10 GAL PLANTED?

[Wooten_PE]

I have a 10 gallon tank I am about to break down and restart. I am thinking of using it for a planted setup. Can someone give me some pointers?

What is a good, cheap light source for a standard 10 gallon tank?

I would rather not dose with CO2, so what plants are best?

I was thinking of getting duck weed from local water bodies. I would probably need plants that would extend beyond the water to reach the light source if I add the duck weed. Any suggestions?

 

[fish_monger]

you really cant do anything with a 10 you have to up to a 20 to get better options

 

[frasertheking]

you can do alot with a 10g tank .
duck weed is great in a at first to absorb extra nitrates . i have grown plants and even got perling with no co2 but thats in an unfilterd tank .

you can grow quite a few low light plants . read up on light spectrums for plants and try to get the best tube . in my smaller tanks i like to take an inch or so of topsoil topped with a covering of gravel . grows plants great .
try searching low light plants
.if you can put it near a south facing window that helps

http://naturalaquariums.com/plantedtank/0512.html

this website is good for low tech

 

[MCHRKiller]

Ive seen some VERY impressive 10G planted tanks. Do you have an incandescent fixture now? If so you can get some screw in flourescents for it at most LFS(i know that petsmart and walmart has them). They are the best lighting in the world...but do VERY well for most common aquatic plants. This is about the cheapest method. Also standard 10G florescent hoods come with a 15watt fixture which is acceptable for most lower light plants. They also make PC fixtures that would work for a 10G if you wanted to spend a bit more money.

Id go with some java moss(attached to wood/rocks) maybe some java ferns, anubias nana...if you want floaters elodea is good as is duckweed. What are you willing to spend on this tank? And what sort of plants/look are you going for?

 

[iORi]

i wouldn't recommend duckweed.. once it grows, its extremely hard to get rid of in your tank. i think its exactly how it sounds.. they're weeds. if u want floaters u can salvinia or red leaf floaters. if u dont want to supplement with c02, try to stay below 2.5wpg, but even then u might have algae problems. just be careful with your water chemistry and overall balance of your tank. i have a high light 10g setup right now with easy growers, like rotala, hairgrass, weeping moss, ludwigia, and stargrass. but even if u dont want c02 supplements, u will still need to dose nutrients for your plants to thrive. i dont have the pic on my laptop of my 10, but i'll try posting it when i get home from school or something. gl!

 

[WyldFya]

you really cant do anything with a 10 you have to up to a 20 to get better options

That is a very ignorant statement. There are plenty of things to do with a 10g planted tank.

 

[WyldFya]

I have a 10 gallon tank I am about to break down and restart. I am thinking of using it for a planted setup. Can someone give me some pointers?

What is a good, cheap light source for a standard 10 gallon tank?

I would rather not dose with CO2, so what plants are best?

I was thinking of getting duck weed from local water bodies. I would probably need plants that would extend beyond the water to reach the light source if I add the duck weed. Any suggestions?

I would recommend a low light setup, using a plain T12 bulb, and plants such as crypts, anubias, java ferns, java moss, etc.

 

[Wooten_PE]

Thanks all. I was thinking of something on the order of a Tropical Americas style tank. Anybody know what that may be? Obviously livestock would be guppies, platys, small tetras, or the equivalent. I would like something oddball to throw in with the plants-any suggestions?

I was thinking of placing topsoil beneath sand/gravel mix. I will look into all your advice and keep you posted.

 

[iORi]

dunno bout how oddball these would be, but lot of ppl put rummynose tetras, neons, or u can try celestial pearl danios i have a couple of those in my tank they look nice. here's mine i got the pics up. still trying to get the right side to grow in more. im probably gonna get rid of the branches soon too but u get the general idea

 

[fish_monger]

That is a very ignorant statement. There are plenty of things to do with a 10g planted tank.

you cant find a good light fixture for a 10 unless you build it. theres not that many good looking plant for a 10 because you cant get good lighting.Aned alot of plants out grow it.