10 Gallon Planted Tank Plan

[hakova]

Hi all,

Since I started my DIY CO2 system, the pH of my tank water didn't get higher than 6.6, which was the level right after 80% WC. Normally, it stays at 6.0. The CO2 tube is connected to a powerhead, which turns on with the lights for 4 hours a day. When it is on, it generates micro bubbles, but when it is off, a bubble around 1 cm diameter pops from the tubing every 5-10 seconds. My tap water has a kH of 40 ppm (~2.2 degrees). I still haven't received the drop checker yet. What would the experts recommend?

1. Do you think it is time for me to add some bicarbonate yet? If yes, do you recommend sodium or potassium bicarbonate, although I am not sure where to get the latter from? Also is there a formula to figure out how much to add per gallon?

2. Should I continue doing large WC almost everyday? Remember that I do not have fish in the tank yet. This will be to keep bacteria colonies happy to continue establishing. I will receive my plants this afternoon and plant them. I am hoping this will not further complicate the issues but rather help me to have a more stable system.

3. Should I do nothing instead? I believe that was what Dave suggested earlier and I think this is a very reasonable option. It will probably take longer to establish the colonies as he mentioned before, but I have figured that this wasn't a hobby for the impatient anyway .

Any pointers, ideas are greatly appreciated.

Edit: Just added the third option there.

 

[hakova]

Well, I did a 50% WC, just to make planting easier and heavily planted my tank:

I found a kink in the tubing of the canister filter, which decreased the flow significantly! That may partially explain the recent decrease in clearance of toxins (i.e. ammonia and nitrites). Now I will just keep adding ammonia and monitoring levels of it, nitrite and nitrates as well as pH. I decided not to get crazy about the pH level as suggested by Dave earlier, it just make sense to me. Now the challenge is to keep plants happy.

I increased the light cycle to 6 hours: 2 hours on, then 2 hours off, followed by 4 hours on. Although there doesn't seem to be convincing evidence about interrupted lighting preventing algae growth, it wouldn't hurt I thought. When is a good time to start fertilizers you think? What I currently have is Seachem Fluorish Potassium and Leaf Zone.

 

[mdwheeler]

Well, I did a 50% WC, just to make planting easier and heavily planted my tank:

Looks good!

What lights are you using?

 

[hakova]

Thanks mdwheeler,

I am using Current USA 24" Nova Extreme 2xT5 freshwater. Basically 2 T5 tubes: one 10K the other pinkish plant light of some sort.

 

[mdwheeler]

Thanks mdwheeler,

I am using Current USA 24" Nova Extreme 2xT5 freshwater. Basically 2 T5 tubes: one 10K the other pinkish plant light of some sort.

The pinkish light is a plant growth light that has an output of 6700k (which gives it the pink tone).


I'm probably going to buy that same light. Would you recommend it?

 

[hakova]

...I'm probably going to buy that same light. Would you recommend it?

Hi mdwheeler,

I didn't see any disadvantage of this light so far. It is very bright, has a very nice color temperature that brings the green of my plants to foreground. It extends about 2 inches from the sides of my tank since my tank is only 20" long, but I read somewhere that this was a desired situation since it prevents the plants at the sides and corners to be not exposed to adequate lighting. The reflectors are quite efficient, too. It doesn't get too warm and therefore does not contribute to the tank temperature, besides being elevated from the tank surface about 4 inches. I use a canopy in between the lighting and the tank surface BTW, but the light fixture also has its own splash guard.

Overall, I recommend it to you, having used it for about 10 days or so. Please keep in mind that I am a newbie and I may be missing something although I think I did quite a bit of reading before I bought this light .

Please let me know if I can help more.

 

[mdwheeler]

...I'm probably going to buy that same light. Would you recommend it?

Hi mdwheeler,

I didn't see any disadvantage of this light so far. It is very bright, has a very nice color temperature that brings the green of my plants to foreground. It extends about 2 inches from the sides of my tank since my tank is only 20" long, but I read somewhere that this was a desired situation since it prevents the plants at the sides and corners to be not exposed to adequate lighting. The reflectors are quite efficient, too. It doesn't get too warm and therefore does not contribute to the tank temperature, besides being elevated from the tank surface about 4 inches. I use a canopy in between the lighting and the tank surface BTW, but the light fixture also has its own splash guard.

Overall, I recommend it to you, having used it for about 10 days or so. Please keep in mind that I am a newbie and I may be missing something although I think I did quite a bit of reading before I bought this light .

Please let me know if I can help more.

How is it elevated above the tank? Is it on legs or are you hanging it from something?

I just ordered it but panicked when I found out my tank was 20 in but I guess i might keep it. I'm more worried about having a way to set it on top of the tank without having to hang it on something.

 

[hakova]

It sits on its legs, which you can adjust the position by sliding before screwing them in place. My tank is 20" long as well and I think it looks good on it when you center it on top by leaving ~1" extending on both sides.

Please see the pictures below; there is some distortion because of the curve of the camera lens but I think you can still get some idea.

 

[mdwheeler]

I'm still debating on the light. Love it's reviews, hate its price (its not bad, i'm just kinda tight on money....college n stuff).


Does the lighting in the tank look exactly like it does in the pic (give or take brightness....i'm concerned with color though)?

 

[hakova]

I'm still debating on the light. Love it's reviews, hate its price (its not bad, i'm just kinda tight on money....college n stuff).

I don't blame you, it is not cheap. Please read my other topic in plants section. Experts think that this might be a little too much lighting for my tank. They are recommending me to dim the light a bit somehow. Perhaps you should go with a lower wattage or single tube option.

Does the lighting in the tank look exactly like it does in the pic (give or take brightness....i'm concerned with color though)?

The light is very bright, it doesn't look exactly like in the picture. I will try to upload a higher resolution picture tonight, but to my human eye, the colors look very natural when the lights are on.

 

[mdwheeler]

I'm still debating on the light. Love it's reviews, hate its price (its not bad, i'm just kinda tight on money....college n stuff).

I don't blame you, it is not cheap. Please read my other topic in plants section. Experts think that this might be a little too much lighting for my tank. They are recommending me to dim the light a bit somehow. Perhaps you should go with a lower wattage or single tube option.

I had ordered the light earlier and cancelled, but the company charged me anyway and shipped it so I guess i'm getting the light .
I'm not the least bit concerned with brightness my lights right now (10 watts x2) are extremely dim. I always kinda try to buy the larger version of things that way when I get a bigger tank I won't have to buy to much more stuff.

The 'experts' are probably concerned with the light heating your water and scorching your plants. From what i've read the light was designed to avoid that, so as long as your water isn't heating rapidly you should be fine.

 

[lljdma06]

I don't blame you, it is not cheap. Please read my other topic in plants section. Experts think that this might be a little too much lighting for my tank. They are recommending me to dim the light a bit somehow. Perhaps you should go with a lower wattage or The 'experts' are probably concerned with the light heating your water and scorching your plants. From what i've read the light was designed to avoid that, so as long as your water isn't heating rapidly you should be fine.

No, the "experts" are more concerned about you being able to maintain optimum CO2 and nutrient levels for that amount of light. That lighting will make your plants want to consume CO2 and nutrients like gangbusters. If you cannot provide the plants with what they need, the algae will most certainly work with what little you've got. The lighting is overkill, in my opinion, and you could easily halve it and get good results with less hassle from having to maintain high stable CO2 levels all the time.

I apologize for having not seen this thread earlier. It must have been buried somewhere or I must have been working on something. I would have commented much sooner.

 

[mdwheeler]

Luckily i've got plenty of co2!!! Anyway I got the light that way when I get a slightly bigger tank i'll have it. also i want my plants to grow like 'gangbusters' , that way I can sell them back to the local aquarium.

Also since i'm upping the lighting wouldn't it be smart to get more fish? Right now i've got 4 small catfish (not sure which kind though....about an inch, blackish spotted) 2 Rasboras 1 platy.

 

[lljdma06]

Luckily i've got plenty of co2!!!

How do you know? Have you a dropchecker?

 

[mdwheeler]

Luckily i've got plenty of co2!!!

How do you know? Have you a dropchecker?

Nope. I run about 10 bubbles a second through my powerhead though and basically coat the plants with a fine mist of bubbles by the end of the day. I have them running through a spray bar as well (to get the evenly dispersed).

I'm wanting my plants to almost grow out of the tank.