Journal: beginner 10g planted tank

[alter40]

Originally Posted by tom91970

I don't see many cardinals for sale, either. I read something not too long ago that stated that don't live as long in the aquarium becuase they are mostly caught in the wild as adults. However, I have learned that recently they have been bred in captivity so maybe they will be seen more at the LFS. I might have to look the next time I go.

I know that they don't have cardinals at the 3 LFSs that are in my area. If they don't live that long though I would probably be best to not get them and just get neons instead if thats the route that I decide to go.

[tom91970]

When I soak my Malaysian driftwood I just put it into a 5 gallon bucket and put just enough water in it to cover the wood. Every day or two I change the water so I can see if it's getting less cloudy/brown. One piece took over a week and another took maybe three days.

The only thing I've boiled to release tannins was a cave I made out of a coconut shell and that took forever.

As for rocks have you tried places that sell them for landscaping?

Oh, and regarding the second picture, are you posting a new pic in three weeks so we can see what February looks like?

[alter40]

I haven't tried any places for landscaping. The town that has the other 2 LFSs is the same town I would go to for a crafts store and the same on that Home Depot is in. So I guess if they don't have any decent looking rocks at the LFS there I can always check out Home Depot for some decent rocks.

The only thing I've boiled to release tannins was a cave I made out of a coconut shell and that took forever.

So I understand how the wood should work (I can just soak in a bucket with regular tap water right?)
Does this statement mean that I won't have to boil and rocks that I get?

Oh, and regarding the second picture, are you posting a new pic in three weeks so we can see what February looks like?

I can probably take a new picture come February of the general area of the tank so you can see what has changed around the area haha

[cchase85]

My cardinals were very small when I got them, they have grown a bit but still aren't fully grown. If they live a "short time", I don't know how short because I assume mine are at least a year old and don't seem to be looking all that old.

Test any rocks before putting them in. You should only use stuff like granite and slate as other stuff may alter your water chemistry or introduce toxins.

Boil any rocks you get... just as a precaution. Wood it can't hurt, my mopani wood I just soaked overnight in a bucket and it never dirtied the water after that so I threw it in, everything was fine.

[alter40]

Originally Posted by cchase85

Test any rocks before putting them in. You should only use stuff like granite and slate as other stuff may alter your water chemistry or introduce toxins.

How do you test the rocks themselves?

[tom91970]

Originally Posted by alter40

How do you test the rocks themselves?

Soaking them in vinegar to see if it fizzles is the easiest way...or get some hydrochloric acid for the test.

[tom91970]

g

Originally Posted by cchase85

My cardinals were very small when I got them, they have grown a bit but still aren't fully grown. If they live a "short time", I don't know how short because I assume mine are at least a year old and don't seem to be looking all that old.

You need to ask 'em for some ID.

But as I was saying, it seems that it was not until recently that it was possible to breed cardinals in captivity. The info that I read regarding the short life span due to only adult specimens being sold was in, I believe, a book by my favorite felon, Dr. Axelrod. And, in truth, alot of the info in his books is a bit outdated.

Edited to add: I forgot to mention that the cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) is named for ol' Herb, who in fact discovered the fish (or claims to). Ol' Herb is in interesting dude. I've been reading his book Freshwater Angelfish this week. Sure wish I could find an unauthorized bio on the man...I wonder what he was thinking about when he fled to Cuba. Then again, it does make sense since he does have some patents in the cigar industry. Then again, maybe him and Fidel are pals.

[alter40]

I have been doing some reading on the tetras tonight and it seems that between neons and cardinals the neons are my best bet. From what I have been reading the cardinal tetras get larger then neons and they also require more stringent water conditions then neons. With my tank being a small one, the smaller the tetras the more I should be able to put in there, and with the neons not being as susceptible to water conditions makes them a better choice of the two.
I'm afraid of overstocking the tank by putting too many tetras in there with a gourami and maybe a small shrimp.

[alter40]

Well I just got confirmation that my shipment has left the warehouse and is now in Fedex's hands. Hopefully this means I will get everything early next week. I'm excited to get it setup and get an idea of how the tank is going to look.

One other question I have is about the lighting in a planted tank. How many hours a day should the lights be on? Should I get a timer for them so they are sure to be on every day at the same time and so I know they are on for the correct number of hours.

[sweetpickles7]

Sorry i didnt catch this awhile back. For your first question on whether or not you can put a GBR or some other dwarf cichlid, yes you can. You can have a pair but that wouldnt leave u with much space.Although if you can i would get bolivians as they can handle water changes better than GBR's. The GBR's at my lfs die with in the first few days of getting them home, i think its because they are from asia, which usually means that they are died with extra color.I would say my 10gal planted tank is over its max of fish but as long as you do your water changes then everything should be fine.I wouldnt add just one cory either they need to be in a group go with an oto and some ghost shrimp instead. As for tetras i love x-ray tetras thats what i have in my 10 but i missed spelt there real name on my sig. Good luck!