Newman's 10 Gallon Journal

Newman · 10-26-2009, 08:26 PM

Hello everyone,

So one day i was looking at my 40 gallon, and a thought popped into my head: why not make use of the empty 10 gal i have hanging around in my basement?

So i put some stuff together today, got some rocks, substrate, and background, plus some other things including a lighting fixture.

Heres a quick plan overview:
Tank-10 gallon long (20")
Substrate- 20 lbs Eco-complete
Rocks- 4x Zebra
Fixture- T-5 HO Coralife 24" Dual bulb
Bulbs- 2x 6700K 24 watt each
Lighting- 4.8wpg
Filtration- Eheim Ecco 2232 (if necessary)
Co2- DYI 2 liter reactor (one)
Diffusion- Limewood airstone
Ferts- full macro and micro line by Seachem including excel
Plants- HC (dwarf baby tears) foreground
Dwarf Sag (Sagittaria subulata) background
Fish- 10 Green Neon Tetra
2 Otos
Heat- Heater... + thermometer

Next step it to add the plants. cant do it until my bulbs arrive later this week. it gives me time to locate a source of HC and dwarf sag...

Got some questions too:
Will i need a filter? normally with that many plants, and very few fish, i would guess no...but with so many fish, i think the ecco might be required... any thoughts on this?

Heres the progress so far. did the "hardscape" or w/e its called when you arrange the gravel +rocks. Obviously the lighting is not gonna be blue. these are just the stock 10000K bulbs that came with the fixture. the two 6700Ks will make it look better.

kenny1tothe6 · 10-26-2009, 10:02 PM

I always though Iwagumi looked best when the was 2 littler rocks around 1 big one, Then of course having the substrate work with the curves of the rocks having the rocks buried alittle, but that's just my opinion.

And Yes, Hardscape is the Wood/Rock work...Aquascape is the overall layout.

12 fish BTW...are enough to call for a Filter...but be careful about how much current you have because you don't want the fish blown out of the water and you don't want your plants flying around.

HTH
Kenny

Newman · 10-26-2009, 10:09 PM

Yea i'd have to pack the canister with media to slow the water flow down.
I gotta be careful not to pack it too tight, cuz in the past, I'vefound that if the media (especially the sponges) get too close to each other, water flow stops in some patches on the sponge, and they start to grow mold...ugh.

So youre saying to use 3 rocks instead of 4? Should i break the rock on the left into smaller peices? then use one of the smaller peices with the rock on the right-most side?

MoneyMitch · 10-26-2009, 10:15 PM

in a heavy planted tank like you are planning to have, if you have enough plants you wont need a filter. just nice flow through the tank. you might want to research the Estimative index method i think it would help you tons.

Newman · 10-26-2009, 10:18 PM

Ok i thought that i didnt need a filter fo planted small tanks. but i am going to have 99% stocking level...so i think after all the ecco will come in handy sometimes.

DOH!
Yea, i forgot to mention what dosing strategy i'll be using. It will in fact be the IE strategy. I have read about it lots. I use this strategy on my 40 Gal right now. been workin out.

How about rock formation suggestions? should i do what i said above, and limit my self to three rocks?

kenny1tothe6 · 10-26-2009, 10:18 PM

Well, a powerhead *might* work if you put a Prefilter on the intake..but those plants aren't really nutrient absorbers....

That idea sounds good BTW for the rocks! You could always send me the extras[

] J/K

Newman · 10-26-2009, 10:23 PM

Yea lol.
I'll see how that left one cracks...i hope not into a million peices :P

Newman · 10-27-2009, 12:26 PM

Well the zebra rock turned out to be tougher than i expected. Didnt crack at all. i removed the smallest peice, and further buried the rock on the left.

Originally i didnt really bury them much cuz i figure the plants will do that for me.

This is what the three rocks look like; any suggestions?

kenny1tothe6 · 10-27-2009, 12:36 PM

Looks GREAT!!

Newman · 10-27-2009, 12:48 PM

glad you think so

now i gotta get this thing planted and cycling...
If things get bad with algae in a few weeks, ill add amanos.
fish feel like a long time away....

10-26-2009, 10:02 PM	#2
kenny1tothe6 Medium Fish Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 413	I always though Iwagumi looked best when the was 2 littler rocks around 1 big one, Then of course having the substrate work with the curves of the rocks having the rocks buried alittle, but that's just my opinion. And Yes, Hardscape is the Wood/Rock work...Aquascape is the overall layout. 12 fish BTW...are enough to call for a Filter...but be careful about how much current you have because you don't want the fish blown out of the water and you don't want your plants flying around. HTH Kenny __________________ 10gal, 24gal Nano-Cube [Nano-Reef], 29gal Riparium, 35galHEX, 55gal, 125gal, & 5,000gal Pond

10-26-2009, 10:09 PM	#3
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,796	Yea i'd have to pack the canister with media to slow the water flow down. I gotta be careful not to pack it too tight, cuz in the past, I'vefound that if the media (especially the sponges) get too close to each other, water flow stops in some patches on the sponge, and they start to grow mold...ugh. So youre saying to use 3 rocks instead of 4? Should i break the rock on the left into smaller peices? then use one of the smaller peices with the rock on the right-most side? __________________ Credit goes to Lludu

10-26-2009, 10:15 PM	#4
MoneyMitch Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Marysville, Ohio Posts: 33	in a heavy planted tank like you are planning to have, if you have enough plants you wont need a filter. just nice flow through the tank. you might want to research the Estimative index method i think it would help you tons. __________________ Fish keeping is easy don't over complicate it

10-26-2009, 10:18 PM	#5
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,796	Ok i thought that i didnt need a filter fo planted small tanks. but i am going to have 99% stocking level...so i think after all the ecco will come in handy sometimes. DOH! Yea, i forgot to mention what dosing strategy i'll be using. It will in fact be the IE strategy. I have read about it lots. I use this strategy on my 40 Gal right now. been workin out. How about rock formation suggestions? should i do what i said above, and limit my self to three rocks? __________________ Credit goes to Lludu

10-26-2009, 10:18 PM	#6
kenny1tothe6 Medium Fish Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 413	Well, a powerhead might work if you put a Prefilter on the intake..but those plants aren't really nutrient absorbers.... That idea sounds good BTW for the rocks! You could always send me the extras[] J/K __________________ 10gal, 24gal Nano-Cube [Nano-Reef], 29gal Riparium, 35galHEX, 55gal, 125gal, & 5,000gal Pond

10-26-2009, 10:23 PM	#7
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,796	Yea lol. I'll see how that left one cracks...i hope not into a million peices :P __________________ Credit goes to Lludu

10-27-2009, 12:36 PM	#9
kenny1tothe6 Medium Fish Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 413	Looks GREAT!! __________________ 10gal, 24gal Nano-Cube [Nano-Reef], 29gal Riparium, 35galHEX, 55gal, 125gal, & 5,000gal Pond

10-27-2009, 12:48 PM	#10
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,796	glad you think so now i gotta get this thing planted and cycling... If things get bad with algae in a few weeks, ill add amanos. fish feel like a long time away.... __________________ Credit goes to Lludu