Live Aquarium Plants

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.

You're welcome. :-) I love planted tanks.

There's no reason not to try what you have first. You can always add
more light and more demanding plants.

If I were setting up a new 10 gallon planted tank, I'd move my 36W power
compact fixture to it. I have it on a 15 gallon tall tank (same
footprint as a 10) and it's not as bright as I would like at the bottom
of the tank. I think it would be perfect for 10 gallons. I bought my
JKS brand 36W fixture locally and it's a small one with a 17" long
double tube and a straight 4-pin base. I've never seen a similar
fixture by mail order but you can ask around.

Coralife Aqualight makes a 20" 28W fixture that would also work. It
comes with a 50/50 bulb so you have to buy a 6700K bulb separately for
it. Buy the "legs" to lift the fixture up off of the tank. CF lights
run rather hot and 10 gallon tanks heat fast.
http://www.hellolights.com/201xcoraqpch.html

You will need to plant heavily and use Excel or CO2 once you're up
around 30W over a 10 gallon tank. Algae is fond of bright light so you
want to be sure the plants establish fast and keep the upper hand.

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

On Wed, 10 May 2006 00:00:02 GMT, Altum
wrote:

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.

You're welcome. :-) I love planted tanks.

There's no reason not to try what you have first. You can always add
more light and more demanding plants.

If I were setting up a new 10 gallon planted tank, I'd move my 36W power
compact fixture to it. I have it on a 15 gallon tall tank (same
footprint as a 10) and it's not as bright as I would like at the bottom
of the tank. I think it would be perfect for 10 gallons. I bought my
JKS brand 36W fixture locally and it's a small one with a 17" long
double tube and a straight 4-pin base. I've never seen a similar
fixture by mail order but you can ask around.

Coralife Aqualight makes a 20" 28W fixture that would also work. It
comes with a 50/50 bulb so you have to buy a 6700K bulb separately for
it. Buy the "legs" to lift the fixture up off of the tank. CF lights
run rather hot and 10 gallon tanks heat fast.
http://www.hellolights.com/201xcoraqpch.html

You will need to plant heavily and use Excel or CO2 once you're up
around 30W over a 10 gallon tank. Algae is fond of bright light so you
want to be sure the plants establish fast and keep the upper hand.

I'm jealous. My son and a girl lived together and had a baby. My
grandson. My son and the girl and the baby had a nice apartment. My
son wanted an aquarium, he learned a lot from me growing up, he could
manage it without my help. I told him to take his pick from the pile
of tanks overhead in the garage. He took my prized treasure, my 15
Tall. I bought that at a yard sale for $5, and I have never seen one
for sale, so I hate to think what the price is for one of those
babies. What an absolutely perfect shape and size. I want.
My son and the girl broke up. She kept everything in the apartment and
will not give me back my aquarium. She said it was a gift and no take
backs. She happens to be native american and she called me an indian
giver. She is a bitch. She hasn't a clue how to care for it, it is
empty in a closet. Double bitch.

I think Waylon sang something about Mama, don't let your babies go to
bed with bitches . . .

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me

Mister Gardener wrote:

I'm jealous. My son and a girl lived together and had a baby. My
grandson. My son and the girl and the baby had a nice apartment. My
son wanted an aquarium, he learned a lot from me growing up, he could
manage it without my help. I told him to take his pick from the pile
of tanks overhead in the garage. He took my prized treasure, my 15
Tall. I bought that at a yard sale for $5, and I have never seen one
for sale, so I hate to think what the price is for one of those
babies. What an absolutely perfect shape and size. I want.

I had to special order the sucker. It's made by Oceanic and cost like
$35 or $40, I think? Expensive for a small tank but I needed the 10 gal
footprint - lease limit on tank size. I just wish I had the light to
grow red plants. Anyone know of a 50-60W 20" CF fixture that I don't
have to build myself?

I LOVE the height. I can grow Crypt balansae...if the dratted things
would grow again *grumble*... and crinum without having to lop them off
or have leaves curled everywhere. I've even got an angel in there -
there's enough depth for him to be comfortable. Not much swimming
space, but he mostly spends his life jealously guarding the 9 square
inches of surface where the food lands anyway. ;-)

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

On Wed, 10 May 2006 06:25:32 GMT, Altum
wrote:

Mister Gardener wrote:

I'm jealous. My son and a girl lived together and had a baby. My
grandson. My son and the girl and the baby had a nice apartment. My
son wanted an aquarium, he learned a lot from me growing up, he could
manage it without my help. I told him to take his pick from the pile
of tanks overhead in the garage. He took my prized treasure, my 15
Tall. I bought that at a yard sale for $5, and I have never seen one
for sale, so I hate to think what the price is for one of those
babies. What an absolutely perfect shape and size. I want.

I had to special order the sucker. It's made by Oceanic and cost like
$35 or $40, I think? Expensive for a small tank but I needed the 10 gal
footprint - lease limit on tank size. I just wish I had the light to
grow red plants. Anyone know of a 50-60W 20" CF fixture that I don't
have to build myself?

I LOVE the height. I can grow Crypt balansae...if the dratted things
would grow again *grumble*... and crinum without having to lop them off
or have leaves curled everywhere. I've even got an angel in there -
there's enough depth for him to be comfortable. Not much swimming
space, but he mostly spends his life jealously guarding the 9 square
inches of surface where the food lands anyway. ;-)


20 inch 96 watt. Wrong bulbs, they should be changed

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products.../Itemdy00.aspx

Charles wrote:

I had to special order the sucker. It's made by Oceanic and cost like
$35 or $40, I think? Expensive for a small tank but I needed the 10 gal
footprint - lease limit on tank size. I just wish I had the light to
grow red plants. Anyone know of a 50-60W 20" CF fixture that I don't
have to build myself?

20 inch 96 watt. Wrong bulbs, they should be changed

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products.../Itemdy00.aspx

Thanks. I've seen those but I sure wish I could find something in
between 36W and 96W. I think this tank lit with 96W would require more
fiddling than I prefer...

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

On Wed, 10 May 2006 06:44:12 GMT, Altum
wrote:

Charles wrote:

I had to special order the sucker. It's made by Oceanic and cost like
$35 or $40, I think? Expensive for a small tank but I needed the 10 gal
footprint - lease limit on tank size. I just wish I had the light to
grow red plants. Anyone know of a 50-60W 20" CF fixture that I don't
have to build myself?

20 inch 96 watt. Wrong bulbs, they should be changed

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products.../Itemdy00.aspx

Thanks. I've seen those but I sure wish I could find something in
between 36W and 96W. I think this tank lit with 96W would require more
fiddling than I prefer...


How opposed are you to building something yourself. AHSupply has some
kits and readymade enclosures, some assembly required.

http://www.ahsupply.com/finished_enclosures.htm

Charles wrote:
On Wed, 10 May 2006 06:44:12 GMT, Altum
wrote:

Charles wrote:

I had to special order the sucker. It's made by Oceanic and cost like
$35 or $40, I think? Expensive for a small tank but I needed the 10 gal
footprint - lease limit on tank size. I just wish I had the light to
grow red plants. Anyone know of a 50-60W 20" CF fixture that I don't
have to build myself?
20 inch 96 watt. Wrong bulbs, they should be changed

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products.../Itemdy00.aspx
Thanks. I've seen those but I sure wish I could find something in
between 36W and 96W. I think this tank lit with 96W would require more
fiddling than I prefer...

How opposed are you to building something yourself. AHSupply has some
kits and readymade enclosures, some assembly required.

http://www.ahsupply.com/finished_enclosures.htm

Cool! I knew they had the ballasts and stuff but I hadn't seen the
hoods. Time to start saving. ;-)

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

On Wed, 10 May 2006 06:25:32 GMT, Altum
wrote:

Mister Gardener wrote:

I'm jealous. My son and a girl lived together and had a baby. My
grandson. My son and the girl and the baby had a nice apartment. My
son wanted an aquarium, he learned a lot from me growing up, he could
manage it without my help. I told him to take his pick from the pile
of tanks overhead in the garage. He took my prized treasure, my 15
Tall. I bought that at a yard sale for $5, and I have never seen one
for sale, so I hate to think what the price is for one of those
babies. What an absolutely perfect shape and size. I want.

I had to special order the sucker. It's made by Oceanic and cost like
$35 or $40, I think? Expensive for a small tank but I needed the 10 gal
footprint - lease limit on tank size. I just wish I had the light to
grow red plants. Anyone know of a 50-60W 20" CF fixture that I don't
have to build myself?

40 watt 10,000 / 480 actinic / lunar light is the closest I find.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113345


I LOVE the height. I can grow Crypt balansae...if the dratted things
would grow again *grumble*... and crinum without having to lop them off
or have leaves curled everywhere. I've even got an angel in there -
there's enough depth for him to be comfortable. Not much swimming
space, but he mostly spends his life jealously guarding the 9 square
inches of surface where the food lands anyway. ;-)

It's neat that your lease limit is on footprint, not weight. I wonder
how tall of a tank you could build on a 10 gallon footprint. I foresaw
my 15 Tall as a haven for plants, was thinking along the lines of
topless "dutch" style.

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me

Mister Gardener wrote:
On Wed, 10 May 2006 06:25:32 GMT, Altum
wrote:


Mister Gardener wrote:


I'm jealous. My son and a girl lived together and had a baby. My
grandson. My son and the girl and the baby had a nice apartment. My
son wanted an aquarium, he learned a lot from me growing up, he could
manage it without my help. I told him to take his pick from the pile
of tanks overhead in the garage. He took my prized treasure, my 15
Tall. I bought that at a yard sale for $5, and I have never seen one
for sale, so I hate to think what the price is for one of those
babies. What an absolutely perfect shape and size. I want.

I had to special order the sucker. It's made by Oceanic and cost like
$35 or $40, I think? Expensive for a small tank but I needed the 10 gal
footprint - lease limit on tank size. I just wish I had the light to
grow red plants. Anyone know of a 50-60W 20" CF fixture that I don't
have to build myself?


40 watt 10,000 / 480 actinic / lunar light is the closest I find.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113345


I LOVE the height. I can grow Crypt balansae...if the dratted things
would grow again *grumble*... and crinum without having to lop them off
or have leaves curled everywhere. I've even got an angel in there -
there's enough depth for him to be comfortable. Not much swimming
space, but he mostly spends his life jealously guarding the 9 square
inches of surface where the food lands anyway. ;-)


It's neat that your lease limit is on footprint, not weight. I wonder
how tall of a tank you could build on a 10 gallon footprint. I foresaw
my 15 Tall as a haven for plants, was thinking along the lines of
topless "dutch" style.

You've seen those tower cylindrical tanks..6-7 feet tall...diameter
'round 2 ft or so....

Mister Gardener wrote:

It's neat that your lease limit is on footprint, not weight. I wonder
how tall of a tank you could build on a 10 gallon footprint. I foresaw
my 15 Tall as a haven for plants, was thinking along the lines of
topless "dutch" style.

Our local PetsMart has an 18H that fits a 10 footprint. In the $30-40
range IIRC.

--
It's turtles, all the way down