Dave W. wrote:

Thanks for the advice! Is there a decent lighting setup for a 10 gal.
that you can recommend? Perhaps I will invest in something more
adequate if necessary.


I have the exact same setup as you in a 10 gallon. It was planted about
2 years ago. I have java fern, a small sword, and more pygmy chain
sword than I know what to do with. All the plants are happy with those
2 10 watt bulbs (which you can get cheaper in the fish section at
Walmart).

About a year ago I started adding Excel 3 times a week and now I have to
pull out pygmy chain sword about once a month.

I used EcoSoft and sand as a substrate. For my other tanks I used fine
gravel (sifted tube sand) instead of the sand. Less messy when the
catfish and/or loaches root in it.

For picking plants, go to tropica.dk and peruse the plant listings.
They show the light, temp, and ph requirements for a whole lot of
plants as well as the size each will reach.

--
It's turtles, all the way down