[7Matt7]

So this is my 1st journal. It's a 10 gallon and has 26 watts of compact fluorescent spirals and 18 watts of t-5. So I guess around 4 WPG. I don't want to run CO2 or dose excel because I want this to be a shrimp tank, and I'm not comfortable enough with CO2 yet. So I guess I just wont have a long photo period, and/or just use the 26 watts of spiral CF to keep algae down and forget the 18 watt t-5. What do you think?

I probably will use flourish comprehensive. It is safe for shrimp isn't it?

The substrate is pool filter sand in front of the driftwood, and fluorite behind it. I put the PFS in the front because I like the look, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to grow a carpet with this set-up anyway. Right?

I used the fourite in back because I want to grow some needle/narrow leaf java ferns and crypts back there and I figured they would need it.

This tank has been cycling for 4 days, and the only thing I have been able to add so far is some java moss tied to the wood. I'm going (driving an hour and a half) to a good LFS (to get my EHEIM 2217 for my 75 gallon)so I hope to come home with some nice stuff for this tank.

Now here are the first pics, any ideas on scaping or plants to look for are appreciated!

 

[RipariumGuy]

I like the driftwood and subtrate color! You could add some java fern to the driftwood?

 

[7Matt7]

Thanks Jake!

I found lace and regular java fern and elodea for the background, and a banana plant. I'll add in some more things as I get them. I also couldn't pass up some micro sword they had. I know it's supposed to need a lot of light. I hope it does good for me! I added more fluorite in the front and even planted some in some fluorite up on the driftwood to get it closer to the light. I added a pic of the planted micro sword. Do you think it will grow like that?

I guess I'm going to have to run DIY CO2 on here. Anyone who has used DIY CO2 on a shrimp tank around this size please tell me how you were able to keep a steady p.h.

Here are updated pics.

 

[seds]

DONT bury the bananas! http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Plant, Banana.htm

EDIT: whoops apparently you can bury the banana part. Another source on this very website suggests it can be done. Well, better safe than sorry.

!!!!!!!!!!!

ALSO DON'T burry the java fern's rhyzome! This includes 'windlov' ferns.

I thought it looked pretty cool with the driftwood and the sand... Well, you are on your way to a great planted tank! I have a DIY CO2 bottle on my 10 gallon, there has been a bit of water in the tube for many days so I assume something is wrong...

Assuming that it is functioning perfectly, that nothing is leaking, my shrimp are all alive and well with CO2 being added... but better safe than sorry... Lots of CO2 disasters can occur, and DIY CO2 starts small, and builds up the rate at which it makes CO2 until the culture crashes (after 3 or 4 weeks, depending on temp, initial yeast, and other factors) once it crashes, you replace the bottle with another one.

 

[Hilde]

I found lace and regular java fern and elodea for the background, and a banana plant. I also couldn't pass up some micro sword they had. I know it's supposed to need a lot of light. I guess I'm going to have to run DIY CO2 on here.

You might be able to get the swords growing without Co2 using API fert tabs or put organic charcoal in the substrate.

I have low light and got ludwiga growing by putting the organic charcoal in the substrate. I bought a big bag at ACE hardware store for $10. Found soaking the charcoal over night made it easier to crush. The tank was already set so I took the fish and water out. Then dug holes and burried the charcoal. Have to be careful moving the soil around or the charcoal will come up. It settles down though.

I like the slope the wood causes.

You can get some Java lace on EBay for a few dollars from aquaticmajic. One order gave me 4in width of plants.

 

[Basilisk]

I really like your tank. The piece of wood is very nice, in fact reminds me of my 2 current 10G's. I wouldn't keep the moss on that fine piece.

The problem I find when using large pieces of wood in a small tank is that I run out of planting space too quickly. Well placed crypts work well in the long term.

I'm keeping an eye on this.

 

[7Matt7]

Update with pics

I thought it looked pretty cool with the driftwood and the sand...

Thanks me too, I kind of wished I hadn't messed with that at first. And as you can see, it's kind of heading back that way.

Thanks Hilde!

The problem I find when using large pieces of wood in a small tank is that I run out of planting space too quickly. Well placed crypts work well in the long term.

I'm keeping an eye on this.

Thanks! Yeah I had to take out the wood, too big! And I am going with crypts too!
____________________________________________________________

Ok, it has changed a lot. I just was not satisfied with what I had there, so I've been tinkering with this everyday.

I got some cross stitching plastic mesh from wal-mart to attach java moss to for a background. I had to switch to some plastic garden fencing for the front because the plastic mesh didn't have big enough holes. It seems to work fine though.

That piece of driftwood was just too big for that tank. I didn't have any room at all. So I put it in my 75 gallon and found this other little piece at my LFS. I had to trim it alittle to get it to fit in the corner like it is. But I had to have a mountain for the shrimp I plan to keep and I also needed to block out the heater and filter intake somehow too.

I planted a couple of red wednti crypts in the front corners too, and they are really going to town. I hope to find some spiral crypts or some other green crypt to go along the back wall in front of the java moss wall to give it more texture.

I also, moved the fluortie around so it is only where I will plant the crypts. And the rest will get a coat of the pool filter sand when I'm done scaping. I know it will probably mix over time, but it's better than the solid fluorite look for now. And the micro sword is not dying, but not doing much either, I'll just keep it as long as it stays, lol.

I wanted to leave the elodea in the back left corner, but is was getting messy, and sheding a lot of the lower, older leaves. But I put a pic at the end to show how much it grew.

So anyway here it is now...

 

[hydrophyte]

That looks real good so far.

 

[Basilisk]

Well, honestly I liked the large piece better.

Risking to sound too much in-the-box, but why did you plant the micro-sword in the back and the crypts in the front? Moss tends to grow sidewards, easily smothering low carpet plants, and even pushing larger crypts away from the wall.

Still, keeping an eye.
Cheers.

 

[7Matt7]

Well, honestly I liked the large piece better.

Risking to sound too much in-the-box, but why did you plant the micro-sword in the back and the crypts in the front? Moss tends to grow sidewards, easily smothering low carpet plants, and even pushing larger crypts away from the wall.

Still, keeping an eye.
Cheers.

I liked the larger one better too, but it really did just jam the tank up bad.

I planted the micro sword in the back to get it under the stronger light. I really shouldn't have bought it I guess. I don't have any experience with crypts, so I wasn't sure where to plant them at first, but now I see they are growing pretty fast, so I guess I'll have to move them back some. I'm trying to find some green wendtii or wendtii spirailiss (spelling bad I know) to go back in the back too!

Thanks for your comments, I do appreciate them! I'm learning here.

 

[Phil Edwards]

Hey Matt, where in S. Georgia are you? I used to get down that way often for work.

Regards,
Phil

 

[7Matt7]

Hey Matt, where in S. Georgia are you? I used to get down that way often for work.

Hey Phil, I live in a small town named Ocilla. Ever heard of it?

If not you've probably heard of Tifton, it's about 20 miles from me, I-75 goes through it.

Matt

 

[Phil Edwards]

I've been through Ocilla and been through Tifton more times than I'd really care to. Where do you get your aquarium supplies in that part of the state?

Regards,
Phil

 

[7Matt7]

Well "The Pet Center" in Tifton is good for some things. Like fish food, filter media, pumps, filters, etc. They always have goldfish, African cichlids, and tetras. But they don't cary many plants, plant supplies, substrate, light bulbs, etc. They have nice other fish too, but only sometimes. I have gotten gold and blue rams, rainbow fish, gold dojo's etc. You just have to get lucky. lol

If I ever get down to Valdosta, Exotic Fish is a nice place. Jim the owner has been there since 1974 when my dad lived down there. It's not swanky, but he is very knowlagable and has good fish and plants. He carry's nice salt water fish and corals too.

I've been threatening to drive up toward Atlanta to try to find a decent store. I've been wanting a pair of black veil or koi angels for a long time, and just cannot find any except for the black and silver barred regular angels. And I've also been searching for some green crypts. You would think most lfs would have at least crypts. It's kind of frustrating sometimes.

Any LFSs in this area you could recommend?

BTW, you have beautiful plants and tanks!

Matt

 

[Hilde]

I've been threatening to drive up toward Atlanta to try to find a decent store. Any LFSs in this area you could recommend?

I haven't found any stores in Atlanta area that have a good selection of plants or Anglefish. At one of the meetings at the Atlanta Aquarium Association they had a lot of Anglefish.

Last time I drove from Atlanta to Florida I found at a pet store, which was near the freeway, that had tall Vals and nice crypts. Also in Tampa there is aquaticplantdepot, which grows their own plants. Aquatic depot ships. Also heard Westside Aquarium 3409 S Dale Mabry Hwy Tampa, FL 33629 (813) 839-4751 in Tampa that has a fish breeding farm. You have to call before you go so that he can bring fish over from the breeding farm. Next spring I will be driving through Tampa and will post a wish list.

Have you ever gone to Pet Center in Tifton? That might of been the store I found when I took a pit stop on my way to Florida.