BIGbadJOHN
Fish Fanatic
I've got a 10G tank that has just finished it's cycling and I need to know some basics of what I need to do to have a well maintained low budget planted tank. It has just one Aqueon 8000K Full Spectrum Daylight florescent tube(15W 120V T8 18"). I have 2 Amazon Swords in it at the moment because they' came together and I wasn't about to waste one. I also have a java fern attached with some fishing line to a piece of driftwood laying long ways which runs about half the length of the tank. I had a some stalks of something that looked similar to anacharis, but they seemed to be dying so I removed them. I have about an inch of CaribSea FloraMax that slopes up to about an inch and a half at the back of the tank with pool sand about an inch thick on top. This is probably too much substrate I suppose, but if I can keep from pulling it all out I'd prefer not to fool with it. I also have set the lighting to come on for an hour early in the morning as well as 5 more hours from 5pm -10pm. Throughout the cycle I have had NO problem with algae. I haven't turned the light on for more than a minute at a time and that was only a handful of times. I also just put the first dose of Aqueon Fertilizer in. I only used 5 mL. I know it might not be the best stuff, but I had a coupon for it, sorry! The Java fern had a few leaves that were brown out of the package and I had no more that turned brown up til a couple days ago when I removed 2 leaves starting to turn brown. It has only about 5 leaves on it now. The swords have actually sprouted a dense cluster of about 5-6 leaves in the center starting about 2 weeks ago or so. They seem to be growing, but not fast. They have been growing roots well. I actually trimmed them back when I repositioned them today. I plan on getting some more plants, and I'd definitely like something that will carpet a little on the sand. I just want more variety. Some bushier plants, some taller, some that carpet, etc. And as far as fish go, I'll be adding a betta who is currently recovering from some fin rot and definitely some platys because my wife LOVES the Mickey Mouse variety. I would also like to add some shrimp and maybe some ?corys? I don't know about the corys cause I know they school and I don't know if I have enough room. If no cories then I'd like a couple of ottos. That's about it I'd say. I've been told not to use platys cause they're too large for a 10G, but my wife loves them and I just don't see why a trio of them wouldn't be ok.
Anyways, I guess what I'm asking is:
Is my light source sufficient enough to sustain plants, and if so, how much?
What should I set my lights to for low algae, but good growth?
Should I use fertilizer for such a small tank, and if so, how much should I use?
Any advice would be appreciated and if there are any good links to some sites or any good books I should pick up for a planted freshwater tank I'd love to hear about them!
Anyways, I guess what I'm asking is:
Is my light source sufficient enough to sustain plants, and if so, how much?
What should I set my lights to for low algae, but good growth?
Should I use fertilizer for such a small tank, and if so, how much should I use?
Any advice would be appreciated and if there are any good links to some sites or any good books I should pick up for a planted freshwater tank I'd love to hear about them!