First Planted Tank 10 Gallon

[Jeeper75]

Hello, This is my very first post here. I have been lurking around for a little bit to learn some about planted tanks, and decided to turn my 10 gallon into a planted tank. The tank has been set up for about 7 months with fake plants and fish. Here are the details

Size: 10 Gallon
Filter: Aqua clear 20 HOB
Lights: 1 15W Fluorescent tube that is on about 5 hours a day.
Substrate: PFS and gravel
Plants: 2 Anubias 3 Amazon swords I believe
Fish: 3 Tiger Barbs

No Co2 but I will probably due some ferts of some sort soon. The plants have been in for about a week now and seem to be ok for now.

Any suggestions, comments?

[kamikazi]

nice little tank, those amazon swords may take over the tank eventually they can get pretty big. anubias can grow tied or glued to your wood as well.

[Jeeper75]

Do you think my lighting is good enough for the plants or should I upgrade?

[Hilde]

Your light is good for ferns, mosses, and crypts that are green. Check out plant geek. If you add crypts that have some other colors than green Brightwell aquatics FlorinFe will help them to adapt to your low light.

[lauraleellbp]

Your lighting should be fine for your current plants. Your swords would probably benefit from adding some root tab ferts, but CO2 is definitely optional at this light level, and I personally wouldn't bother.

It's your stocking that's a bit concerning, though- Tiger barbs are schooling fish and so really you'd need at least 2x the number that you currently have. But you really don't have room for a school of TBs in a 10gal tank... so IMO you'd do best rehoming them and going with some much smaller fish species.

[Jeeper75]

Yea, I am thinking of moving them into my 20 gallon. I may do paintball co2 because I can get most of the parts from where I work but it is still just an idea.

[Hilde]

Originally Posted by Jeeper75

Yea, I am thinking of moving them into my 20 gallon. I may do paintball co2

That reminds me of mizu-chan 20g long. She had 2 clip on lamps and injected Co2. Seems excess Co2 is beneficial to the plants.

[Jeeper75]

Well, everything is doing good and there is even a little new growth started. I think I got the planted tank bug because my 20 gal. long is next in line to get planted.

[MissCoryCat]

Congrats on your first planted tank! Looking forward to seeing what you do with your 20 gallon.

[firefiend]

Originally Posted by Jeeper75

Yea, I am thinking of moving them into my 20 gallon. I may do paintball co2 because I can get most of the parts from where I work but it is still just an idea.

Even 20 gal for a proper school of TB's is pushing it. I've kept Tiger's for a long time (kept my first school in a 20L) and investing in the 29+ is well worth it.

[Jeeper75]

Well, the tank is doing well. Have learned a whole lot on the forum. Here are a couple new pics of the tank. For my 20 Gallon Long I am hunting for the perfect piece of driftwood. Maybe going to do a couple different kinds of cory's in there.

[Hilde]

Good start!!
Love the rock on the left. What is it?

[firefiend]

Originally Posted by Hilde

Good start!!
Love the rock on the left. What is it?

That is a sweet looking stone... I'd love to see some Hydrocotyle wrapped around that stump also.

[Jeeper75]

I am not really sure what that stone is, there is also one in my 20gal but it isn't as dark. The both have like craters in them. I found them both in my Grandmas attic along with the wood that really needs something growing on it.

[Jeeper75]

I may have found a piece of wood for my 20 Long even though it will stick out some. I will have to make a new light for it anyways. It is a piece of Cyprus I believe but it still has bark on it will that be ok? It may be a little to tall and big I guess I can try it if I cant find another piece.