I don't have a green thumb... please help.

P

pcpaulinoii

AC Members
Feb 20, 2008
23
0
0
San Diego, CA
For the life of me I can't manage to keep a regular potted plant alive but the thought of a potted aquarium has always intrigued me so I figured I would give it a try.

I have read quite a few articles along with various threads on AC and I think I have basic list of items I should get to get a planted aquarium.

I currently have an unused 20 gallon long tank and might get a 10 gallon tank for my work office.

For such a small tank I am thinking of a 'homegrown' or a basic co2 system (such as the sub-$100 from Hagen at Petsmart.com) would work, or maybe not even needed.

The substrate I would like to use Eco-Complete.

Plant-wise, I prefer something that does not require too much trimming/replanting. Any suggestions?

I have a HOB filter probably rated for a 40 gallon tank and then I also have a Fluval 304 canister filter... both are probably way too much for a planted tank, especially since the plants need the carbon to grow.

What type of lighting should I get?

Given that the plants need the carbon to grow, should I even have a filter?

I want to have an small office planted tank with a few cardinal tetras to give it some color... would you suggest just buying something like the 10 gallon kit from Walmart for $30 (10 gallon glass tank, small HOB filter, basic hood/light)?

I think that is all the questions I have for now. Please let me know what you think. Thanks ahead of time.
 
pcpaulinoii said:
For the life of me I can't manage to keep a regular potted plant alive but the thought of a potted aquarium has always intrigued me so I figured I would give it a try.
Trust me keeping plants alive in an aquarium is much easier than having a regular potted one..

I have read quite a few articles along with various threads on AC and I think I have basic list of items I should get to get a planted aquarium.

I currently have an unused 20 gallon long tank and might get a 10 gallon tank for my work office.

For such a small tank I am thinking of a 'homegrown' or a basic co2 system (such as the sub-$100 from Hagen at Petsmart.com) would work, or maybe not even needed.
Can simply do the diy save a bunch of $$

The substrate I would like to use Eco-Complete.

Plant-wise, I prefer something that does not require too much trimming/replanting. Any suggestions?
Can go for java fern/moss but most of all it all depends on what kind of light you will be setting up for it and how many hrs you keep the light on..

I have a HOB filter probably rated for a 40 gallon tank and then I also have a Fluval 304 canister filter... both are probably way too much for a planted tank, especially since the plants need the carbon to grow.
For a planted tank you can run the filter without active carbon, just floss/sponge

What type of lighting should I get?
Whats your budget?? Can go for a coralife fixture for the 20 and for the 10 can get an incandescent hood and switch the bulbs to cf screwin type

Given that the plants need the carbon to grow, should I even have a filter?
Yes

I want to have an small office planted tank with a few cardinal tetras to give it some color... would you suggest just buying something like the 10 gallon kit from Walmart for $30 (10 gallon glass tank, small HOB filter, basic hood/light)?
Most of the time the hob filter thats included in the package is not really the best filter.. So will just have to find out what kind of filter they include..

I think that is all the questions I have for now. Please let me know what you think. Thanks ahead of time.
Click to expand...

--just my opinions

BK
 
on co2 your best bet would be diy it would be like less then $10. you might also want to look into excel but co2 isnt a must.

eco is a good substrate.

stick to low light plants to start off with. with a hob adding co2 in a gas is almost a waste. it just gasses off.

yes you should have a filter. there are smaller canister filters or you can just go with out co2. its not a must.

i wouldnt buy a kit those usually come with cheap parts. like cheap filter and heaters.

sorry my answer dont look as good as bk828 lol
 
I bought the 10g "kit" at Walmart.switched the lights out to the 6500k Daylight compact fl.,heaters just a cheap submersibleTetra from Walmart and I picked up one of those Rapids Mini Canister filters.. (thatpetplace.com has them on sale for $19.99 ) I may pick up another one,I like it.
I have Java Fern,Java Moss ,a banana plant some duckweed,some watersprite some kind of Anubia (I think thats what it is anyway) and red cherry shrimp in the tank with a couple guppies.The moss is on a piece of lava rock and the java ferns are on a piece of Malaysian driftwood I got at Petco.All those are growing great,lots of new plantlets on the ferns and a few shrimp are berried.
 
ICOM - do you have a picture of your setup?

What would be the best DIY co2 kit? I love the idea of spending only $10 for a kit. Hahaha. I have read that people take a liter bottle, put a hole in the cap, take a tube from the bottle and into the tank but what is the best mixture to produce the co2?
 
Use the Fluval cannister. It's overkill for a 20g, but it won't be a problem. Lose the HOB, doesn't mesh well with co2.

Use DIY co2, there is a sticky either in this forum or the DIY forum about how to do it. It's easy. Read the sticky. It's long, but it'll help. Most questions have been answered.

If you want minimal trimming, stick to low light and low light plants. If you got high light with high light plants, they'll grow fast, and require weekly or even semi-weekly trimming.
 
not sure if I have pics of that tank or not,if I dont I'll take some and post later.I did some re-arrange last night and now just have a sponge filter in that tank as I needed the rapids filter to clean up another 10g that I put Flourite in (extremely dirty stuff that is,dont think I'll use any more of it)
I'm looking at getting the Azoo 501 Turtle Clean filter for another tank.

the DIY CO2 is easy,just like you said with a 2l bottle, I think I use 2 cups sugar,fill the bottle to where it starts to "neck" down with pretty warm water,cap it,shake it up,then 1/4ts-1/2tsp yeast,cap,shake it up good again..once you get the hang of it,it starts producing CO2 in a short time (few hours ) and last about a week to 10 days usually,when it starts slowing down,mix up another batch in another 2l bottle and leave it sit overnite ( DON'T LEAVE THE CAP ON !! )the next morning/day ,swap the bottles out
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom