Hi guys and gals.

I got a 10 gallon tank for Christmas and I'm interested in adding some
plants. It's got a Blue Gourami and 3 Platies. Temperature is 77-79 and pH
is 7.4. Unfortunately all it has is the 2 smallish (6" or so) incandescent
bulbs that it came with and from what I understand that won't do plants much
good. However, the tank is only about 4 feet away from a south-facing
window, so I'm not sure how adequate that would be.

So my main question is can I have a planted tank without putting much money
into it (ie lighting) or am I going to have to spend some money and
'upgrade'.

Any questions for me are muchly appreciated. Either email me or I'll be
checking the newsgroup in the morning.

Thanks for your help.

Zack Robertson

"Zack Robertson" wrote in message
. ca...
Hi guys and gals.

I got a 10 gallon tank for Christmas and I'm interested in adding some
plants. It's got a Blue Gourami and 3 Platies. Temperature is 77-79 and
pH
is 7.4. Unfortunately all it has is the 2 smallish (6" or so)
incandescent
bulbs that it came with and from what I understand that won't do plants
much
good. However, the tank is only about 4 feet away from a south-facing
window, so I'm not sure how adequate that would be.

So my main question is can I have a planted tank without putting much
money
into it (ie lighting) or am I going to have to spend some money and
'upgrade'.

Any questions for me are muchly appreciated. Either email me or I'll be
checking the newsgroup in the morning.

Thanks for your help.

Zack Robertson
How much light? I'm guessing 15 watts, thats what came with mine.

Ahhh found my note on rec.aquaria.misc

"No mention of having bought lights.I assume that means you have standard
lighting which won't be enough for anything but very low light plants. Try
Giant Crypto (Cryptocoryne blassii) 14", onion plant (Crinum thaianum) up to
65", and Wavy Edged Sword (Aponogeton crispus) 15" are all are supposed to
be low light plants. For the front dwarf Anubias (Anubias nana), Java fern,
water hedge (Didiplis diandra) (9") are also supposed to be low light
plants"

I have elodea, what is supposed to be Cobomba Carolina, java fern (lace) and
java moss growing like weeds in a 10 gallon with 15 watts and DIY CO2. Also
one Crypto that was trying to die in my very low light 55 is nor looking
better.

Start with low light plants and DIY CO2. If you like it and want to get
fancy up grade the lite with a kit. If that tickles you fancy then you can
get a big tank and go for broke, literally and figuratively ;-) I'm hooked
the next purchase is a major light upgrade for my 55. Enjoy, but before you
do all that invest in a small algae eater, a trio of ottos or something. I
have a small stripped rubbernose in my 10 gallon. At the rate he is growing,
it'll be years before he pushed the grand kids guppies out of it.

Bob

Zack, email me and will try to help you on low light plants.
Wilma
"Zack Robertson" wrote in message
. ca...
Hi guys and gals.

I got a 10 gallon tank for Christmas and I'm interested in adding some
plants. It's got a Blue Gourami and 3 Platies. Temperature is 77-79 and
pH
is 7.4. Unfortunately all it has is the 2 smallish (6" or so)
incandescent
bulbs that it came with and from what I understand that won't do plants
much
good. However, the tank is only about 4 feet away from a south-facing
window, so I'm not sure how adequate that would be.

So my main question is can I have a planted tank without putting much
money
into it (ie lighting) or am I going to have to spend some money and
'upgrade'.

Any questions for me are muchly appreciated. Either email me or I'll be
checking the newsgroup in the morning.

Thanks for your help.

Zack Robertson