Hi All!
I started up a 10 gallon a couple weeks ago.
Flourite black sand
1x 12w 6000k LED bulb in a clamp lamp just sitting on the glass cover
50w heater
Sponge filter
Rocks from outside (boiled/scrubbed)
1x driftwood (random piece purchased online for quite cheap - turned out ok!)
Here are the initial shots of the hardscape, complete with totally posh black trash bag background:
Went out and got some plants on Boxing Day:
Hydrocotyle leucocephala / Brazilian pennywort (back left)
Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae (back middle)
Hygrophila polysperma (back right)
Staurogyne repens (front left)
Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini' (front middle)
Ended up pulling out the pennywort and cutting off more of the bottom stem since it was quite bare and replanting. I've been dosing excel/flourish/iron and have a timer giving a split (5 on)-(3 off)-(5 on) photoperiod.
One Week Progress (Jan 1) - A. reineckii growing quite well! Glad I had that first shot to compare. Sorry this one is so blurry. There was a nice fluffy bacterial growth on the log and large rock (somewhat visible in the picture). The crypt melted a bit but I was prepared for that to happen. Still cycling...
After this picture I ended up getting some flame moss and tied it to the wood, and also stuffed a baby wendelov java fern that was floating around another tank in the top end. Not sure if the fern is staying yet.
I'm planning on getting another light - I've noticed that the Hygro in particular is growing a bit bent now, arching sideways towards the light. Hoping the second light will get me a bit more even distribution.
SO here are my questions:
1) Floaters
- Looking to get some kind of floating plant and I'm leaning heavily towards Phyllanthus fluitans / red root floater. Good or bad idea? Any other suggestions?
2) Stocking
- I'd really love to have some cherry shrimp in here but there's so many options. Which colors do you think would look best?
- Also considering a pair of Tateurndina ocellicauda / peacock gudgeons - any experience with them and cherry shrimp together? Am I just looking at giving them some tasty snacks?
- Would a small group (6?) of Pseudomugil gertrudae / spotted blue eye do okay with the above?
Next weekly update should be tomorrow! Hopefully with less blur.
I started up a 10 gallon a couple weeks ago.
Flourite black sand
1x 12w 6000k LED bulb in a clamp lamp just sitting on the glass cover
50w heater
Sponge filter
Rocks from outside (boiled/scrubbed)
1x driftwood (random piece purchased online for quite cheap - turned out ok!)
Here are the initial shots of the hardscape, complete with totally posh black trash bag background:


Went out and got some plants on Boxing Day:

Hydrocotyle leucocephala / Brazilian pennywort (back left)
Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae (back middle)
Hygrophila polysperma (back right)
Staurogyne repens (front left)
Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini' (front middle)
Ended up pulling out the pennywort and cutting off more of the bottom stem since it was quite bare and replanting. I've been dosing excel/flourish/iron and have a timer giving a split (5 on)-(3 off)-(5 on) photoperiod.
One Week Progress (Jan 1) - A. reineckii growing quite well! Glad I had that first shot to compare. Sorry this one is so blurry. There was a nice fluffy bacterial growth on the log and large rock (somewhat visible in the picture). The crypt melted a bit but I was prepared for that to happen. Still cycling...

After this picture I ended up getting some flame moss and tied it to the wood, and also stuffed a baby wendelov java fern that was floating around another tank in the top end. Not sure if the fern is staying yet.
I'm planning on getting another light - I've noticed that the Hygro in particular is growing a bit bent now, arching sideways towards the light. Hoping the second light will get me a bit more even distribution.
SO here are my questions:
1) Floaters
- Looking to get some kind of floating plant and I'm leaning heavily towards Phyllanthus fluitans / red root floater. Good or bad idea? Any other suggestions?
2) Stocking
- I'd really love to have some cherry shrimp in here but there's so many options. Which colors do you think would look best?
- Also considering a pair of Tateurndina ocellicauda / peacock gudgeons - any experience with them and cherry shrimp together? Am I just looking at giving them some tasty snacks?
- Would a small group (6?) of Pseudomugil gertrudae / spotted blue eye do okay with the above?
Next weekly update should be tomorrow! Hopefully with less blur.