A Few Questions I Need Help With

[Challan]

i have a small 10 gallon tank and i was wondering if having a air stone is necessary. i have some 2 danios that seem to be doing just fine but i got a pleco today and i wanna make sure he gets enough oxygen.

Second question: what are good starter plants? My local aquarium store told me anubis something was good. i have had it in my tank for a week and it looks like its dying.

 

[coldcazzie]

Hi Challan, welcome to the forum!

If you make sure your filter is placed so that it ripples the water surface then you'll have plenty of gas exchange taking place, so an additional air stone is unnecessary for oxygenation. By all means have one if you think they look nice, but you don't need one for extra oxygen

What plec did you buy? I ask because your tank is small and so is unsuitable for many plec species which grow quite large, which are the plecs often sold in shops. Some plecs also have specific needs which many people are unable to provide, which usually leads to them dying for no apparent reason.

Anubias are great starter plants, as are java fern, cryptocorynes, mosses and some species of hygrophila. How have you got your anubias? It needs to be tied or glued to a piece of wood or rock; if the rhizome (that's the main stem bit that the leaves and roots grow out of) is planted under the substrate it rots and the plant dies.