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Hi... I have a ten gallon and I would like to put some real plants in there... it only has a 15 watt incandescent light. I was, of course, wondering what plants I could start with...?

The only fish I have in the ten gallon is a single betta. I may be adding Cherry Barbs in the future. I dont know if that matters or not.

Also, is there some kind of plant food I put in the tank?

Yes, you are looking at a dunce.... Help me!

-pamela

I have one ten gallon at home currently that has been doing great with the following plants:

Java Ferns
a big bunch of pennywort
A crypt. wendtii
java moss
and some small water lettuce that reproduce nicely on the surface.

Keep in mind to put crypts in one place and leave them there. They "melt" if moved. The java fern and java moss mostly "root" themselves on rocks or wood, but the java fern plantlets often settle on gravel and root themselves pretty nicely. Some spots in that tank have a pretty nice cover of java fern plantlets.

As for "plant food" there are liquid ferts you should probably add (which is what I've used for that tank). Just follow the instructions on the bottle. I've had good luck with Tetra FloraPride, but before I came back to school I started trying the Kent Freshwater brand, which seems pretty good as well.

Hope that helps!

><>

aponogeten plants seemed to do well for me...i got a pack of bulbs from my local walmart, and there is even a gurantee for them.

The first thing, that will help the most, is to replace that bulb. With a screw-in compact fluorescent (you've probably seen them - twisty-looking bulbs, usually marked in the US with that Energy Star symbol) of a medium K rating (it's more or less a good way to guesstimate spectrum since that's rarely printed on the bulbs - something around a 6700K would be great - avoid the more common 2700Ks if possible) you'll have much better chances with plants, and the bulb won't heat up your tank the way an incandescent can. Scary anecdote: there was a period of time in aquarium history when incandescent bulbs were hung halfway into the tank, to provide light and heat! Of course, this was a step up from putting lit candles underneath the tank (hmm, fire + glass ... great combo. At least when the tank broke the water would snuff the candles, I guess! )
Stop me if I didn't explain what you're looking for well enough - screw-in compact fluorescent, 6700K, usually they're 11 watts at the size that replaces the 15 watt incands (but 11 watts of fluor is much much much better than 15 watts incand). You can try Home Depot, or whatever your local equivalent is.

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

oh yeah, though you said flourescent...

As for the candle thing, at that time aquarium bottoms were made fo slate

><>

To illustrate and underline the above.


That is what you're looking for. I know home depot sells one made by commercial electric that is a "daylight" (6500K+) bulb in the right spectrum range for plants (I have some in my tanks). There have been reports of there being some sold in wlmrt that are a daylight bulbs, but it seems some dont carry them.

With just the incandecent light you really won't have much luck. It's not the same type of watts you see when you read Xwatts per gallon in reguards to plants. Additionally incandecents are the wrong kelvin much lower than the 2000K that is considered the "warm white".

Replace the bulb like LittleMousling suggested, then you should have close to 1.5-2wpg for the tank depending on the bulb you get. With that there are many more options for plants .

^_^
*Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration*[/font]

Last edited by Babelfish at 13-Oct-2004 18:31

they actually sell a florecent bulb in the fish department at walmart made for aquariums. i bought mine there, it works great

My ten gallon planted contains the following...

Dwarf sagittaria
Java fern
Lancelot's anubius
Nana anubius
java fern
Carolinian bacopa
Foxtail
Crystal vals
Cambomba
Marimo moss *carpet*
and two kinds of Amazonian swords

all of these are good choices for the the beginninger's planted tank, as I myself have only recently ventured into the planted business, and am having a good amount of success with the aforementioned plants.

Anachris would work too.. easy stuff to grow, and grows really fast.

Good luck and have fun with it
-CJ

how do those bulbs fit into the top tank lights?? or dont they?? i have a fluro tube lights. Is there a better way??

Oh wow! Thanks for responding everybody! I couldn't get online that past couple of days..it is so nice to see many replies!

Now, i have to make it to the pet store!!

-pamela