10 gallon planted tank questions

[eklikewhoa]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

So what light did you end up using?

[sproett]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

I ended up using an old incandescent fixture I had on hand and put two of those compact light bulbs in it for a total of 26 watts.  I'm saving up for better lights but I wanted to go ahead and get things going.

[sproett]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

New question!  Does anyone have any tips on how to actually plant the plants.  For every one I plant I seem to uproot another.  Just a tad frustrating.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

Pick yourself up a set of long pointy tweezers from fish gallery, city pets or adg.

Plant at a 45deg angle and slowly wiggle out at that angle.

[sproett]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

Ah, I was going from the top.  An angle makes sense!

[eklikewhoa]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

Patience!

[sproett]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

Oh, that is hard to come by!  My toddler loves "helping" which makes everything take longer.
Here's a shot of my tank.  I didn't realize how smudged the glass was until I viewed the pics on my computer.  

The fish are white clouds and one beat up female betta I got for free.  I hope she gets her fins back.
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[eklikewhoa]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

Try taking pictures with no flash and with all room lights turned off...slight angle works to keep the reflection out of the pictures too...

I see why you had a hard time now, with all those stems and grass plants it must have been a pain! BTW, The stems will grow out a lot nicer if you plant them in smaller bunches....like 2-3 stems per hole. That way the lower portions will get more light and not die off and the spread will be more proportional top to bottom.

Looks like your off to a good start!

[Mzungu]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

Great job!    I agree, try taking some pictures with only the tank light on, and no flash, so we can see more!

[sproett]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

Thanks for the tips.  I guess I have more arranging to do!

[Zulaab]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

Nice looking aquarium.    If you need to use the flash then put something over the flash to defuse it.   If you don't have a defuser then check and see if you have some wax paper.  Hold a small piece in front of the flash to cover.  It will let a good amount of light though but not enough to make the glare on the glass... also taking the shot at an angle and not straight on helps.

I will be shortly looking to a planted tank too.
My Roomate's son turns 8 in two weeks from now and I want to get him setup with a planted tank.

[Anonapersona]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

I will suggest that you REALLY do want to add CO2 to this tank.

There is a simple, cheap, way to add CO2 that is perfect for the 10 gallon tank. I used it on my 10 gallon, wih the same lights you are using now, it all worked great.

Here is a link. The Hagen system is cheap and works great.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=8981&N=2004+113779

The bottle shown hangs on the back of the tank, so it is out of sight and out of the way of little hands. You don't have to buy the refill packs, just use reagular bread yeast (1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon, buy fresh and keep refrigerated) and 1 teaspoon of baking soda instead. You''ll change the mix every 2nd or 3rd week. Plust he 1 cup sugar as per directions.

Babys tears makes a good ground cover, tends to mound up eventually. Many wendtii crypts (green or red) will do fine, until they eventually get too big, it seems that shallow gravel can dwarf them so do not use too deep gravel to keep them smaller.

You will also require fertilizers, either Tropica Master Grow or the full series of dry ingredients bought frm Gerg Watson or someone else online is best, IMO. The bottled things tend to be wrong, too much of one thing or another. Dry DIY is cheapest.

Fancy guppies are great for a kids tank.

[sproett]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

Zulaab- Thanks for those photography tips.  I still haven't figured out how to turn the flash off my camera although I suspect there is a way.  I need to dig out the manual.  I'll try the wax paper method.  Have fun with your planted tank.  It's a lot more work than my other tanks but so far it's fun.  Every night this week when my husband has gotten off work he's found me in there messing with the tank.  

Anonapersona- I've been wondering about CO2 since seeing they aren't all that expensive for a small tank.  I'll check out that link you provided.  I was thinking about guppies too, I just need to find a strain that strikes my fancy.  Either that or endlers.  My daughter wants some snails and dwarf frogs too.  I like the white clouds, they don't take away from the plants.

[Hanson77]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

Those pics are giving me a serious inclination to start one of these myself.  Just so happen to have a few spare 10g tanks too.

Thanks for the inspiration.  Where do you find most of your plants?

[sproett]

Re: 10 gallon planted tank questions

Thanks!  I found all the plants at Petsmart.  I plan on going to Fish Gallery for some more, I hear they have a great selection.