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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:23 pm
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:32 pm
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Live plants are great! Java Moss and Java Fern are easy plants. Moss Balls are easy too. Aponogenton, Anicharis, Dwarf Lillies, Water Wisteria, Moneywort, and Hornwort are all easy too, and rather forgiving to those who are just starting out. I have done all of these, except the Lilly, in as little as 3 gallons. To keep a Lilly in a 10 gallon, it would need to trimmed often, as its a very fast grower, as are Aponogenton, Wisteria and Hornwort.
Anicharis, Wisteria, Moneywort and Hornwort can all be trimmed and replanted to make new plants. 3nodding
Filters are easy to slow down. You can stuff them with filter sponge, cover the out put with a cut up soda bottle, use floating plants. The possibilities are endless.
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:56 pm
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:07 pm
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:05 pm
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:39 pm
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:13 am
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:17 am
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:11 pm
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Hahaha either of you live in Florida?
I have been doing some more research over the last day or so. I am really loving the look of the Java Fern you mentioned Akari. I think that will be my first go at living plants. From what I read it is not a plant you bury in the gravel but instead will allow its roots to attach to stones/driftwood so on. What lighting would you suggest for it in a ten gallon tank to best suit Java fern? I've read it prefers low light settings so what would be the best light to get for it that won't risk burning or damaging its leaves?
I would like to go for a natural looking set up so I'm going to go with earthy looking colors and tank ornaments that resemble fallen logs and some perhaps natural stones. This brings me to another question, how hard is it to do sand in an aquarium. I've always liked the look of it, but how much harder is it than say gravel?
Another question, yes, I know I have so many, is over a heater. Any suggestions on that, what type and brand is best and safest for my beta in a ten gallon tank?
Finally, the last thing I was looking in was a potential algae eater/clean up crew helper. I'm really not interested in adding any other fish to the mix. I prefer to keep things simple and give my boy the run of tank. Thus, I was looking into either possibly adding one or two zebra snails or potentially some ghost shrimp. From what I've read, the zebra snails can't reproduce in your typical tank setting and need brackish water so no worries about them overtaking the tank like some snail species. It also seems they do well with live plants?
Then there is the ghost shrimp. I've read mixed reviews on them with betas. It seems some betas won't fuss with them, while others may discover they make tasty snakes and decide to nom them. Does it really mater either way? The shrimp themselves are very cheap so if my boy does decide they are tasty it isn't like I am going to be out a lot of money. I assume there is no detrimental effects to a beta eating said shrimp? On the other fin (shot for bad pun) if he doesn't fuss with them, it sounds like they are great cleaners and also not something that tends to bother live plants?
Later, I need to run down to my barn and see what filter I have. I am pretty sure a few years back I had gotten a filter for a ten gallon tank, and I am sort of thinking it was an aqua clear. I will have to see...
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:49 pm
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Krissim Klaw Hahaha either of you live in Florida?
xD We both live in Florida.
Sand is doable, I use sand exclusively because it's easier to clean than gravel and it looks so much better. You can use play sand, pool filter sand, or all purpose sand. The brand I like is quikrete and I usually use their playsand, although they seem to have changed it to a different type, so I think if I had to do it again I would try the all purpose. You have to make sure to wash the sand thoroughly before use to get all of the dust out. The easiest way to do this is to put it in a bucket, fill the bucket with water, swish it around, pour out the water/dust and just keep doing that until there water is mostly clear when you pour/swish.
Rather than fake logs, a nice piece of driftwood would look beautiful in that theme and it'll help keep your water softer.
The plastic and metal heaters are safer than the glass ones for YOU and your fish (glass can shatter and then the electrical elements will be exposed to the water), but I think there's also a potential for the plastic ones to melt and cause the same problem. For that reason, always unplug your heater before doing any type of tank maintenance. Technically you're supposed to unplug everything before sticking your hands in there. The nerites (zebra) are a good snail choice, I don't have them but Akari does so she can tell you all about those little cuties. The main type of snails to "worry" about are what we commonly call "pond" snails. These guys often get into your tank by laying their eggs on plants at the store. A good way to prevent them from getting in is to give your plants a quick bleach dip (standard 1:9 bleach:water), then just rinse them in water with extra dechlorinator.
Ghost shrimp are fine with bettas. They seem to be pretty good at staying alive even if the fish in the tank have an interest in them. The plants and other hiding spots will keep them safe, and if eaten as long as they are disease free there will be no harm done for your betta. They won't mess with your plants other than to eat dead leaves, which is a good thing. The snails should do that as well.
Java Fern will live in low lighting, but having medium light (or high light with them planted in the shade) will help them grow faster, same with java moss. The cool thing about java fern is that even if it does start to die off, usually the leaves themselves will turn into a rhizome and you'll see tiny baby leaves growing on them. Kind of like a phoenix growing from it's own ashes.
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:10 pm
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:16 pm
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:36 pm
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:59 pm
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Seems like Nilla's got this pretty under controll lol
We both live in Florida lol I'm actually moving to north Florida in a month XD
For algae (if you dont want fish), Nerite (Zebra) Snails are awesome. And cute =3 They dont bother my plants, like my Mystery Snails do (Mysteries eat plants, little turds -_-). If you do want fish, a school of Otto's would be great for a 20 long. They are sensative to water conditions, so they need to be added last.
Dunno anything about sand, but driftwood would look awesome in a heavily planted, sand bottomed tank. I do know that sand needs to be stired up, or you need to get something that stirs it up for you. MTS are great little snails that live in the substrate and stir it up, while eating left over food. Corries also stir up sand, but in a 10 gallon, your options are limited. Pygmy Corries would work though. In a 20 long, you could do any kind that stayed under 2 1/2 inches.
The Tetra Brand pre-set heaters are great (unless you want to fight ich without meds, then they suck LOL). They are cheap too. I got the 2-15 for about $12 and the 10-30 for about $19. Tetra has a great warentee, so if it doesnt work, you can send it back to them and they'll send you a new one. This last for two years, I think.
Terra Cotta pots are very versital in the aquarium.
Ghost shrimp are a hit and miss. They can eat the Betta's fins if they dont get enough to eat. And Bettas can eat them if they dont get enough to eat.
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:30 pm
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