sounds good

Is there a certain type of gravel or base that is preferable for the plants? How can you tell the males from the females? Any other suggestions? Ideas?
Is there any special info on taking care of the beta? Special types of rocks or gravel or ornaments?

 

[Harlock]

Well, how to put this. Females have a triangular shaped anal fin. Males have... umm, a hollow tubular type thing there instead. It looks rather like... well, a male part. HTH

 

[Blinky]

If you're creating a low-maintenance tank I don't think it's necessary to get a special substrate - especially if you're going to keep plants like Java fern that will be attached to wood/rocks and won't use the substrate at all. A layer of fine gravel or coarse sand with a sprinkling of peat underneath should keep most plants pretty happy.

If you want to go all-out, or you're thinking of keeping more demanding plants in the future, you could try Eco-Complete (haven't used it, but I've heard good things) or Flourite (this is what I use in my 65g and I really like it).

My biggest suggestion is read, read, read. I learned much of what I know from others on this forum (thanks guys ), and from hours of searching on Google.

 

[Beeker]

What should I expect or be aware of?

I catch little blurbs about nitrates, nitrites, and carbon. What should I expect or be aware of with a planted tank chemically?

 

[djlen]

I strongly suggest a clay based substrate such as the two that Blinky recommends. You may start with plants that can be attached to rocks/wood but down the road want to try your hand at 'in-substrate' plants. Flourite and Eco-complete are two of the best. I like Flourite.
When setting up the tank sprinkle a handful of ground(fine) peat moss over the bottom, lay in an inch of your substrate, and then, if you have access to another established aquarium, remove some of the mulm(gunk) that comes out of the filter pads when you clean them and siphon that stuff onto that 1". Then lay the rest of the substrate over that. Fill the tank slowly. Let it come up to 74° - 76° and sit over night with filter(s) running. If you add a few plants and a betta, the tank will 'cycle' through itself and you're off and running. The peat and mulm will speed up the maturing process.
You can start with a 15watt fluorescent tube for the plants you are looking at, and many stem plants will grow under that light also in a 10. I would suggest trying a few varieties of them as well. They also will help 'cycle' the tank for you.
In a few weeks you will be ready for another fish or two maybe a Cory(a pygmy is a good choice for your tank). Add fish very slowly as they produce elements that can become toxic to fish themselves until the plants establish themselves.
Regular weekly water changes also will help keeping your fish comfortable.
If you follow these guidelines the chemicals you speak of will become a non-issue. With just a few fish and growing plants, they will take care of the ammonia-nitrite-nitrate cycle.
Later you may or may not need to add nutrients for your plants, depending on what the fish supply and how the lighting you supply pushes them.
Lastly, don't over feed your fish. They can get by with a lot less than you think.

Len

 

[Beeker]

Wow!

Thank you so much, Len! That was exactly what I've been looking for. Anything else that comes to mind is welcome! So is anything that anyone else would like to add to that. Perfect!