plant newbie

[lokel]

I want to start a tank with plants. The tank im goin to use is a 10gal and the lights are just the regular lights. They are not florecent, just the regular screw in kind. THis tank is goin to be my dwarf puffer tank, i wanted to get the tank cycled and planted well before adding them.


My questions are: what is good plants for this kind of lights?
What kind of substrate is good?
Do I need anyother equipment other then the filter?

Is plantgeek a good site for plant info?

Thanks

 

[msjinkzd]

i would buy compact flourescent screw in bulbs, you won't be able to grow much with incandescent....walmart sells "mini-aquarium" bulbs in the pets section that fit in a 10g incandescent hood. They are made by lights of america and are about $4 each. For low light, you don't need a fancy substrate, small gravel or sand is fine. For low light plants java moss, java fern and anubias are some good ones to start with that are hardy.

 

[lokel]

cool thanks. If I get compact florecent screw in bulbs can I get some plants that arent low light?

 

[msjinkzd]

maybe, but you will still only get about 20w on a 10g, still in the low light range. You would have to upgrade your hood in order to get medium light plants....I have luck with anacharis, watersprite, african fern, crypts, and vals in my tank with low light. Their is a pretty broad variety in low light plants...mgamer sells some packages in the classifieds you could check out. He has pictures of some plants and good prices.

 

[lokel]

oh ok, good to know about the lights. Ya dont really wanna upgrade the hood at this point.

Thanks again, ill go and check out the classifieds and see if they can be sent to Canada.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

they sell 26w bulbs if its a double bulb that would help. substrate can be standard or you can buy stuff made for plants. try to get 2-4 inch of gravel.