Jen's Low Tech 10g Planted Tank

[Jen]

For the past 2 months or so, I have been keeping a cute little betta in a 5 gallon bowfront acrylic tank. It was a tank that I bought when I was away at school because I missed my fish - one of those all in one deals. It came with a tank, hood with incandescent bulb and a filter. I came across a pretty little betta at my local fish store and bought it impulsively. I rush home and set everything up, seeding the tank from my main tank.

Recently, I have been noticing a little water around the base when I have been cleaning the tank, just figureing I have been spilling. I tilted the tank back a few weeks back and noticed a small puddle under the middle of the tank. So I had a very small leak... almost not enough to worry about. But the tank is on a wood desk, and I didn't want to risk wrecking it.

So yesterday, I stop in at my lfs on my way home from work and pick up a few new supplies. I had an old 10 gallon tank in my back room and a filter, so all I needed was a new light. I decided I would get an incandescent hood, since it holds 2 bulbs, and switch the bulbs out for the twisty flourescent type. I also picked up a package of Eco-complete on reccomendation of a few staff members, and 3 nice pieces of petrified wood, as well as a few plants.

I didn't really measure my tank, figureing all 10's were the same. Wrong. Now, normally, I check every step before I go ahead and set things up. Today I didn't. I clean the tank and the substrate, empty out the old tank and take the betta out. I get the new tank in place and fill it up. At this point, I decide to put the hood on and see how things look. Well, the hood is too small by about 1/4" on all sides. Because im using an internal filter, the hood stays up, but electronics and water aren't one thing i want to mess with.

So my betta is chilling in a margerine container with some holes in the lid, and the filters running (old and new) so I don't lose any bateria. I get to take another trip out to the fish store today and buy a new tank, and go through the fun process of emptying and filling a tank... again.

Once I get things set up, I will post pictures of the wood and plants.

D'oh

 

[SugarQube]

Good luck look forward to your pics

 

[Jen]

PS... Have people had good luck with Eco-complete? I don't normally buy something with out recearching it. I had every intention of going in there and getting flourite, but someone told me this was better.

 

[Themuleous]

I use EC, its very good, a 'complete' substrate in that in contains lots of trace elements, far better than flourite IMO. The only problem with it is that it increases GH and KH to around 7-8 for the first 6ish months, but after that I've manged to get them down to a more 'normal' 5-6 for each. But it is very good.

Sam

 

[Jen]

If it has lots of trace elements in it, is there a need to dose trace at all? or can I get away without anything extra?

 

[Themuleous]

You dont have to dose trace, but adding some just means you've got all the bases covered and puts less strain on the substrate that's all. But certainly you should be able to get away with not adding it. That said, its not to much hassle adding some is it?

Sam

 

[Jen]

Cool. I probably will anyway. I'll have it out to dose my big tank, so I might as well. I think I am going to shy away from the EI on this tank though. I will only have about 20 watts on it, and I dont want to run another co2 tank.

 

[Jen]

Oh. and how to you clean it? just like regular gravel/sand?

 

[wendywc]

So was there a leak with the 5 gallon? Or maybe the hood just dripped occassionally and it pooled to the bottom of the tank? Just wondering... good luck with the new tank.

 

[Jen]

So was there a leak with the 5 gallon? Or maybe the hood just dripped occassionally and it pooled to the bottom of the tank? Just wondering... good luck with the new tank.

Good thought, but the hood sat inside the tank, and the leak was under the stand that is closed in... plus, I can see the crack in the bottom.

I'm hoping what with having more room in the tank, I will be able to get a few other fish to put in there with my betta. I tried adding some platty fry, but he started attacking them as soon as they were released.

any suggestions as to what can live with a betta ok in a planted tank?

 

[mikster]

Alot of people suggest african dwarf frogs as good companions for bettas.

 

[Themuleous]

Oh. and how to you clean it? just like regular gravel/sand?

No, you'll suck it all up! I just wave my hand over it to get the crud floating then suck it out when doing the water change.

Sam

 

[Jen]

Cool. That's easy enough to do.

Alrighty. I got the tank this aft, and I now Have it all set up, rocks and plants in. I'm just floating my betta to get the temp right, so he should be home by the time I go to bed tonight.

It's still pretty cloudy in there, so I will post pics as soon as it is clear enough.

As for lighting, I got 2 of the twisty bulbs. How do I figure out the wattage - The package says they are equivilant to 60 watt household bulbs, but are actually only 15. Do I go by the 15 or the 60?

For plants, I picked up 3 pots of Crypt Parva, which stays small with slender leaves and what my store called Ludwiga Repense. The closest name on tropica is L. Repens... but they look nothing alike in my opinion. Hopefully you plant buffs will be able to help me out with it once I have a picture. I threw in some val, and one of my lotus'.

I'm quite happy with the look of it already, even though I can't really see anything. The browny of the wood just pops out over the back bottom. Hopefully the crypt will take quicky and cover things.

 

[Neal]

I can't wait for pictures. Get some pictures of the unidentified plant up and i'm sure someone can indentify it for you.

Neal

 

[Jen]

Alright folks, here she is.

and the mystery plant....

Toughts, comments?