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OK...Want to start some plants. I read Frank basic how to guide in one of the first post in this forum so I know that my gravel is ok. I will need to add some more to get it deep enough but no prob. Second the light fixtures only work on one of my tanks. Yes, thet are all 10 gal.
I have read about Amazon sword...have a fake one now...and other kinds that may be very easy in Heidi's "A Plant I Cant Kill", post. Question is, will my tank get enough light if I use a hanging light right over it that shines down into the tank? I am quessing since the light is directly not over it, I will have to use a high watt..like 75? 100? I know nothing about plants in tanks but want these because I want to try to get my Cherry Barbs to mate. Also the onlyyyyyy plants you can buy here are at WalMart. You can sometimes find them in tanks but mostly its just the little bulbs in a small package that are about $3.00 for 4-5 of them. My guess this isnt what Im looking for. The LFS doesnt sell plants, I dont think. So.....any suggestions? Anyone know sites that sell plants and dont charge you $20 to ship them?

Hello

Well you've done your reading, so cheers to that. An amazon sword, however, will grow WAY to large for a ten gallon tank. I have a sword that's outgrown my 46 gallon. For lighting for basic low maintenence plants all you really need is a basic lighting fixture you can find at most LFS. Look for something in the range of 15-25 watts for your tank, that'll be fine.

And re: the walmart aquarium bulbs, I've actually ehard a lot of good things about them. I assume they're some sort of apons, which are always nice. Other plant options to look for in a general fish section of a place like walmart is anubias or crypts. I've seen them often in chain fish stores.

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Back in the saddle!

I just bought a plant package here at this website:

http://www.freshwateraquariumplants.com

The shipping was only $10 for 2/3 day service (which is usually fine for plants only). The good thing about that site is, once you order your package, you send them an email giving them the description of your set-up (lights, fish, etc.) and they select the plants for you that will do the best with what you have. For those that want certain plants this would not work, but for newbies like me that know NOTHING about plants and just want something that will look nice and that I won't kill.....this option was perfect. I hope this helps.

Last edited by crazyred at 26-Oct-2005 10:31

Last edited by crazyred at 26-Oct-2005 10:33

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Do you know why the fixtures you have don't work? Standard 10g hoods are rather simple and easy to fix in most cases. For my 5g and 20g long I'm setting up a 4' fluorescent strip to set over both of them instead of buying seperate lights especially since I already have the 4' light. As far as the walmart bulbs have you checked this thread:
[link=http:// fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Planted%20Aquaria/65312.html?200510261127]http:// fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Planted%20Aquaria/65312.html?200510261127[/link]

Last edited by sham at 26-Oct-2005 21:34

Another good place to order plants online is http://www.aquaticplantdepot.com. They ship from Florida so if you're kinda close it only takes a few days. Shipping is $10 or you can ship it 1-2 day which is more expensive. The plants I got were all in good shape and are still alive now, 2 weeks later.

If you can get your 10g hood to work, you can have two 10 watt flurescent bulbs and have 2 watts per gallon which is perfect for growing plants. I have just recently planted my 10g and I knew nothing about plants when I started.

My advice is research the plants before you buy them so you won't waste money. Know which ones you can grow and which ones you can't. Asking questions here is a good start. I know I asked alot of questions when I decided on plants. Good luck!

Also, about the bulbs from Walmart, actual plants are so much better. The bulbs that actually grow are ok, but actual plants, like anubias, wisteria, and crypts look better. I started out with the bulbs when I first got my 10g and some of them wouldn't stay planted and floated around, and others didn't grow anything. Hope my info helps at least a little!

*Kristin*

Sham...Yes, I know why they dont work. The bulbs got stuck in the fixtures and I had to PULL them out. The broke in my hands and I had to take a knife and dig out the bottom part of the bulb. There is a little piece of metal in there that "makes the connection" for the light to come on and in one of the four fixtures it isnt there any more. I tried to out lights in one of the fixtures but its like the bulb is too small for the fixture. I dont see how this could be because you pretty much can just buy one kind of replacement bulb. My dad used to be an electrician so I think I may ask him to come over and look at them.

I went to my LFS today and they have a plant tank. The plants didnt really look good to me. She offered me Java moss and I took it. I got a bunch for just $4. A lot more than I will use. I put some in one of my tanks and that is my fave tank. It is so clean and pretty looking. Dont know what it is about it but it looks so peaceful and serene. The tank setup doest make a sound.
What do you guys know about Java moss? How can I keep what I dont use alive? Just put it in some water??
Thanks for the interest in helping me. Now that Ive gotten the moss, I think I am just going to stck with it for now.

The part the bulb screws into on a 10g hood is very easily replaced. It's pretty standard for any light socket. I think that part is even sold at places like walmart for a few dollars. Your dad should be able to easily fix it.
Many different bulbs can be put in these fixtures. They usually come with incandescent bulbs which produce alot of heat and aren't that useful for plant growing. I melted one of my 10g hoods with incandescents and then had a 5g hood that wouldn't work so I took parts from the 10 to fix the 5. It's best to replace the bulbs with daylight screw in fluorescents around 10watts and in a hood with 2 bulbs you'll have 2wpg.

Java moss will survive quite awhile in the dark in a wet bag but if you want it to really survive and even grow stick it in a fish bowl or a jar on the windowsill.

thanks a bunch Sham!!!!!!!!

I just went to walmart and I looked all around the lighting department. I didnt see anything like what I needed.

Ladie,
another good place to look for the parts you would
need is at Home Depot.
Then you can take the peice with you, or take the whole hood, and a knowledgeable electrical employee will be able to help you.
Again, I would second the spiral screw in flourescents.
I use 2- 23 watt bulbs on my 10g tank.
I posted a picture of the type in your other post
on cherry barbs.


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Im hoping my dad will be able to fix it. He should eb able to look at it and know just the part it needs are whether it can be fixed.

Thanks for the pic Sneaky. I saw it. I saw the bulbs at Wal mart they were about $10.