Total Newbie!

[XeroTolerance]

Hello everyone. I'm pretty experienced in the "other" side of the forums but over here I'm a newbie. I'm thinking about getting some plants in my tank after it is done cycling. The tank is 10 gallons the picture is posted in my sig. The plant I plan on getting is Java Fern. I heard that they are very hardy plant. My pH is 7.6. My lighting is not florescent. Instead I have to light bulbs that are 15 watts each. I'm not sure if you still call that 15 watts or 30 watts. Also another problem I have is my gravel. It is only 1 inch deep. It that a problem at all for java ferns or is that fine. Do I need to buy CO2 supplements? I also don't have any fertilizer, is that a problem? Even if I do get it are there any good spots that you can see in my picture where I can put it?

Thanks for reading.

 

[kyleb2003]

Not sure if Java Fern will grow in the gravel (anyone?), best idea would be to tie the rhizome onto your big piece of wood and have it growing off of that in several places, works well for me.

 

[ZoddyZod]

java ferns will not grow in the substrate, they will rot and die.

As said above, these need to be fixed on some wood or stone.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Thanks for you help. I think I will put it in the lower left part of my piece of driftwood. Right by were that rock sticks out. Do you think the filter flow from above will mess it up?

 

[GrayScale]

java ferns will not grow in the substrate, they will rot and die.

As said above, these need to be fixed on some wood or stone.

It could be planted in the substrate as long as the rhizome is sitting on top of the substrate. But as above, I would recommend tying it down.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Thanks for your reply. I'm going to tie it down. I did some research and I'll be using rubber bands. Thanks for your help!

 

[RadaR]

Bulbs like this?
If so, it should be fine.

Do you think the filter flow from above will mess it up?

Nope.

30W over 10gallon is quite a lot. Light increases the plant metabolism and so the more there is, the more CO2 and nutrients are required. Otherwise the plant suffers. Could you turn off one of the bulbs? 7-8hours a day is plenty.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Yep! That is exactly what the bulb looks like! Should I turn off the bulb above the plant or the one on the other side of the tank? Will that mess up the water temperature on both sides of the tank? Thanks for your help!

 

[RadaR]

Should I turn off the bulb above the plant or the one on the other side of the tank

I'd turn off the one directly above. Java fern are not fussy or demanding.

Will that mess up the water temperature on both sides of the tank? Thanks for your help!

As long as there is some water movement then you are fine.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Ok thanks for your help! I'll be sure to do that.