would these plants work for a "newbie"

incandescent bulbs are the ones you use around the house in lamps, they screw into the socket. flourescents are tubular bulbs (some more unique ones are circular tubes or spirals) usually with prongs on the ends to fit them in the socket. if your hood is set up for incandescent bulbs, you can use small specially adapted flourescents instead, the spiral ones are good, and in the fish section of some stores like walmart they sell screw-in mini florescents. the incandescent bulbs get very hot and can make the temperature in a smaller tank go all over the place.
 
No problem...

In flourescent tubes, wattage is determined by length.
Click to expand...
Dont know if this is true or not - but would explain why I have had hard troubles finding higher wattage bulbs for the same length....

I would recommend AHSupply.com for a cheap DIY retrofit to get more plants.

Since you have a tube Fluorescent light, it will be difficult to change over to screw in Compact Fluorescent lights. HOWEVER, if you want to go this route, you can rip out the whole NO light setup and go to your local hw store and buy a swithched socket (get it in bulk - will be cheaper), power cord, power plug and light bulb. I did this to my 5.5G and is VERY easy to do. But...I dont think you will get enough spread of light doing it this way - the AH Supply way will be best for new lights.

You can not use incandescent bulbs. Well, you can - but wont be as effective and effecient as fluorescents - plus they user more power and create more heat.

Dont worry about the questions - best to learn first then do....

If your filter is not overpowerful - you should not have any problems with it sucking in blowind down plants. If it doesn - you can reduce the flow (which reduces ability to clean the tank but the plants will help a little in that department).

I like wenditii - I have yet been able to kill one of these - even in poor lit and poor taken care of tanks. In good tanks they develop MASSIVE root systems. When I redid my 30G, they were on the right side of the tank but had roots all the way to the left side of the tank. But that is in a HIGH light HIGH tech tank.

Good Luck

Aries
 
Oh mrbigmuscles : That will be enought light for your plants. I would definately get more substrate - 1/4" is too little for red ludwigia and the other stem plant imo. The java fern does not care about susbstate since it attaches itself to things like rocks.

The ludwigia may not be as 'red' because of the lower level of light but should be fine.

Dont forget to add CO2 somehow (Flourish Excel is a good source for a 10G). You may also want to get test kits for plants to determine if you need to dose fertilizers (Nitrates, Potassiums, Phosphates and trace elements).

Good Luck

Aries
 
Well I think I will just work with what I have for now, I get going on these thoughts I have and before long I'm working on a masterpiece or something. Duh to myself I am getting a bigger tank before long then I can start working on lots of plants and lighting and all the good stuff. I keep forgeting I just want to make my fishies comfy and happy in this tank for a little while longer. So I am going to just stick with a java fern, a few crypts and the anabis (or whichever it was now I have myself all confused). I will get some sort of substrate and CO2. When I get the susbstrate though do I just add it to the rock?
 
When you add the substrate - make sure it is clean. Different types require different types of cleaning.

If you add gravel to the tank while fish still in - be very carefull and add a little at a time. It is best thought to remove fish and then add gravel with tank drained.

It think it might look better with the rock still in there - plus it will give something for the Java Fern to attach too.

Good Luck

Aries
 
gstoffer,
If you want to keep things really simple, you can fill your tank with anacharis & vals. They don't require CO2 or special substrates (plain gravel is fine) & they grow well under fairly minimal fluorescent lighting conditions with a little fertilizer once a month or so. They may not be the look you're after, but they definitely help water quality, make the fishies happy & look great. CO2 injection, substrates, etc. can get pretty complicated, and they aren't always necessary for a low-light setup (especially for a newbie) :)
 
Thank you everyone!!

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all the help :thm: . I am thinking for this tank I will keep it very simple, since I will not have it much longer (well I may still use it) but when I do get my new tank I plan to add many plants and all this info. will come in handy then. For now I may go with Mr. Bubbles advise and just stick with something I can use just gravel with. Then I wont have to worry about alot and in the mean time I can do more research :duh: for when I am able to get my bigger tank!

Thanks again everyone you are great!!! :dance:

Gin
 
gstoffer,

I have had success with anacharis & vals in my simple tank setup. Here are my tank specifications so that you can duplicate the conditions in your own tank...

MY TANK SIZE: 3 Gallon
MY LIGHTING: 9 watt compact fluorescent
GRAVEL: Plain gravel
PLANTS: 2 bunches of anacharis 1 bunch of valisneria, separated & just lightly stuck into the gravel & weighed down with a bit of gravel (not buried deep).
FERTILIZER: Nutrafin Iron-enriched Plant Gro, every 3 weeks

**I don't think you specified your tank lighting numbers--please remember that it's important that you get enough light into your tank for these plants. My lighting setup is not 'souped up' like some people's, but I have a fair wattage for the size of my tank. I don't know how they would grow under dark conditions, if that is what you have.
:)
 
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