10G Planted

[Sweeden]

Well after picking up alot of plants from dayzofspeed as he's going marine, i got home sorted through them and heres the result hope you like and comments and critisisms welcome.

Its a little foggy as ive only just finished so will try get a better picture in couple of days once settled

Night Shot SMD red strip light (12v)

Full tank day view

few close ups, still not got a decent shot of danios (fast things)

and finally i scared them with flash accidently, put camera to sport mode to try catch danios

 

[PDSimon]

Some of the plants are looking a bit rough? I would remove any dead leaves.

whats the lighting and do you dose ferts?

 

[snowflake311]

The plants will look good once they start to grow. I love the Val on the side of the tank. I am not really sure I am feeling the Hard scape. It looks like too many Big chunky things for a small tank. When you do a hardscape on a smaller tank it is best to use smaller rocks and thinner wood. That way the tank feels bigger.. Its like putting a pool table and huge L shape couch in a room small room. I like the plant placement. it will be interesting to watch how this tank changes.

 

[Sweeden]

Some of the plants are looking a bit rough? I would remove any dead leaves.

whats the lighting and do you dose ferts?

Some are a little rough there old ones though and if they totally die i pull leaves off

im using 15W T8, was using for 14hours but been told to just flick it on for 4-8 now and dayzofspeed gave me some ferts so fingers crossed will look lovely

 

[PDSimon]

Good stuff. That lighting should be good. Start with 6 hours and work it up if there is no algae. Keep us posted!

 

[lljdma06]

The plants will look good once they start to grow. I love the Val on the side of the tank. I am not really sure I am feeling the Hard scape. It looks like too many Big chunky things for a small tank. When you do a hardscape on a smaller tank it is best to use smaller rocks and thinner wood. That way the tank feels bigger.. Its like putting a pool table and huge L shape couch in a room small room. I like the plant placement. it will be interesting to watch how this tank changes.

My advice: Grow plants first, worry about hardscape later...

Now that your lighting is in order, keep the tank very clean. Remove dead leaves as you see them, and rinse your filter regularly. If you see that the tank needs another waterchange, do it. Don't wait until your scheduled waterchange. Sometimes new systems will need larger waterchanges every other day just to keep things clean. Already looking at your picture, you need to clean that filter, those clogged up plants gotta go. That stuff produces ammonia, and that's not good.

You asked in another thread about the fish load. I'll answer you here, because I've kept fish for about 22yrs. You should be fine with the levels of tetras and danios that you want, eventually. If you increase the numbers gradually, you should be fine. If the tank is densly planted, your stocking doesn't really follow inch per gallon, but is more of an eyeballing thing. I personally don't like Danios in anything smaller than a 20g. They are an active fish and swim very fast, so for me, long tanks are ideal for their habits. A 20 long is good, but a 40g breeder is amazing. Zebra danios are underused, IMO, a potentially amazing fish in the right planted setup. Would love to do a setup with vallis, sags, river rocks, and Zebra danios and then crank up the flow. Very elegant, I think. The cardinals will be ok if the water is kept clean, which you're supposed to do for the plants anyway. Happy plants = happy fish!

Liz

 

[Sweeden]

My advice: Grow plants first, worry about hardscape later...

I'm more concern about the fish than it looking really good at the moment, just want some coverage for my fishes

Now that your lighting is in order, keep the tank very clean. Remove dead leaves as you see them, and rinse your filter regularly. If you see that the tank needs another waterchange, do it. Don't wait until your scheduled waterchange. Sometimes new systems will need larger waterchanges every other day just to keep things clean.

My tank literally hardly gets dirty, i give the tank a magnet scrub after every water change just to get rid of bubbles. Ive never had algae on the glass and it has taken near 6 month for a stone in there to go green.

Already looking at your picture, you need to clean that filter, those clogged up plants gotta go. That stuff produces ammonia, and that's not good.

Thats gone, i dropped a bit of java moss in there as i poured water back into the tank. the filters get a clean once a week, just quick squeeze in tank water and debris pulled off.

I personally don't like Danios in anything smaller than a 20g. They are an active fish and swim very fast, so for me, long tanks are ideal for their habits. A 20 long is good, but a 40g breeder is amazing.

I love them, really active and i do feel a little cruel having a small tank but at the moment they'll have to stay. however my mum wants a large tank at the nursery in reception which i will be creating so this summer they should have a new home.

The cardinals will be ok if the water is kept clean, which you're supposed to do for the plants anyway. Happy plants = happy fish!

I got told at the start cardinals needed very clean water and i must be doing something right as ive found them very easy to look after.

Thanks Liz