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10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Greetings.
Can it be possible to have a planted tank which is 10gals or less(2.5gal)? What kind of lighting and chemicals should I use to keep the plants healthy and thriving? Can aragonite sand be used in such a tank(how much)? What can I use to keep the plants in their place? What about compatible fish for the planted tank? The 2.5gal tank I haven't bought it yet. I have a 10gal, but no lighting yet. What kind of light should I use if I go with the 2.5gal? Can one of those daylight fluorescent bulbs fit in the 2.5gal hood? Would it produce enough light for the plants, or should I go DIY PC? If I don't find any ideal type of sand, what could be the alternatives? What plants do you recommend that I should start with? I was thinking for livestock if I go with the 2.5gal. some fancy guppies or neon tetras or two angels. If I go with the 10gal. the livestock will be a little more varied, but not too much. I was told that aragonite sand can make the water too alkaline? will it make it so, even if I wash the sand? TIA -- Take Care. JuanMa Please remove NOSPAM to reply. |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Can it be possible to have a planted tank which is 10gals or less(2.5gal)?
Yes, it's possible, but it's difficult. See Amano's second book. It features small planted aquariums, many under a gallon! But it's a lot of work. You have to choose plants and fish very carefully. You may also find that you need a lot more light per gallon than you would in a larger tank. What kind of lighting and chemicals should I use to keep the plants healthy and thriving? It depends on what kind of tank you want. If you want an Amano-style tank, you'll need to inject CO2. And you may need 8 watts per gallon or more of light. Can aragonite sand be used in such a tank(how much)? Generally, inert sand -- silica sand -- is preferred for freshwater tanks. What about compatible fish for the planted tank? Your choices will be very limited with such a small tank. Amano uses rasboras and neon tetras in his smallest tanks. Amano shrimp and otocinclus for algae control. But I'd be really hesitant to keep fish in such a small tank. What kind of light should I use if I go with the 2.5gal? Can one of those daylight fluorescent bulbs fit in the 2.5gal hood? If you want a high-tech planted tank, you'll need power compact flourescent lights. What plants do you recommend that I should start with? It really depends on whether you decide to go with high, moderate, or low light. In any case, your small tank will dictate your choices. Small-leaved plants will look a lot better in a small tank. And some plants simply get too large to be kept in a 2.5 gallon tank. I was thinking for livestock if I go with the 2.5gal. some fancy guppies or neon tetras or two angels No way can you keep angels in a tank this small. I wouldn't even keep them in the 10 gallon tank. They get to be 8" high. They need deep tanks -- 24" or so. I wouldn't keep guppies in such a small tank, either. Guppies are active fish, and need room. I was told that aragonite sand can make the water too alkaline? will it make it so, even if I wash the sand? Yes. Aragonite is for sal****er tanks. Washing won't help, because it's the sand itself that dissolves, making the water alkaline. Use silica sand instead. And if you are new, I really, really recommend you go with the 10 gallon tank. The larger the tank, the easier it is to maintain. A small tank is very unforgiving of mistakes. If you do go with a 2.5 gallon tank, I recommend keeping just one Betta splendens in it. It won't mind the cramped quarters. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
"JuanMa" wrote in message . .. Greetings. Can it be possible to have a planted tank which is 10gals or less(2.5gal)? My daughter has a 5 gallon tank with 2 shubunkin, and a bunch of Java Fern. Incandescent light, and the bloody ferns look healthier than in any of my other tanks. Bright, Bright green, I have been pruning them for starts in the other tanks. billy |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
My daughter has a 5 gallon tank with 2 shubunkin, and a bunch of Java Fern.
Incandescent light, and the bloody ferns look healthier than in any of my other tanks. Bright, Bright green, I have been pruning them for starts in the other tanks. Java fern are undemanding plants that don't need special lighting. They don't need CO2 injection, special fertilizers, or special substrates, either. They are a very good choice for beginners. However, I hope you're planning to move those goldfish to a larger tank soon. Goldfish grow fast and get huge. A 55 gallon tank is the minimum I would consider for two goldfish. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Goldfish grow fast and get huge. A 55 gallon tank is the minimum I would
consider for two goldfish. Leigh 200 litres! For two goldfish?! Excuse me but are you bonkers? |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
"LeighMo" wrote in message ... However, I hope you're planning to move those goldfish to a larger tank soon. Goldfish grow fast and get huge. A 55 gallon tank is the minimum I would consider for two goldfish. I have a couple larger tanks in the garage that could be set up in a matter of hours. If she keeps them alive long enough for them to outgrow the five, I'll get her a big'un:) |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
"Neil" wrote in message
... Goldfish grow fast and get huge. A 55 gallon tank is the minimum I would consider for two goldfish. Leigh 200 litres! For two goldfish?! Excuse me but are you bonkers? No, she's not. A pair of 18 inch fish wouldn't be happy in anything smaller. Under good conditions, they'll reach this size relatively fast. |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Apologies, of course if you're talking of fish that size, a large tank is
obviously necessary, but she didn't say how big the fish were. "WD" wrote in message news:9fdva.559644$Zo.121095@sccrnsc03... "Neil" wrote in message ... Goldfish grow fast and get huge. A 55 gallon tank is the minimum I would consider for two goldfish. Leigh 200 litres! For two goldfish?! Excuse me but are you bonkers? No, she's not. A pair of 18 inch fish wouldn't be happy in anything smaller. Under good conditions, they'll reach this size relatively fast. |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
"Neil" wrote in message ... Apologies, of course if you're talking of fish that size, a large tank is obviously necessary, but she didn't say how big the fish were. They're very small now. However, most varieties of goldfish, given the proper conditions (ie, ample food and water without large concentrations of poison) will grow to 'b' movie proportions. g billy |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
"WD" wrote:
I have a couple larger tanks in the garage that could be set up in a matter of hours. If she keeps them alive long enough for them to outgrow the five, I'll get her a big'un:) I wonder if I could get my wife to agree to that sort of arrangement. I fell madly and deeply in love with a 135 gallon tank yesterday afternoon. -- www.ericschreiber.com |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
200 litres! For two goldfish?! Excuse me but are you bonkers?
LOL. Quite possibly, but if I am, so are a lot of goldfish experts. Check out this article: http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish/li...ction=&RecordN o=3769 Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
They're very small now. However, most varieties of goldfish, given the
proper conditions (ie, ample food and water without large concentrations of poison) will grow to 'b' movie proportions. g Exactly. Goldfish can live for decades, but most people think they are short-lived creatures that die in a few weeks or months. Because they do only live for a few months in the cramped conditions most people keep them in. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
I have a couple larger tanks in the garage that could be set up in a matter
of hours. If she keeps them alive long enough for them to outgrow the five, I'll get her a big'un:) I wish you would consider setting up a larger tank now. If she succeeds in keeping those goldfish alive in a tank that small for long, she'll be doing better than many grown-up goldfish experts. The recommended stocking level for goldfish is 20 to 30 gallons per fish, regardless of the size of the goldfish. For a five gallon tank, a Siamese Fighting Fish would be a better choice. Or maybe a small school of neon or cardinal tetras. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Hi,
I just set up a 10 gal tank. In it are different species of anubias and ferns. Livestocks includes 2 yamato shrimps, an oto, 2 SAE, 5 cardinals. I used a 28w light and add a little of Florish trace elements every water change. The plants look pretty healthy especially the anubias which sprouted new plants after 3 days of setting up. Tomorrow, I am going to inject some DIY CO2 into the system to see if there are any different. When all these are successful, its going to be gardening time for my new 100gal tank. :) cheers Vincent "LeighMo" wrote in message ... I have a couple larger tanks in the garage that could be set up in a matter of hours. If she keeps them alive long enough for them to outgrow the five, I'll get her a big'un:) I wish you would consider setting up a larger tank now. If she succeeds in keeping those goldfish alive in a tank that small for long, she'll be doing better than many grown-up goldfish experts. The recommended stocking level for goldfish is 20 to 30 gallons per fish, regardless of the size of the goldfish. For a five gallon tank, a Siamese Fighting Fish would be a better choice. Or maybe a small school of neon or cardinal tetras. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
LeighMo wrote: Can it be possible to have a planted tank which is 10gals or less(2.5gal)? Yes, it's possible, but it's difficult. See Amano's second book. It features small planted aquariums, many under a gallon! But it's a lot of work. You have to choose plants and fish very carefully. You may also find that you need a lot more light per gallon than you would in a larger tank. [snip] Leigh Hang on, I'm interested, tell me more about that point: why do small tanks need more watt/gallon? Because crowded plants shade each other more? |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
LeighMo wrote: Can it be possible to have a planted tank which is 10gals or less(2.5gal)? Yes, it's possible, but it's difficult. See Amano's second book. It features small planted aquariums, many under a gallon! But it's a lot of work. You have to choose plants and fish very carefully. You may also find that you need a lot more light per gallon than you would in a larger tank. [snip] Leigh Tell me more, I'm interested: why do smaller tanks need more light/gallon? Because crowded plants shade each other more? |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
LeighMo wrote: Can it be possible to have a planted tank which is 10gals or less(2.5gal)? Yes, it's possible, but it's difficult. See Amano's second book. It features small planted aquariums, many under a gallon! But it's a lot of work. You have to choose plants and fish very carefully. You may also find that you need a lot more light per gallon than you would in a larger tank. [snip] Leigh Tell me more, I'm interested: why do smaller tanks need more light/gallon? Because crowded plants shade each other more? remove "deathtospam." to deactivate spam trap |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
"LeighMo" wrote in message ... I wish you would consider setting up a larger tank now. If she succeeds in keeping those goldfish alive in a tank that small for long, she'll be doing better than many grown-up goldfish experts. Sigh, you're right, of course...suggestion noted for careful consideration:) billy |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Hang on, I'm interested, tell me more about that point: why do small
tanks need more watt/gallon? Because crowded plants shade each other more? No. I'm not sure exactly why this is the case. It's something that has become evident empirically: the watts per gallon rule breaks down with very small or very large tanks. It probably is partly due to flaws in the rule of the thumb, as well as the nature of flourescent lights. The longer a flourescent bulb is, the more efficient it is. So a 4' bulb throws out more light per watt than a shorter bulb does. And the rule of thumb -- watts per gallon -- doesn't take into account the fact that height is the most important dimension. As tanks get bigger, they don't get much higher. Once you're over 100 gallons, the tanks only get longer, not higher. See this article for more info: http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Tech/Lighting/ Basically, it found that for tanks under five gallons, 8 watts per gallon may not be enough, while for tanks over 100 gallons, 2 watts per gallon is too much. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Yes. Aragonite is for sal****er tanks. Washing won't help, because it's the sand itself that dissolves, making the water alkaline. Use silica sand instead. Or us african Cichlid keepers.... I use crushed coral and silica in my planted tank..its great..I think the coral dissolving helps add trace elements for the plants... Rich |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
10 gallon tanks arent too bad to light though...because theyre so shallow... 11"
deep, minus 2 inches of gravel....30 watts of fluoro does me fine. "S. Oung" wrote: LeighMo wrote: Can it be possible to have a planted tank which is 10gals or less(2.5gal)? Yes, it's possible, but it's difficult. See Amano's second book. It features small planted aquariums, many under a gallon! But it's a lot of work. You have to choose plants and fish very carefully. You may also find that you need a lot more light per gallon than you would in a larger tank. [snip] Leigh Tell me more, I'm interested: why do smaller tanks need more light/gallon? Because crowded plants shade each other more? remove "deathtospam." to deactivate spam trap |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
I use crushed coral and silica in my planted tank..its great..I think the
coral dissolving helps add trace elements for the plants... Using some aragonite can be helpful if you have very soft water, or want to keep Rift Lake cichlids. But most people find using 100% coral sand or aragonite in a freshwater tank does crazy things to the pH. Especially in a small tank. I really don't recommend it for beginners. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
"WD" wrote in message
news:Zddva.559631$Zo.120780@sccrnsc03... I have a couple larger tanks in the garage that could be set up in a matter of hours. If she keeps them alive long enough for them to outgrow the five, I'll get her a big'un:) I feel just awful for your car, forced to live out in the driveway while your unused tanks take up space in your garage. If you're in the Toronto area, let me do your car a favour, and take those tanks for you, so they're out of the garage. You don't even have to say "thank you" when I'm done... ;) Cheers; Duncan |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
It sure is possible. Easier than larger tanks too! IMO. You can see
on my web site i-aquaria.com I have two small tanks setup as planted aquaria. One is an Eclipse 3 and the other is a 10 gallon. Both grow plants very well and both are low light tanks. But I also maintain numerous old glodfish bowls with tons of plants in them and they get nothing but sunlight.... The trick is patience.... You have to experiment and be patient. You will not have an Amano looking tank first time out (If you do you're very lucky). I used sand in my Eclipse and a Flourite/gravel mix in my ten.... So experiment and see what works best for you. Regards, Ed @ i-aquaria dot com On Sat, 10 May 2003 03:42:38 GMT, JuanMa wrote: Greetings. Can it be possible to have a planted tank which is 10gals or less(2.5gal)? What kind of lighting and chemicals should I use to keep the plants healthy and thriving? Can aragonite sand be used in such a tank(how much)? What can I use to keep the plants in their place? What about compatible fish for the planted tank? The 2.5gal tank I haven't bought it yet. I have a 10gal, but no lighting yet. What kind of light should I use if I go with the 2.5gal? Can one of those daylight fluorescent bulbs fit in the 2.5gal hood? Would it produce enough light for the plants, or should I go DIY PC? If I don't find any ideal type of sand, what could be the alternatives? What plants do you recommend that I should start with? I was thinking for livestock if I go with the 2.5gal. some fancy guppies or neon tetras or two angels. If I go with the 10gal. the livestock will be a little more varied, but not too much. I was told that aragonite sand can make the water too alkaline? will it make it so, even if I wash the sand? TIA |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Leigh wrote:
"No. I'm not sure exactly why this is the case. It's something that has become evident empirically: the watts per gallon rule breaks down with very small or very large tanks. " While I don't have sound scientific proof.... I don't think that is not necessarily true. I have maintained many high light tanks in the past and have switched over to lower light tanks. I pretty much lowered my wattage by a 1/3 to 1/2 on all my tanks. I was at almost 4 watts per on all of my tanks.... then my bulbs started going out one at a time and I just let them be. I found that once the plants reacclimated to to lower light situation that they grew just fine.... and I had much less maintenance, had to add fewer nutrients and my electric bill dropped dramatically! Regards, Ed @ i-aquaria dot com On 11 May 2003 19:07:49 GMT, tose (LeighMo) wrote: No. I'm not sure exactly why this is the case. It's something that has become evident empirically: the watts per gallon rule breaks down with very small or very large tanks. |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
I tend to find that it balaces my tank out at about 8 pH...theres no maintenance
of it..its rock solid...you dont have to worry about it fluctuating. LeighMo wrote: I use crushed coral and silica in my planted tank..its great..I think the coral dissolving helps add trace elements for the plants... Using some aragonite can be helpful if you have very soft water, or want to keep Rift Lake cichlids. But most people find using 100% coral sand or aragonite in a freshwater tank does crazy things to the pH. Especially in a small tank. I really don't recommend it for beginners. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Hello! I've found a lot of things people say about smaller tanks being 'difficult' a myth. I have two six gallon planted tanks. Nano and microtanks are fun. www.aquabotanic.com has a Wet Thumbs micro tank planted bulletin board you may be interested in. There are several 2.5 planted tanks. Can it be possible to have a planted tank which is 10gals or less(2.5gal)? Of course! IMO, I have found them to be rewarding and not all that hard. I've traded my large tanks for small ones over the years. Here is one of mine: http://www.psych.upenn.edu/~sherrym/fish.html What kind of lighting and chemicals should I use to keep the plants healthy and thriving? It all depends on the kind of plants and your water conditions. Do you want high light or a low light tank? Study up and see what plants interest you. Smaller tanks usually need less light per gallon usually because they are more shallow. What about compatible fish for the planted tank? Most killifish are excellent. I would avoid livebearers due to sudden population increases. I've used lemon tetras, mini cories and cherry barbs with great success. Angels would not work. You can also just have some amano or glass shrimp. If I don't find any ideal type of sand, what could be the alternatives? I use pure Flourite. What plants do you recommend that I should start with? Depends on how much light you can get. Hard to kills like crypts, anubias, java ferns and inexpensive stem plants like hygro and coonstail. Start with a LOT of plants to out compete algae. The only problem will be selecting small plants, but it can be done! |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Yes, it's possible, but it's difficult. See Amano's second book. It features small planted aquariums, many under a gallon! Why is it difficult? Mine are easy. But it's a lot of work. You have to choose plants and fish very carefully. You also need to do so in a large tank. :) You may also find that you need a lot more light per gallon than you would in a larger tank. I'm sorry, I don't agree. Unless you have a very tall 2.5 gallon tank, you need less light in shallow aquaria. I grow low light plants and medium light stem plants with 8 watts to 6 gallons. Your choices will be very limited with such a small tank. Amano uses rasboras and neon tetras in his smallest tanks. Amano shrimp and otocinclus for algae control. But I'd be really hesitant to keep fish in such a small tank. A pair of killies would be great in a 2.5 gallon as well as a few of the above fish mentioned. And if you are new, I really, really recommend you go with the 10 gallon tank. The larger the tank, the easier it is to maintain. A small tank is very unforgiving of mistakes. I have found that mini tanks are just as 'forgiving' as my old 75 and 45 gallon tanks. I also do fun things to mess with my water chemistry with peated DI water, etc. Many people inject c02 in 2.5 gallons! I simply have not seen any proof that smaller tanks that are maintained well and with intelligence are any harder then a big tank. Frankly I find them less demanding. |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
was at almost 4
watts per on all of my tanks.... then my bulbs started going out one at a time and I just let them be. I found that once the plants reacclimated to to lower light situation that they grew just fine.... I'm not saying that you can't have low-light planted tanks. I'm just saying that if you do want a high-light, high-tech tank, you'll need more watts per gallon in a small tank (under 5 gallons) than in a large one. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Why is it difficult? Mine are easy.
Small tanks are much less forgiving. Anything that changes, changes a lot faster. Evaporation alone can be PITA with a small tank. But it's a lot of work. You have to choose plants and fish very carefully. You also need to do so in a large tank. :) Not *as* carefully. Many common plants and fish simply won't fit in a tiny tank. You have a lot more freedom with a larger tank. He wants to keep angelfish. That is not going to work with a 2.5 gallon tank. I'm sorry, I don't agree. Unless you have a very tall 2.5 gallon tank, you need less light in shallow aquaria. I grow low light plants and medium light stem plants with 8 watts to 6 gallons. You have over a watt per gallon. That's plenty for low-light plants, especially given the short height of a small tank. Where the higher lighting requirements come in are for high-tech, high-light, Amano-style tanks. Which is what he seemed to want. (He said he wanted to be able to grow anything he wanted.) I have found that mini tanks are just as 'forgiving' as my old 75 and 45 gallon tanks. I have not found that to be the case. I kept a 5 gallon tank for awhile, but eventually gave it away. It was just too much work. Many people inject c02 in 2.5 gallons! I didn't say otherwise. However, it's more difficult to keep the pH stable in a small tank. I simply have not seen any proof that smaller tanks that are maintained well and with intelligence are any harder then a big tank. The key words being "well and with intelligence." All I said was that I don't recommend them for a beginner. You sound as if you're quite experienced with tanks of all sizes. But this person is a beginner. Remember what it's like to be a beginner? You buy fish and plants and chemicals you see at the pet store, just because they look cool, and put them all in your tank. You do water changes religiously for the first month or two, then might go months without doing one. You buy more fish than the tank can reasonably support, just because you have to have them. Etc. The larger a tank is, the more forgiving it is of beginner mistakes, simply because it's a larger reservoir. Water quality can't change as fast in a large reservoir as in a small one, and so larger tanks will "absorb" mistakes that would overwhelm a small tank. I've seen many small tanks that are just gorgoeus. Even reef tanks. But for beginners, the conventional wisdom is to get as large a tank as you have room for and can afford, and IME, it's very good advice. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Yesterday I visited Ocean Aquarium in San Francisco again. Among the 50-70
planted tanks there (every tank in the store is planted!) are about 10 under 10 gallons. About 5 are the tiny 1-2 gallon glass types. He plants them with appropriate scale plants, just a tad of lighting, and small fish like Endlers livebearers. Spectacular! |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Actually, I have seen planted tank with a lot of angels, but for my
personal experience, I had difficulty keeping them together with other tank mates. My oto likes to harass them by clinging on to their scales... My experience with serpae tetra is not too good either. They tend to intomidate the neons and cardinals in my tank. I would go for cardinals, neons, yamato shrimps, SAE and badis badis. They are excellent tankmates. cheers Sherry Michael Weller wrote in message .. . Hello! I've found a lot of things people say about smaller tanks being 'difficult' a myth. I have two six gallon planted tanks. Nano and microtanks are fun. www.aquabotanic.com has a Wet Thumbs micro tank planted bulletin board you may be interested in. There are several 2.5 planted tanks. Can it be possible to have a planted tank which is 10gals or less(2.5gal)? Of course! IMO, I have found them to be rewarding and not all that hard. I've traded my large tanks for small ones over the years. Here is one of mine: http://www.psych.upenn.edu/~sherrym/fish.html What kind of lighting and chemicals should I use to keep the plants healthy and thriving? It all depends on the kind of plants and your water conditions. Do you want high light or a low light tank? Study up and see what plants interest you. Smaller tanks usually need less light per gallon usually because they are more shallow. What about compatible fish for the planted tank? Most killifish are excellent. I would avoid livebearers due to sudden population increases. I've used lemon tetras, mini cories and cherry barbs with great success. Angels would not work. You can also just have some amano or glass shrimp. If I don't find any ideal type of sand, what could be the alternatives? I use pure Flourite. What plants do you recommend that I should start with? Depends on how much light you can get. Hard to kills like crypts, anubias, java ferns and inexpensive stem plants like hygro and coonstail. Start with a LOT of plants to out compete algae. The only problem will be selecting small plants, but it can be done! |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Leigh,
I just don't find that to be the case. I have an 18watt fixture over a ten gallon and I can grow pretty anything I want to in there. At least everything I've put in there has thrived. I read before about this small tank high light phenomenon I tried it but found that it wasn't necessary. Regards, Ed at i-aquaria.com On 13 May 2003 21:43:45 GMT, tose (LeighMo) wrote: was at almost 4 watts per on all of my tanks.... then my bulbs started going out one at a time and I just let them be. I found that once the plants reacclimated to to lower light situation that they grew just fine.... I'm not saying that you can't have low-light planted tanks. I'm just saying that if you do want a high-light, high-tech tank, you'll need more watts per gallon in a small tank (under 5 gallons) than in a large one. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Sorry Leigh I missed your point there....
You said: "I'm just saying that if you do want a high-light, high-tech tank, you'll need more watts per gallon in a small tank (under 5 gallons) than in a large one." I can't argue with that. I guess it is true. I just found through tiral and error that there is no way that I need a "high light" "high tech" tank under 10 gals. At least not with my Los Angeles tap water...plus I would think that you wouldn't want things to grow too fast in a small setup. That would be a royal PITA. In fact I've had more nutrient and CO2 and lighting problems in my larger tanks. I think larger tanks are more forgiving.... but they are also more demanding. Regards, Ed On 13 May 2003 21:43:45 GMT, tose (LeighMo) wrote: was at almost 4 watts per on all of my tanks.... then my bulbs started going out one at a time and I just let them be. I found that once the plants reacclimated to to lower light situation that they grew just fine.... I'm not saying that you can't have low-light planted tanks. I'm just saying that if you do want a high-light, high-tech tank, you'll need more watts per gallon in a small tank (under 5 gallons) than in a large one. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Why is it difficult? Mine are easy. Small tanks are much less forgiving. Anything that changes, changes a lot faster. Evaporation alone can be PITA with a small tank. Like I said, I've always heard this, but have never found it true in practice. I maintain my small tanks on the same schedule as my old large tanks. But it's a lot of work. You have to choose plants and fish very carefully. You also need to do so in a large tank. :) Not *as* carefully. Many common plants and fish simply won't fit in a tiny tank. You have a lot more freedom with a larger tank. He wants to keep angelfish. That is not going to work with a 2.5 gallon tank. Well sure, and I told him that was a bad idea. But I see just as many people trying to put an oscar or a goldfish in a 20 gallon too. It's all the same problem if the the tank is 55 gallons or 5- education. You have over a watt per gallon. That's plenty for low-light plants, especially given the short height of a small tank. Where the higher lighting requirements come in are for high-tech, high-light, Amano-style tanks. Which is what he seemed to want. (He said he wanted to be able to grow anything he wanted.) I've never heard that said before, and I can't even fathom the logic in that. If I have a 20 gallon tank that has 3 wpg, I should not need more light in a 5 gallon tank to grow the same plants. especially since it's likely the tank is deeper in the larger tank. Can you explain this one more to me? I have not found that to be the case. I kept a 5 gallon tank for awhile, but eventually gave it away. It was just too much work. Just curious, what kind of setup did you have? I didn't say otherwise. However, it's more difficult to keep the pH stable in a small tank. I never had that problem either. Hopefully if your injecting co2 you know about the KH and ph formula. The same rules apply, and hopefully you are monitoring and going slow at first. I fiddle with my ph with a lower KH then most people advise and I don't get fluxes in 24 hours over ..2. Oddly enough, the exact same rate of change I got in my 45 gallon tank. You sound as if you're quite experienced with tanks of all sizes. But this person is a beginner. Remember what it's like to be a beginner? You buy fish and plants and chemicals you see at the pet store, just because they look cool, and put them all in your tank. You do water changes religiously for the first month or two, then might go months without doing one. You buy more fish than the tank can reasonably support, just because you have to have them. Etc. The larger a tank is, the more forgiving it is of beginner mistakes, simply because it's a larger reservoir. Water quality can't change as fast in a large reservoir as in a small one, and so larger tanks will "absorb" mistakes that would overwhelm a small tank. True enough, but he asked if it was possible. He's here asking questions before he buys, so kudos already. My opinion of what he can do has increased tenfold then your average newbie. :) I also don't see a ten gallon tank absorbing very many beginners mistakes. If he was debating between a 60 and a 2.5 gallon, I'd understand that. |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
Small tanks are much less forgiving. Anything that changes, changes a lot
faster. Evaporation alone can be PITA with a small tank. Like I said, I've always heard this, but have never found it true in practice. I maintain my small tanks on the same schedule as my old large tanks. Not me. I live up north, and I have central heating. Very dry in winter. The 5 gallon tank suffered so much evaporation in the winter that I had to remember to top off the tank every other day or so, or the water level would drop so low the filter would stop running. Well sure, and I told him that was a bad idea. But I see just as many people trying to put an oscar or a goldfish in a 20 gallon too. It's all the same problem if the the tank is 55 gallons or 5- education. But obviously, the larger the tank, the more room for error. Which was my point. I've never heard that said before, and I can't even fathom the logic in that. If I have a 20 gallon tank that has 3 wpg, I should not need more light in a 5 gallon tank to grow the same plants. especially since it's likely the tank is deeper in the larger tank. Can you explain this one more to me? See this article: http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Tech/Lighting/ Basically, it's a lighting survey that shows that the watt per gallon rule breaks down for very large tanks (over 100 gallons) and very small tanks (under 5 gallons). As for the reason...I don't know for sure, but I suspect it's due to the nature of flourescent lights, and a certain obvious flaw in the wpg rule. The longer a flourescent bulb is, the more efficient it is. So you get more light per watt from a 4' bulb than from a shorter one. And the wpg rule ignores the fact that height is more important than the other dimensions. And height really doesn't change much as a tank gets larger. Length is the dimension that changes the most. But the wpg rule treats all dimensions as equal. Obviously, a tank that was 2'x2x6' tall would need more light than one that's 6'x2'x2'. But the wpg rule would say they're the same volume, and so need the same amount of light. Just curious, what kind of setup did you have? I had it set up in various ways. When I had a Betta in it, there was no filtration. I tried it with a sponge filter for shrimp, and with a UGF for various small critters. I even had it set up as a brackish tank for a pair of baby puffers for awhile. I never had that problem either. Hopefully if your injecting co2 you know about the KH and ph formula. The same rules apply, and hopefully you are monitoring and going slow at first With DIY CO2, it's hard to overdose the tank if you have a 20 gallon. You can OD and kill all the fish with DIY CO2 on a 2 gallon tank. True enough, but he asked if it was possible. And I didn't say it wasn't possible. I just tried to encourage him to go with the larger tank. I also don't see a ten gallon tank absorbing very many beginners mistakes. Larger would be better, but a 10 gallon is better than 2-1/2 gallons. Following the beginner's rule of an inch of fish per gallon, he'd have to limit himself to 2 fish. Very difficult for a beginner. With a ten gallon, he could get himself ten small fish, and even if he went overboard, and got a few extra, or some larger fish, he'd probably be okay. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
I have a 5 gallon planted tank, with a DIY hood housing a $10 CF lamp,
13W if I recall. My only problem is getting enough CO2. My DIY CO2 isn't good enough; I need a better diffusor. B -- Brian Heller It is easier to tame wild beasts than to conquer the human mind. |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
For those of you who DO keep very small planted tanks, what kinds of plants
would you recommend using? I'd like to redo my 2 gallon; the main problem I've experienced with its current setup is that the plants grow too quickly and large for the tank to stay looking nice. I plan to use java moss and riccia, but am at a loss for some nice leafy plants. I'm thinking of using lobelia cardinalis and perhaps java fern...but am not sure what other options to consider that won't outgrow the tank too quickly. It's a 2 gallon heated Eclipse Explorer; filtered with a 13W full spectrum CF. Fluorite sand with a top layer of larger gravel and some decorative rocks. TIA. Erica http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/mitoem/mitoem/index.htm |
10gal. or smaller planted tank?
"E. Mito" wrote in message
... For those of you who DO keep very small planted tanks, what kinds of plants would you recommend using? As you can achieve high light intensity in small tank much more easier than in big one (and you have it already), I'd recomend some high light demanding slow growers. I have good experience of keeping Hemiantus and Micranthemum in similar conditions. Lobelia also can be a good choice. -- ~SP~ Age doesn't always bring wisdom, sometimes age comes alone. |
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