Going Planted

[atmmachine816]

Ok I have been thinking on what to do with my 10gallon tank as soon as the guppies leave and have decided that I want to try to go planted. My parents wouldn't let me go nano and my dad likes plants so I'm thinking maybe if I do this right I might be able to convince my dad to let me if I tell him he can help me take care of the plants. So what I'm thinking right now is using the internal whisper filter I have right now for a filter, take out the sponge filters and put in a fluval internal filter. Why I want the internal filters is so I can get a glass canopy. I also would get a fully submergable heater. With this in mind I would be able to shut the canopy all the way. I would then get a 15w strip light for the back half of the canopy and a 6w strip light for the front half so I can move it when I need to lift the lid up. Then I plan to get a special substrate for the plants and fertilizers. I don't however plan to use CO2 since I'm not ready for that and with the strip lights I will be getting a little over 2wpg. With that in mind I would pick out some nice plants and a few fish to have a little life in there. Now my real question is do you guys see any problems with this? If not what fish would you recommend.

Thanks

Austin

 

[atmmachine816]

Soo nobody has any opinons on this. O I think I will go with a fluval 1 interanl filter.

 

[atmmachine816]

O ok that would save me some nice money though. Do you think a fluval 1 internal filter will be enough, I could keep running my whisper micro filter and small sponge filters but don't really want to? What good fish are there that would add a little activity to the tank but not produce a lot of waste?

Austin

 

[atmmachine816]

Ya that's what I was thinking, the only reason I want a internal filter is so I can use a glass canopy since there is no room for a filter hole and I'm not able to cut one. I'm still thinking of what type of fish I want, maybe neons, but I have started liking rasboras a lot. I don't think I would want any neon tetras though, too finicky and maybe cardinals but I don't believe they are much better.

Austin

 

[Themuleous]

I use eco-complete, seems to be working great in my tank. BTW you dont need to wash it, but you may want to drain off the water in the bag it comes in as this is quite murky. I think if you wash it, certainly under tap water that will kill the good bacteria it has on it.

Sam

 

[atmmachine816]

Do you know where I could go about buying this or would my best bet be online?

Austin

 

[Themuleous]

Sorry dude not sure where you can get it in the USA but shop around it does vary quite a bit in cost. I did a quick google for it and found this website and that would seem a very reasonable price, I paid £25 (around $40 I think) so much cheaper than the UK.

 

[atmmachine816]

Ok that sounds like a good price, thanks. Which would be better for a filter, Fluval or Eheim internal? And how would one male betta and 4-6 otos sound for fish?

Austin