While I am not completely new to the hobby, I'm not very experienced with larger tanks nor with anything planted. I have had success with a 20gallon throughout 4 years of college.
I am wanting to get back into the hobby, and really the only thing limiting me is my budget. So I'm starting small and hoping to learn some discipline with tank maintenance and parameter checking and general husbandry.
Currently I have an old 10gallon with a male betta (aptly named Swim Shady). He has been making bubble nests in the corners. Haha! It has a piece of driftwood and some Seachem flourite substrate. Lighting is a generic 10gallon LED tank cover. Filtration is a generic HOB filter with adjustable flow for the betta. The filter is rated for up to 20 gallons, but I have it turned way down for the betta. Also just a generic heater for 72°F.
The original plan was to have a small planted community tank but after trying to visit a bigbox store and a LFS, I've concluded, they're both useless. Next closest LFS is more than an hour drive so I'm not to keen on making that drive just to browse.
The tank has been up for about 4 months now. It was a fishless cycle with some geneeic bacteria. I recently tried introducing an oto catfish and a snail to help with some of the fuzzies growing on my driftwood. After about 2 days, I noticed ich on my new oto and finrot on my betta and started ich cure and bettafix. (I removed the snail to a seperate container). LFS was not much help, but stood by their return policy and replaced my dead fish. After treating my tank and reintroducing the new oto, same thing. So forget about that LFS now. I'm not a fan anymore.
But I'm wanting to press forward regardless. So now I'm stuck with a few head scratchers and decided to try and find the experts directly!
1. What are some easy maintenance plants that would grow well in a low tech/budget tank that a newb can learn on? I would also like my fish and future fish to enjoy them also. I like the look of carpeting plants, but also want plants that grow vertically too! Being just a 10gallon, I think I could manage upgrading the lights if I can learn about them. I'm so overwhelmed with the variety and how they vary from type to type, and just everything.
2. What are some good tankmates? I am finding mixed things online and I don't trust my LFS and local bigbox stores. I had originally planned for some sort of algae eater/snails/shrimp/crabs for clean-up crew. My first attempts at that were futile due to rather poor quality stores. I was also planning a small school of neon tetras, but was told they might nip the betta. So, now I'm just confused.
3. What are some good, reliable websites to purchase from? I am on a budget, but I don't mind spending a little extra here and there. I don't feel like supporting my LFS and I can't justify driving to thr next nearest (yet).
4. Any general advice? Tips? Always open to criticism
And as always, photos!
Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
I am wanting to get back into the hobby, and really the only thing limiting me is my budget. So I'm starting small and hoping to learn some discipline with tank maintenance and parameter checking and general husbandry.
Currently I have an old 10gallon with a male betta (aptly named Swim Shady). He has been making bubble nests in the corners. Haha! It has a piece of driftwood and some Seachem flourite substrate. Lighting is a generic 10gallon LED tank cover. Filtration is a generic HOB filter with adjustable flow for the betta. The filter is rated for up to 20 gallons, but I have it turned way down for the betta. Also just a generic heater for 72°F.
The original plan was to have a small planted community tank but after trying to visit a bigbox store and a LFS, I've concluded, they're both useless. Next closest LFS is more than an hour drive so I'm not to keen on making that drive just to browse.
The tank has been up for about 4 months now. It was a fishless cycle with some geneeic bacteria. I recently tried introducing an oto catfish and a snail to help with some of the fuzzies growing on my driftwood. After about 2 days, I noticed ich on my new oto and finrot on my betta and started ich cure and bettafix. (I removed the snail to a seperate container). LFS was not much help, but stood by their return policy and replaced my dead fish. After treating my tank and reintroducing the new oto, same thing. So forget about that LFS now. I'm not a fan anymore.
But I'm wanting to press forward regardless. So now I'm stuck with a few head scratchers and decided to try and find the experts directly!
1. What are some easy maintenance plants that would grow well in a low tech/budget tank that a newb can learn on? I would also like my fish and future fish to enjoy them also. I like the look of carpeting plants, but also want plants that grow vertically too! Being just a 10gallon, I think I could manage upgrading the lights if I can learn about them. I'm so overwhelmed with the variety and how they vary from type to type, and just everything.
2. What are some good tankmates? I am finding mixed things online and I don't trust my LFS and local bigbox stores. I had originally planned for some sort of algae eater/snails/shrimp/crabs for clean-up crew. My first attempts at that were futile due to rather poor quality stores. I was also planning a small school of neon tetras, but was told they might nip the betta. So, now I'm just confused.
3. What are some good, reliable websites to purchase from? I am on a budget, but I don't mind spending a little extra here and there. I don't feel like supporting my LFS and I can't justify driving to thr next nearest (yet).
4. Any general advice? Tips? Always open to criticism
And as always, photos!
Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk