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hello everyone.
it's been a while... i used to be in the hobby a few years back and i liked keeping fish very much. I can't remember though why i stopped (thinking now; i might have gotten lazy with my water changes and stuff). BUT i need an aquarium in my room again... i don't sleep as good as i used to and i think it may be because theres no humming of a filter and soft splashing of the water to lull me into my slumber...

phew.. anyway, i want to came back with something small that will fit on my night stand next to my bed. and i was thinking of the eclipse system 6 (8watts/6 gal = 1.3333wpg, also 150gph filter).
I've never kept plants before (succesfully atleast) and would like to give it a try this time. Would this aquarium work? I'm not planning on using CO2 or anything (i am aware though that eclpise systems don't come with heaters so i will purchase one myself). I just want to keep a few small tetras or guppies, some small bottom feeder(s), and alot of low-light plants.
how does this sound? has anyone tried planting an eclipse system like this? have there been problems? any comments or suggestions? thanks in advance!!

hi great to see u back in the hobby

First off are u going to put any fertz under the gravel ?

I think that tank would be ok u might want a refector on the light to make it brighter. I have been doing plants for only 3 years and my lights are only 1.25 WPG. My one regret is not putting reflectors on the light when i started but cant chnage it now as it would kill my low light plant. There is a much bigger range of plants when u get to about 1.5 - 2.0 WPG.

U might want to have a look at this site
http://192.38.244.204/go.asp?plant=109
as it might give u some plants that u would like and can tell u of wat they need to keep them healthy

hope this will help you

That setup will be fine for a low light planted tank. Some plants you can grow successfully might include crypt species, anubias nana or coffefolia, java fern, and moss. There are a few other plants you might be able to grow as well. If you use the link provided in the previous post to the tropica website, you can use the advanced search function and search for low light plants.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

cool! thanks, that site is pretty helpful (thanks for pointing out the advanced search option too). I think i'll start off with java moss and whatever other low-light plants i find at my LFS.

First off are u going to put any fertz under the gravel ?

should i? i don't really know about that stuff. Are those plant substrates the same thing (like eco-complete and stuff)? Would that be better than normal gravel?

Hi,
The decision to use the "specialized" substrates or not
should depend upon what you want out of that tank at this
time. If you want a plant or two (so to speak) then I
would advise against the special substrates and use regular
gravel. The fish and the nitrogen cycle along with regular
water changes will provide the nutrients necessary for a
few plants to thrive.
If you want a lush green jungle with a variety of plants
and a few fish (plants do take up room and cut down on the
swimming area) then I would suggest SeaChem's Fluorite,or
the Eco Complete substrates at 100%. Use either, but don't
mix with regular gravel.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Hmmm... "lush green jungle with a variety of plants and a few fish" sounds like what i want ... so i'll go with 100% eco-complete (i like the no rinse business and the dark color).
As for a reflector, how do i come across one? I haven't seen any available for the eclipse 6 specifically. Do they sell one that would fit that bulb? Or should i "DMY" with some aluminum foil?
Furthermore--i'm probably getting a bit ahead of myself here (i'm yet to order the aquarium) but--how complicated would it be if i wanted to add a piece of drift wood? Obviously it would have to be small, considering the tank size... but would it affect the pH too much (or negatively)? Also, I read somewhere that you have to "pre-soak" it for like ever.. too. I dunno, I've never dealt with drift wood before. But i am interested because i've seen wood with java moss growing on it, and it's nice.

Thanks everyone for your help so far.

Hi,
I've never seen that particular tank and don't know what
kind of light it has in the hood. I suspect you could
DIY some aluminum foil behind the bulb as a reflector to
increase the strength of the light into the tank.

In a small tank Driftwood could impact the pH of the tank.
That effect could be lessened by soaking it for longer than
normal in a bucket of water and changing the water each
time the water took on a tea like color. When the water
stops changing color, then the wood has been seasoned and
will make a minimal change in the pH.


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--