$92 with an empty 10 gallon

[Sponge bob]

I got $92 dollars and have a ten gallon tank.
I have a filter and a hood.
It has type of hood, and I need to new bulb's.
The filter is like this I need new filter bad and bio-bag.
I have coupons for Petco $2 off Tetra Whisper Bio-Bag, $5 off Aquatic Gardens Submersible heater for any 50, 100, 150 or 200 watt heater, 50% off AquaSafe or EasyBalance Water Conditioner, 50% off Tetra WaterClarifier,20% off Live plants.
Any of the heaters good?
I wanna do Dwarf Puffers as some of you might know. I wanna do a ADA type tank.
I need some sand(white or tan) Gravel(Natural flake like, If you know what I mean) and drift wood.
Any one help out with brand name's that are cheap and good for lighting and stuff?
Thank you

[edmlfc1]

Find a pool company and get some pool filter sand. It's about $6 for 50lbs. Not that you would need 50lbs but it's cheaper than buying a 10lb bag at the lfs.

[Sponge bob]

I have a "local pool store".
Lighting?

[edmlfc1]

For what you are wanting to do I would look for t5 lights to fit the tank. Or MH, if you go with MH you may have to get CO2 also. I'm not the right person to answer questions about planted tanks. All mine are lowlight plants.

[Sponge bob]

I just wanted to do some moss like.
Would eclipse 5 gallon hex lighting work?(if it fits)
Like a 50/50, I know there salt water, but I had one in my 12 gallon and it was beast
http://www.reptilesupplyhouse.com/mini- ... t-lam.html
or
http://www.reptilesupplyhouse.com/mini- ... lorma.html

[edmlfc1]

You don't want 50/50, look for bulbs with 6500k. Find a fixture that will fit the 10 gallon and check for bulbs, that's the only way you will know if you have the right fixture.

[Jase]

depends how you want it to look... A simple work light with a 26W 6500K daylight CFL bulb costs $15 total and is plenty light...
They also make little halide lights you can screw in that hood, but they aren't cheap.

I would also suggest you get some good substrate for the plants (flourite/eco-complete). you can put sand on top if you want (will mix eventually), but IMO the heart of a great planted tank is the substrate.

DIY CO2 is cheap and easy as well. I would suggest it.

I think that filter is fine... a good planted tank is very balanced.

[Sponge bob]

Yea I just need bio-bags for it. The lighting, I'll think I'll go with the eclipse lighting if it fits. Would I need Co2 for moss really?

[Jase]

not really, but it helps all plants... I don't think I've ever seen an ADA tank without CO2 though.

[Sponge bob]

Me 2.

[recombinantrider]

To be honest that hood is pretty poorly constructed. I used to have one of those and the water just kept splashing into the bulb and they keep blowing. Just wanted to let you know in advance. you may end up having to buy so many bulbs it's cheaper to get a better hood in the long run.

[Sponge bob]

eh,,I was going to get/make a splash guard