AquaRank.com

FishProfiles.com Message Forums

faq | etiquette | register | my account | search | mailbox
# FishProfiles.com Message Forums
L# Freshwater Aquaria
 L# Planted Aquaria
  L# 10 gallon planted
   L# Pages: 1, 2
 Post Reply  New Topic
Subscribe10 gallon planted
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Hi sporkfish, and welcome to FP

Yes, some plants, for example Anubias Nana, have a rhizome. This is the thick part of the root, not the skinny ones that go down from the plant. The problem with burying the rhizome is that it would rot. Your options are to either tie the plant with the rhizome to a rock or driftwood, or to bury it so that the rhizome is still completely above the substrate.

About the light you have being enough – what light do you have in the hood? Meaning wattage and type.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Report 
sporkfish
----------
Small Fry
Posts: 10
Kudos: 6
Votes: 5
Registered: 06-Dec-2005
female usa
I'm not really sure about what kind or type it is, which is why I'm looking at bulbs. I'm having a hard time finding one that's the right size to screw into my aquarium hood. It's not one of the long, bar type looking bulbs, it's the smaller kind that looks like a regualr light bulb you screw into a ceiling fan. Kind of.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
It probably takes an incandescent or a compact halogen. I'd go with the compact over the incandescent, they have a better spectrum of light for plants and fish. I put a reptile compact over my 2g and grew lots of algae! It may take a bit of balancing but you should have no problems growing plants with it. A minimum of 1 wpg or a 10 watt bulb is all you need to grow low-light plants. With the compact you can easily have more wpg.
Next question is the tank tall or long? A long tank is better for plants as they are then closer to the light and can use it more easily. A tall tank has the light farther away from the plants and therefor needs more watts.

Last edited by luvmykrib at 06-Dec-2005 13:47

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Uh sporkfish,

I might be wrong, but that sounds like an incandescent light to me. Most of the time they are very weak. It doesn’t say anything on the tank package (assuming it was a kit)? Or can you call (go to) the store where you bought it and ask?

It really seems that you would be low light at the best. I am not so sure that Cryptocoryne spiralis will grow to its full potential in a low light setup though.

Ingo

EDIT: didn't see luvmykrib's answer because I was writing mine at the same time, sorry

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 06-Dec-2005 13:50


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
sporkfish
----------
Small Fry
Posts: 10
Kudos: 6
Votes: 5
Registered: 06-Dec-2005
female usa
I wasn't planning on keeping my current bulb, I'm looking for a new one. It's just that I'm having a hard time finding one that will fit in my hood. Maybe I should just buy a different hood. I'm going to the store tomorrow to see what they have. I'll post what I find and what (if anything) I bought.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
sporkfish
----------
Small Fry
Posts: 10
Kudos: 6
Votes: 5
Registered: 06-Dec-2005
female usa
Very shortly, I will be starting my first planted tank. I think I have almost everything figured out, except for my lighting and plants.

The main question I have with plants is exactly what is a rhizome? I did a search on it, and all the pictures I get back show the roots. So when everybody says not to bury the rhizome are they talking about the roots? How do you plant it if you can't bury the roots?

The plants I was thinking about were:
Anubias Frazeri (two of them)
Anubias Nana (one)
Crypt Spiralis (two)

Since those are all low light plants, would the light I got with my aquarium hood (the one that was already with it when I got it) work for lighting?
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
8-12hrs.

Actually that is the answer. Too much light encourages algae, tropical fish come from regions where daylight lasts about 12 hrs. This is ideal. However, they can handle less. You can probably get away with 8 hrs as long as your light source is the right spectrum. I recently got timers for my tanks so that they are getting no more than 12 hrs light. Regular digital timers or whatever you can find, they really only need an on and off setting.

I thought the lamps were all very nice as well. Must go to home depot, then again maybe not!

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
sporkfish
----------
Small Fry
Posts: 10
Kudos: 6
Votes: 5
Registered: 06-Dec-2005
female usa
When I clicked on that link, it sent me to a page that had lamps. They were nice looking lamps, though. I think I finally found what I was looking for. I'm going to buy them when I get paid again.

While I'm on the subject of lights, how many hours a day do I need to keep the lights on? I've heard anywhere from 8 to 12.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
My tanks are the Hagen Waterhome kits, they use the gasket thingy. I'm not much of a techie but that's how to best describe it. Right now I have been sticking to the bulbs from the lfs and not getting out of that comfort zone of knowing they are made for my tanks. Changing the hoods for better light is probably way too expensive at this juncture, and pointless as they are doing well. I like the relatively low maintenance that low-light tanks have over the seemingly high maintenance that higher light CO2 tanks seem to have.

My best advice would be to take the hood to the store and try the light on for size before buying it. That could just be me though, better safe than sorry and having to return it later.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
FRANK
 
**********
---------------
---------------
Moderator
Posts: 5108
Kudos: 5263
Votes: 1690
Registered: 28-Dec-2002
male usa us-colorado
HI,
Yup. I mean the compact flourscents. I don't know what
you are talking about when you mention a water proofing
gasket but, if an incandescent slips through the hole
then I know the screw in flourscent will as well as they
are the same diameter base.
Just purchase the DAYLIGHT or SUNLIGHT bulbs. Don't get
the "Cool" or "Warm" or warm white bulbs. Those are
designed for reading, are a much lower "K" rating and
lack the spectrum that the daylight and sunlight bulbs
have.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
Frank you meant the compact fluorescents right? That is what I had meant as well but typed halogen by mistake.
I bought mine at a lfs and probably paid more than I should have, it was for reptile terrariums and it did a really good job of growing things.
It may be wiser to save the money and get the bulbs at hardware stores. I am never quite sure what I'm looking at there though, and how the bulbs will hold up to the moisture in the tank. My tanks do not have glass covers, the bulbs fit into gasket-type-things that stop moisture from getting into the fixtures.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
FRANK
 
**********
---------------
---------------
Moderator
Posts: 5108
Kudos: 5263
Votes: 1690
Registered: 28-Dec-2002
male usa us-colorado
Hi,
This is a picture of what you are looking for:
[link=http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0015733168.1133972940@@@@&amp;BV_EngineID=ccdkaddggmhmhegcgelceffdfgidgjm.0&amp;CNTTYPE=PROD_meta&amp;CNTKEY=misc/searchResults.jsp&amp;MID=9876&amp;N=2984+4233&amp;pos=n12]http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0015733168.1133972940@@@@&amp;BV_EngineID=ccdkaddggmhmhegcgelceffdfgidgjm.0&amp;CNTTYPE=PROD_meta&amp;CNTKEY=misc/searchResults.jsp&amp;MID=9876&amp;N=2984+4233&amp;pos=n12" style="COLOR: #FF00FF[/link]

They come in various sizes and shapes and wattages.
Purchase only one that has on it somewhere DAYLIGHT or
SUNLIGHT (usually printed on the glass). These bulbs
are perfect replacements for the incandescent bulb.
They use less electricity, give off less heat, and the
light they provide,when using DAYLIGHT or SUNLIGHT bulbs
are perfect for viewing fish and growing plants.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
sporkfish
----------
Small Fry
Posts: 10
Kudos: 6
Votes: 5
Registered: 06-Dec-2005
female usa
The only bulbs I saw at Wal*Mart were the two in a pack incandescent bulbs. Do you happen to remember what the packaging looked like or what it was called?
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
GirlieGirl8519
----------
Fish Master
*Malawi Planter*
Posts: 1468
Kudos: 1029
Votes: 35
Registered: 25-Mar-2005
female usa
If it is the same kind of kit like I have from Walmart, you can buy fluorescent bulbs that screw in. They are 10w each and would give you 2 wpg. You could grow low to med. light plants. I have the hood that came with it, just replaced the bulbs and the filter.
I have wisteria, rotala indica, anubias nana, dwarf sag, and crypt wendtii in my 10g.
I found my bulbs at Walmart in the fish section. They are about $5 each.

*Kristin*
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
sporkfish
----------
Small Fry
Posts: 10
Kudos: 6
Votes: 5
Registered: 06-Dec-2005
female usa
No. It came as a kit that I bought at Wal-mart a while back. I'm going to bed now, before I fall over. I'll look at lightbulbs/hoods tomorrow and see what I can find. :%)

And, no, there is no rush. It is December after all, and like most people, I'm kind of broke.

Last edited by sporkfish at 06-Dec-2005 14:53
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Well,

I am not sure if you got the dimensions right

I almost hope you are off by a little. Is it a tank made by All-Glass Aquariums? Their dimensions are 20long by 10 deep by 12 high and they also have a glass top that would fit on it (that&#8217;s why I hope you were wrong).

The Glass Top is [link=Here]http://www.all-glass.com/products/hoods/versatop.shtml" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link].

If that is the right size, then all we have to do is to find you a nice light to place over it , if you want to upgrade.

But no rush &#8230;

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bcwcat22
-----
Big Fish
Posts: 395
Kudos: 314
Votes: 34
Registered: 16-Jul-2005
male usa
What place there in wont effect the equation.

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
sporkfish
----------
Small Fry
Posts: 10
Kudos: 6
Votes: 5
Registered: 06-Dec-2005
female usa
Well, the division wasn't that hard. That's probably the first math problem I've ever gotten right. My aquarium is:

20lx10hX11w

It's 10 gallons, but the fishprofiles calculator shows it as being 11 gallons and something.

And, of course, I could have those numbers in the wrong place. I work graveyard, and I'm supposed to be in bed right now. I had to measure it in the dark. Like I said, never was any good at math.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
sporkfish,

Well, you got the math right.

Take it easy, there is no need to rush anything. Let's get the dimensions first and then we will go from there .

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
sporkfish
----------
Small Fry
Posts: 10
Kudos: 6
Votes: 5
Registered: 06-Dec-2005
female usa
It's just a standard 10 gallon aquarium. I wasn't going to go to a LFS and buy a bulb. The minute you walk through the door, they're all over you telling you anything you want to hear just to make a sale. I always dread going into them. I was thinking of going to a hardware store.

Before I go though, let me make sure I know what I'm looking for. I'm looking for a bulb that is from 6000k to 67000k. Then you divide the watts and the gallons to know how many watts per gallon? Like if I got a 30 watt bulb I would have three watts per gallon? So confusing.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
# Pages: 1, 2
Post Reply  New Topic
Jump to: 

The views expressed on this page are the implied opinions of their respective authors.
Under no circumstances do the comments on this page represent the opinions of the staff of FishProfiles.com.

FishProfiles.com Forums, version 11.0
Mazeguy Smilies