New Planted Tank

[Joe_Shafe]

So I've done my research and I'm going to start a 10 gallon planted tank with about 10-14, 1-3 inch fish. I don't want an immense amount of plants just enough for the fish to hide and counteract the ammonia/nitrites/nitrates produced by the fish. I have the materials (I think) to set it up. I will have Flourite and sand as a substrate, a Marineland Single Bright 18-24" LED lighting system (unsure if this enough light) a Penguin 150 Power filter (carbon removed), A 50 watt heater, and another homemade strictly biological filter. I plan on adding the substrate and water tomorrow as well as the filter, heater, light etc. Then I'll let that sit for a day or so and then add my plants. Then I'll let that sit for a week to two weeks checking the PH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels until its cycled (I'm doing a silent cycle) after that I'll be adding 4-5 pygmy corys then the rest of the fish later on.

So the things I would like answered if possible are; Is this enough light? What plants and how many would you recommend? Do I need a CO2 system? And just a general am I headed in the right direction?

I know this is a lot and I know I probably won't get all my questions answered but this forum has been great to me so far and I just needed some more help.

Thanks,
-Joe

P.S. This is another group sorry for the double post to anyone who uses both this group and "Lighting, CO2, Ferts, and Flow".

 

[Ps3Steveo]

What wattage is your LED unit? This will determine whether you need CO2. Also 10-14 1 inch fish will be fine but 10-14 3 inch fish will be way too many for a small tank. With regards to which plants and how many, this can also be answered when we know your lighting power.


Steve

 

[Joe_Shafe]

All the fish are about 1 inch some smaller except a couple but I may pull back the stocking list regardless. As for the lights it doesn't really say. It says that they are 64 megawatt LEDs and there are 54 LEDs so I'm not sure.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I'm gonna merge your 2 threads before this confuses people but from looking at the other thread your gonna need more light first off mate.

 

[Joe_Shafe]

Alright sorry for the confusion. I took back the LEDs and got a 20" aqueon hood. It can fit two bulbs. At the store there were lots of different types of bulbs and I didn't know what to get so I grabbed two types. One being 2 incandescent 15 watt bulbs, the others were two 10 watt mini CFL bulbs that are high in blue and red light (its called the "daylight/bluelight"). I don't know which to use however. I know that its recommended that you use 1-2 WPG for a low-medium light tank which I plan on doing. My tank is 10 gallons so I didn't know if I should go with the 30 watts of fluorescent or 20 watts of CFL with a better light spectrum for the plants. I also didn't know if I could do one of each for 25 watts but I was worried about the uneven light distribution. Or if I should just get new lights entirely. BTW the hoods sockets are standard medium screw in sockets, just so you know if you're gonna suggest new bulbs.

Thanks,
-Joe

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Well to be honest, 2WPG is gonna require CO2 and ferts, so the choice is yours now really mate.

 

[Joe_Shafe]

Im willing to do C02 and fertilizers so which would be best.