hello, i was wondering if you guys couldtell me how to set upa planted tank and still have fish in it..i have a 10 g. right now with 1x angel,3x corys,1x bumblebee goby,1xhore faced loach. 1x albino rainbow shark,1x pleco.. imnew to this sotell me EVERYTHING!!PLEASE. thank you
how to set up a planted tank
- Thread starter crazyredhead
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Yeah, some of those fish will grow a little too big for a 10g, and some of them aren't too plant friendly. The angel is probably fine right now, but they can grow big. Same with the rainbow shark and pleco. I'd think about trying to rehome them to a bigger tank. Also, plecos are so big and clumsy, they tend to tear up your plants(as well as eat them).
Sounds like you'd enjoy a nice low light setup. Make sure your tank has at least 20 watts of light over it, 30 is better. Then stick to low light plants like crypts, java fern, java moss, ferns...
Sounds like you'd enjoy a nice low light setup. Make sure your tank has at least 20 watts of light over it, 30 is better. Then stick to low light plants like crypts, java fern, java moss, ferns...
every thing is really little right now.... i have 9 large tanksso i have plentyof grow out room..now
I'd still recommend moving the pleco. Plants will turn into a buffet for a common pleco.
I'm also "new" to planted tanks, but I've been researching and studying for a month or so now and can share what I've learned in a nutshell if it helps. First off, it depends on how many plants you want, and what types. There are plants that can survive low light tanks like anubias, java moss and java fern, and then there are other types that have much higher light requirements. Some grow very tall and others stay rather short, so with a 10 gallon tank you will want to stick to smaller plants obviously. With a heavily planted tank you will need to look into a CO2 system, but ther eare a number of online resources for a DIY setup for that which should be fine or a 10 gallon tank with moderate to high light. The two need to go hand in hand though, so if you're saying with low light don't bother with CO2 because it will likely build up and harm your fish. Plants need CO2 and light to ballance in order to make propper use of both. Do some research and you will find sites that have the plant species broken up into catagories based on mature size or based on light requirement and that is the best way to choose what you will want to grow in your own tank.
BEFORE you go buying plants though, you should consider what substrate you are using. Enameled aquarium gravel is difficult for plants to take root in and offers nothing to the plants, so a stable fracted clay substrate is a good choice. I'm considering getting Seachem Flourite for my own tank to lay down a source of iron for the root structures to take advantage of. You'll nee 2-3 inches depth. Additional fertilizers and trace will be needed at some point though if you really want your plants to flourish.
The right color spectrum of light is required as well, between 4000k and 6700k from what I've read so far on numerous sites. 1W/gal is consider "low light", and I'd recommened the investment in a 2nd fixture so you can run 2 plant light flourescents over it to give them a little more than that.
I think that's the best I can offer without more specific questions, so I hope this helps. I agree with everyone else on the fish you currently have though. If you want to go planted, trade them in for tetra or something.
BEFORE you go buying plants though, you should consider what substrate you are using. Enameled aquarium gravel is difficult for plants to take root in and offers nothing to the plants, so a stable fracted clay substrate is a good choice. I'm considering getting Seachem Flourite for my own tank to lay down a source of iron for the root structures to take advantage of. You'll nee 2-3 inches depth. Additional fertilizers and trace will be needed at some point though if you really want your plants to flourish.
The right color spectrum of light is required as well, between 4000k and 6700k from what I've read so far on numerous sites. 1W/gal is consider "low light", and I'd recommened the investment in a 2nd fixture so you can run 2 plant light flourescents over it to give them a little more than that.
I think that's the best I can offer without more specific questions, so I hope this helps. I agree with everyone else on the fish you currently have though. If you want to go planted, trade them in for tetra or something.
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