I wanted to try doing a ten gallon planted tank & looking for some info, first off can I use regular gavel, next can I use a standard hood light & if so what is a easy plant to grow & if not what all do I need to get me started. Thank.
new with plants.
- Thread starter tha cichlid man
- Start date
Just some advice - try posting specific threads with regard to each thing that you are wondering about. I've seen numerous knowledgable people on here write that they pass over posts like this.
Secondly, peruse some of the posts here. There are many that address your questions.
Secondly, peruse some of the posts here. There are many that address your questions.
There is a plethera of information on here for your questions. First, what size is your tank? Second, how many watts are your lights??
In short
"first off can I use regular gavel" - Yes but be careful. Some plants are heavy root feeders and thus you need some type of special gravel or other way to feed those roots. Commonly, swords are heavy root feeders. Alot of stem plants are not (anacharis) and some low light plants are not (Anubias)
"next can I use a standard hood light" - In general No. Only because most likely there is not enough power in the hood to grow plants. Otherwise, if there is, then yes you can use a normal light.
"what is a easy plant to grow " - For low light tanks look for Anubias, Java Fern and Java Moss. All three are not root feeders, require only low light to start and attach to objects above the gravel.
Most low light tanks have ~1.0Watt Per Gallon to 1.5WPG, some do not have special gravel but use peat to help keep nutrients in the gravel, and their plants are most likely those mentioned above.
Aries
In short
"first off can I use regular gavel" - Yes but be careful. Some plants are heavy root feeders and thus you need some type of special gravel or other way to feed those roots. Commonly, swords are heavy root feeders. Alot of stem plants are not (anacharis) and some low light plants are not (Anubias)
"next can I use a standard hood light" - In general No. Only because most likely there is not enough power in the hood to grow plants. Otherwise, if there is, then yes you can use a normal light.
"what is a easy plant to grow " - For low light tanks look for Anubias, Java Fern and Java Moss. All three are not root feeders, require only low light to start and attach to objects above the gravel.
Most low light tanks have ~1.0Watt Per Gallon to 1.5WPG, some do not have special gravel but use peat to help keep nutrients in the gravel, and their plants are most likely those mentioned above.
Aries
Can you use regular gravel? Yes--just tie java fern, java moss or anubias to a rock, decoration or driftwood. No need to bury in special substrate as they feed off the water.
Can you use a standard light hood? Depends on what type of lighting you have & how many watts are in the hood. Incandescent screw-in type bulbs:no, fluorescent bulbs: yes). Some people report success keeping java fern, java moss, anubias and cryptocoryne plants using only 15 watts of FLUORESCENT light (aquatic plant bulb if possible) over a 10 gallon tank (although more light is preferred).
What is an easy plant to grow? With 15-20 watts per gallon of fluorescent light, you can grow java fern, java moss, cryptocoryne (bury roots in the gravel) and anubias. Some people say java fern is almost impossible to kill.
So, you need:
-AT LEAST 15 watts of (aquatic) fluorescent lighting--try to get an "aquatic" plant growth bulb with a rating of 6,500 to 10,000 "K" (will say on the box)
-rocks, decorations, driftwood to tie your plants to
-Low-light plants mentioned above
-Perhaps some all-purpose fertilizer &/or Flourish Excel liquid
Can you use a standard light hood? Depends on what type of lighting you have & how many watts are in the hood. Incandescent screw-in type bulbs:no, fluorescent bulbs: yes). Some people report success keeping java fern, java moss, anubias and cryptocoryne plants using only 15 watts of FLUORESCENT light (aquatic plant bulb if possible) over a 10 gallon tank (although more light is preferred).
What is an easy plant to grow? With 15-20 watts per gallon of fluorescent light, you can grow java fern, java moss, cryptocoryne (bury roots in the gravel) and anubias. Some people say java fern is almost impossible to kill.
So, you need:
-AT LEAST 15 watts of (aquatic) fluorescent lighting--try to get an "aquatic" plant growth bulb with a rating of 6,500 to 10,000 "K" (will say on the box)
-rocks, decorations, driftwood to tie your plants to
-Low-light plants mentioned above
-Perhaps some all-purpose fertilizer &/or Flourish Excel liquid
Thanks for the good info everyone. So I would have to get another hood that takes fluorescent bulbs or is there some kind of fluorescent light that i can put in there without changing the hood?
If your hood uses screw-in type aquarium bulbs you can get special U-shaped "compact fluorescent" aquarium plant bulbs that can be screwed in to the incandescent socket. Many good aquarium shops carry them.