The Puffer Forum

So I have decided to start a planted tank. I have had very limited success with aquarium plants however. What should I use for a fluorescent bulb? What is the best option for substrate? And is there anything I should add to the water?

I like this stuff: http://www.yamatogreen.com.

A planted tank requires light (10s have to have more light per gallon than larger tanks do, BTW), substrate, current, and a full and balanced nutrient mix. No one of things is sufficient, all must be in balance.

Your best bet is to go to a planted tank site and read some of the articles available there. Pick one a follow it for your first tank. It is too confusing and too risky to try to mix and match when you have no experience yet. Once you have done a tank or two, then you can try you own components.

But I would suggest staring with a 15 or20H or 20Long. They are much easier than 10s. Tens are tricky, below ten gallons they are pretty difficult for novices.

All I got is a 10. Should I try a few small easy plants to start with then?

Certainly, give it a shot.

Hints for first try:

Don't try for high-light plants, pick only easy or very hardy low to medium light plants.

Don't do single plants that get too big if they grow at all - no swordplants to start with.

Stick with one brand of supplements. I use only Seachem. PP likes Yamato. There are other as well.

Do not believe anything a local store employee tells you. They lie constantly and badly.

Before you buy any plant, go back home and check it on Tropica.com for their comments. Don't go back and buy unless they say it is easy and the max size will fit your tank. Also make sure the plants look at least quite similar. Mislabeling is commoner than not.

HTH

I have a planted 5 gal w/ 8W of light. No ferts, a betta, and a couple cherry shrimp. Plants include val, floating downoi, brown crypts, java moss, and some floating plant.

Just set up a new 5.5gal w/ 15W. No ferts and a single betta. Plants include val, planted downoi, brown crypt, and java fern will be added.

Thanks for the help guys.

Yeah, crypts are great for low light/smaller tanks.

Pufferpunk wrote:Yeah, crypts are great for low light/smaller tanks.

I agree 100%. They were my first (pun intended) . Go with a t5NO (not HO, cause you'll have algae issues like crazy). I run a Coralife t5NO on my 50 gallon planted bichir tank and it's awesome.

Second, listen to what RTR says. I believe I've read on other posts that ALL of his tanks are planted (please correct me if I'm wrong), so he knows what he's talking about.

My third piece of advice, is to NOT MISS A SINGLE WATER CHANGE. IME, if you fall behind at all, algae can creep up on your very quickly. Making sure you stick to a 50% a week ( or in the case of a 10 gal, maybe 20% 2-3 times a week).

Good luck with the planted tank, they are beautiful!

Would 3 20% changes or 1 50% be better for maintaining a healthy tank?

I can't seem to find any t5NO.

greenspottedlover wrote:I can't seem to find any t5NO.

There all HO.

Good quality fluorescent bulbs are what I use. See if you can find a double strip light for that tank.

I've been hearing I need about 30watts+ for the tank would a dual bulb with two 15watts be good?

greenspottedlover wrote:I can't seem to find any t5NO.

They might simply be listed as T5....

http://www.bigalsonline.com/Fish_Lighti ... HO-T5.html