Need Help Planning First Planted Tank.

[jmiller]

I have been slowing transforming a neon colored 10 gallon tank created by my grand-daughter into something a little bit easier on the eyes. With a lot of help from other forum members, especially waterdrop, I have reached a point that the next logical step is to add live plants.

I have done a lot of reading and have come up with some plant choices for a low tech set up. In theory all of these should work but with absolutely no experience I need help. I mainly went with plants that say they are easy to care for and have the general size, shape and texture of the fake plants currently in the tank.

Here is the layout and choices:

1...front / Hemianthus Callitrichoides
1...back / Anubias Barteri var. Nana Petite
1...back / second plant is undecided if needed

2...Vallisneria americana var. Biwanesis (contortional val)
Auubias Barteri var. coffeefolia
Sagittaria subulata (dwarf)

3...Ledwigia Natans

4...Limnophila Indica
Bacopa Australis
Ledwigia Natans (can you tell I like this one)

5...Hygrophra Corymbosa

6...Bolbitis Heudeloii
Hygrophlia Corymbosa - siamensis

Please excuse any butchering of names. The plan is for one type of plant in each numbered area with some areas showing multiple choices of plants that I liked the looks of.

My setup is your basic 10 gallon (20" long x 10" deep x 12" high), two 15W incandescent lights, cycled AquaClear 20 HOB filter, water PH 7.9, 50W heater @ 79*, standard black aquarium gravel and currently stocked with guppies, neons & cories.

Now the questions,
1...Are the above listed plants good for beginners?, if not what then?, and any other suggestions?
2...Will I have to change the lighting?, if so to what?
3...What about liquid fertilizers?

I'm sure I'll have a bunch more questions but that should be enough to get started.

 

[AdAndrews]

I have been slowing transforming a neon colored 10 gallon tank created by my grand-daughter into something a little bit easier on the eyes. With a lot of help from other forum members, especially waterdrop, I have reached a point that the next logical step is to add live plants.

I have done a lot of reading and have come up with some plant choices for a low tech set up. In theory all of these should work but with absolutely no experience I need help. I mainly went with plants that say they are easy to care for and have the general size, shape and texture of the fake plants currently in the tank.

Here is the layout and choices:

1...front / Hemianthus Callitrichoides
1...back / Anubias Barteri var. Nana Petite
1...back / second plant is undecided if needed

2...Vallisneria americana var. Biwanesis (contortional val)
Auubias Barteri var. coffeefolia
Sagittaria subulata (dwarf)

3...Ledwigia Natans

4...Limnophila Indica
Bacopa Australis
Ledwigia Natans (can you tell I like this one)

5...Hygrophra Corymbosa

6...Bolbitis Heudeloii
Hygrophlia Corymbosa - siamensis

Please excuse any butchering of names. The plan is for one type of plant in each numbered area with some areas showing multiple choices of plants that I liked the looks of.

My setup is your basic 10 gallon (20" long x 10" deep x 12" high), two 15W incandescent lights, cycled AquaClear 20 HOB filter, water PH 7.9, 50W heater @ 79*, standard black aquarium gravel and currently stocked with guppies, neons & cories.

Now the questions,
1...Are the above listed plants good for beginners?, if not what then?, and any other suggestions?
2...Will I have to change the lighting?, if so to what?
3...What about liquid fertilizers?

I'm sure I'll have a bunch more questions but that should be enough to get started.

Sounds good, but, plants such as Hemianthus Callitrichoides will not survive in a low tech setup. The anubias coffeefolia will be too big for a 10g, so will the bacopa i think.

Cories *may* rip plants up, so its touch and go with them.

for low tech your set-up is fine, the lighting good, fish stocking fairly heavy so that will provide the nutrients for the plants...

Regarding ferts, you may not need any, but i find either using a liquid fert dosed daily; tpn+ or substrate capsuals-again tropica, are a great help.

 

[jmiller]

Wow, nine minutes. What took you so long?

Thanks for the reply. Do you have any other suggestions for an easy foreground plant?

Looks like the TPN+ is UK only. I'm in the US.

 

[AdAndrews]

Wow, nine minutes. What took you so long?

Thanks for the reply. Do you have any other suggestions for an easy foreground plant?

Looks like the TPN+ is UK only. I'm in the US.

you should look for seachem ferts then in the US, i have heard good things about them.

Erm, mosses, these can be quite effective, just tie them to small rocks and place it on the substrate, you can get a big variety of mosses too.

 

[lljdma06]

Wow, nine minutes. What took you so long?

Thanks for the reply. Do you have any other suggestions for an easy foreground plant?

Looks like the TPN+ is UK only. I'm in the US.

you should look for seachem ferts then in the US, i have heard good things about them.

Erm, mosses, these can be quite effective, just tie them to small rocks and place it on the substrate, you can get a big variety of mosses too.

Aponogetons, vallis nana, cryptocorynes for general plants. IMO, Bolbitis will get too big for a 10g. As was said before, mosses will make good foreground plants for a low-tech. Also try smaller crypts (c. parva) and marsilea hirsuta. These have worked well for me on a taller tank with just stock lighting.

Check out eBay for TPN+. Mine is shipped to my house directly. It is a great all-purpose fertiliser. Expensive, but certainly worth it rather than buying all the seachem products and doing the measuring, or constructing from dry ferts which is always an inexpensive option. I work and don't have the time to do the mixing, so the little extra I pay for shipping, is really made up for with the convenience.

llj

 

[jmiller]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I just placed my order. I'll update once they come in.

 

[jmiller]

Here is what I ended up with.

1 front...Hemianthus Callitrichoides (Potted) Dward Baby Tears
1 back...waiting
1 back 2...waiting
2...Sagittaria Subulata (Dwarf)
3...Ludwigia Natans (Ludwigia Repens)
4...Ludwigia Natans (will be moved later), wanted Bacopa Australis here
5...Anubias Barteri Var. Nana (Pot)
6...Hygrophila Difformis (Water Wisteria)

A few may not have been the smartest choices but we'll see what happens.
Thanks for everyones help.