10g transformed into 29g, 6/6/08

[eyebeatbadgers]

I'd grow the moss wall out with the Peacock, not the Java. I've got a Taiwan moss wall going right now that I'm pretty pleased with.

The Java will look more unkempt and stringy, and will probably get tangled up with the Peacock and make a mess, unless that's what you're going for. If it were me I wouldn't introduce it into the tank at all.

What are you going to use as the "structure" for the wall? I've been contemplating the black insect screen that goes on your window... just an idea.

[James From Cali]

Originally Posted by SeaSerpant

right. i get it... i think.

Lol, everything sounds better in my head today.

Originally Posted by eyebeatbadgers

I'd grow the moss wall out with the Peacock, not the Java. I've got a Taiwan moss wall going right now that I'm pretty pleased with.

The Java will look more unkempt and stringy, and will probably get tangled up with the Peacock and make a mess, unless that's what you're going for. If it were me I wouldn't introduce it into the tank at all.

What are you going to use as the "structure" for the wall? I've been contemplating the black insect screen that goes on your window... just an idea.

The Peacock Moss will be in the front and make the wood its attached to it more natural. The Java wood be quite far away. The Java looks more natural to me also cause its more.....unruly I guess. Also I have Java Growing in my "Moss Growout Tank" so its more affordable. I was not sure about what I was going to do about the moss wall but I was thinking of the screen for windows as the material with suction cups. Still Not sure.

[James From Cali]

[Hey everyone I decided to do all updates in the form of an article. That should give the most and best information about the tank and also is needed for a competition here on TPT. So hopefully it would be more informational but not too blah. Thanks!]

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~~~My 10g aquarium has been through many stages and has seen many fish and plants. Now becoming more reputable with the thread 'Excellent List Of Low Light Plants' I decided to find methods for my tank others may disagree with or not have known first hand about. For instance, I had cycled my tank in a very strange way(read on for more). As time progresses with this tank I hope to find ore loop holes and possibly new techniques in this hobby.

~~~My tank will now and always stay low light. Not because it is a comfort zone but because I want to prove the people who say 'Certain plants cannot grow in these circumstances' wrong. Being low light, plants will not use nutrients up as fast. Thus I plan on understocking with two Honey Dwarf Gourami's and possibly some Red Cherry Shrimp. This will keep nutrients limited but not maxed out. Nutrients are important but the most utilized element in this tank will be lighting. My aquarium lights will run for a 12 hour interval with a 1 hour mid day blackout. Although not yet assembled to the tank, I will be adding DIY CO2-or Carbon Dioxide for those unsure of meaning- to my tank. It will be a yeast recipe with 2 cups sugar, 1/2 tsp yeast, and 1/4 tsp baking sodain a 2L soda bottle. This should allow me to see better growth on a plant 'scale'. Each month I will take one photo that shows the best growth and compare it to the previous months. This should help with seeing how fast plants of my given choice can grow in low light.

~~~Talking about nutrients and plant growth may bring up the question about what kind of substrate I use. I use a plain black gravel made by TopFin(PetsMart generic) over a thin layer of...wait for it...potting soil.So far I have not seen anything that dissapoints me about this combo and here is why. I believe that the potting soil is responcible for a quick cycle. In a timespan of five days the Ammonia(NH4) went from .25ppm to .5ppm to 0 ppm. There were no signs of Nitrites(NO2) which had had me stumped. Surely enough though my Nitrates(NO3) had increased to 5ppm. All these test will be callibrated but this may have been the fastest Nitrogen Cycle I have ever heard of.The substrate itseld doesnt need to be turned-like sand- or replenished-like special plant substrates. Cleaning it weekly right over the top works wonders. The best part is the price. For under $20 I have a subsrate that cycles my tank and looks good.

~~~Lighting my tank is simple since it is low light. I am going to use two 10 watt compact flourescent bulbs by Lights Of America. For $10 I get enough lighting to grow the plants I need and to bring out the best colors. WalMart has been known to carry them quite often and for a good price. In my opinion these bulbs are better for plants than the strip bulbs due to the Kelvin(K) rating on these compact flourescents are usually 6700K-10,000K.

~~~There is never a question to be asked about filtration. AquaClear has to be the best hang on back filter around. They act very similar to canister filters in many ways. You can change the media to your liking-you can add more or less biological, mechanical, or chemical filteration media. The filter pushes water through each compartment at different speeds-that you can set-for optimal filtration. At petsmart.com you can get the AquaClear 20for less than $20. That makes this a budget filter for a 10g aquarium.

~~~There will be no end to this tank. Sure I may get finished with the planting and the scaping but it will not be done. There will be more for me to research and discover. Hopefully this tank can help me along the way in the discovery of some of these unknown things.

-James From Cali

[@marko@]

you may want to increase the amount of plants in there. its kind of bare.

[James From Cali]

Originally Posted by @marko@

you may want to increase the amount of plants in there. its kind of bare.

An increase in plants will happen as the funds allow. This is as budgeted as I can possibly go. Getting plants when I can.

[James From Cali]

At the end of the month a new article is created for that month. During the month the articles would have Author Side Notes for the previous article. These side nots will include plant stocking, fish stocking, fert addition, etc. without going into detail.

• I plan on using HC for the tank instead of a Mariselia sp.
• I will have 2x 2L CO2 containers next to the tank

[Viettxboii]

Hm just a heads up isn't NH4 ammonium? haha.
So want to experiment with HC rather than the low light proven mariselea?

[mistergreen]

I went up a mountain in Connecticut last weekend....
Got an interesting picture that might work as hardscape.

[James From Cali]

Originally Posted by Viettxboii

Hm just a heads up isn't NH4 ammonium? haha.
So want to experiment with HC rather than the low light proven mariselea?

Is it? Learn something new everyday I guess. And yes, HC is my plant of choice just cause its not a normal everday low light plant

Originally Posted by mistergreen

I went up a mountain in Connecticut last weekend....
Got an interesting picture that might work as hardscape.

I do like the hardscape(mainly the rocks). Now to the drawing board.

[James From Cali]

I have Meshed the picture provided[by Mistergreen] with the previous design. I'm going to incorporate the rock element with the wood element. Now its just a matter of what plants to use- again. I am set on HC, Ceylon Hygro, and Java Moss. Not sure on what else yet.

[James From Cali]

Originally Posted by @marko@

you may want to increase the amount of plants in there. its kind of bare.

[@marco@, your wish has been granted]

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In a weekly routine to WalMart to see if they got any good plants I stumbled across one of the employees tossing plants out. I asked what was the reason and she had told me that they were not being sold so we are tossing these older ones out. I, who loves taking "trash" and making it into a treasure, had asked if I could have them. The lady had told me that if I could hide them in my bag they are mine. So I put them in my bag wrapped in my overshirt. I was really surprised by how much I really got. Here some pics.





1~Anubias barteri
2~Echinodorus cordifolius ??????
3~HC???
4~Hygrophila polysperma 'Ceylon'
5~Cryptocoryne wendtii var. Bronze
6~Crinum thianum
7~Echinodorus argentensis ?????

Maybe someone can make sure Im right on all guesses:
2


3


7

[ununknown]

Originally Posted by James From Cali

..Thus I plan on understocking with two Honey Dwarf Gourami's and possibly some Red Cherry Shrimp..

I highly advise you get Opaline gouramis instead of Honey Dwarf Gourami's. Consider yourself warned!!

[James From Cali]

Opaline Gourami's, Gold Gourami's, and Blue Gouramis all get to 6 inches. They are the same species of fish except different colors. Im sure Im in no danger with two small two inch fish.

[ZooTycoonMaster]

#7: Echinodorus don't sprout from bulbs...I think it's a green Nuphar Japonica, or an Aponogeton of some sort...

[James From Cali]

Well the leaves are very similar to swords, also I had gotten it with the Plant Identification Tag and it said Echinodorus argentensis(Argentine Sword) but I dont trust WalMart.