Dave W. wrote:
I have always wanted to try an aquarium with live plants, but fear has
stopped me! I would like to start out with a 10 gal. tank to see how it
goes. I have an economy incandescent hood with 2 all-glass 6500k 10
wt. flourescent bulbs to use that a guy in a LSF assured me would be
adequate for most freshwater plants if left on for 12 hours daily.
All-glass advertises that they are suitable for aquarium plants, as
well. Since this is my first attempt, I have a few questions I am
hoping somebody can answer: What is the best thing to use for
substrate? I have read that Flourite is good. Would I need to
supplement with plant food periodically, and if so, does anybody have a
recommendation? Also, I have read that it is not necessary nor is it
advisable to use airstones in the tank as they drive off much-needed
CO2 from the water - do you agree with that? Lastly, is it necessary to
get some sort of CO2 generator, as well, or can I get by with out one?
BTW, the PH of my water is around 7.5 out of a well. Thanks for any
and all advice.

Lots of good stuff here. http://faq.thekrib.com/plant.html However, it
was written before compact fluorescent lighting and flourite substrates.

Don't let fear stop you. Plants pretty much grow on their own with
enough light, fertlizer and CO2.

Speaking of light, your lighting is what is considered "low" in the
planted tank world. I guess your LFS guy hasn't actually tried to run a
10 gallon planted tank. Small tanks require considerably more lighting
than the 2-3 watt/gallon formula suggests. Also little CF bulbs like
the all-glass ones or hardware store spiral compact bulbs don't put out
as much light as long, straight bulbs. I ran a 5 gallon tank for a
while on 28 watts of 5500K spiral compact bulbs and it was just about right.

Since you have low lighting, start with cryptocorynes (often called
crypts), java fern, and anubias. There are some very attractive
bronzy-red crypts. You may be able to grow a swordplant - hard to say.
Tie the java fern to a small piece of bogwood for an attractive
centerpiece.

CO2 will probably not be limiting in your setup unless you have an awful
lot of plants. Normally, you use an airstone/surface agitation to get
atmospheric CO2 into the tank. If you are supplementing C02 to levels
above atmospheric with yeast or compressed CO2, you turn off aeration to
keep the added CO2 in the water. Flourish Excel is a very good CO2
substitute.

Flourite is good stuff and crypts, grasses, and swords love it. Rinse
it well before putting it in your tank and it will still cloud the water
for a day or two.

An easy start...

Flourite substrate
Plant with LOTS of crypts, anubias, and java fern tied to wood (The
crypts usually will die back and regrow - remove the dying leaves and
don't let it worry you)
Fertilize with Flourish and Flourish Excel
Amano shrimp and maybe a few otocinclus to control algae

Good luck!

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to email me.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com