Planted 10 gallon :) small community, big plans

[automatic-hydromatic]

Figured I'd post some up-to-date pictures and a short video of my current setup.

Well, the pictures are more up-to-date than the video. I shot the video 2 days ago before I put the heater in the tank. I just put the heater in the tank today.

No fake ornaments; I want it all to be natural. Real drift wood, real rock, and most importantly, real plants. The system takes care of itself extremely well! I have YET to need to do a water change and I think that's saying a lot for smaller a 10 gallon! Real plants do wonders for a tank

Plants:
Java Fern (2)
Lace Java Fern (1)
Amazon Sword (2)
Argentine Sword (7 or 8 bunches)
Aponogetons (3)
Anacharis (2 bunches)
Red Ludwigia (two small lengths)
Wisteria (one small plant)

the Red Ludwigia and the Wisteria came as hitchhikers with the Anacharis :P

Fish:
Dwarf Gourmi (2 Red, 2 Blue - all male)
Chinese Algae Eater (1)
Ghost Shrimp (1 - he's a guinea pig to make sure they wouldn't be eaten)


Before you say the tank is over stocked, the Chinese Algae Eater is going to get too big and get aggressive, or say that's too many male Dwarf Gourmis in a 10 gallon, A) the real plants take care of the bioload AMAZINGLY; the water parameters stay perfect, B) I know the algae eater is going to get large and aggressive, and when he does he'll be removed and replaced with another small one; the only purpose he serves is to keep the log, the rocks, and the plants clean, which he does a fantastic job at C) The Dwarf Gouramis have plenty of hiding places and areas to claim as their own in the tank; they do have their little spats every once in a while and chase each other away, but they get along better than you might expect.


The tank is soon to get more shrimp (Cherry Shrimp) now that I know the Dwarf Gourmis wont bother them too much.


I plan to soon get a 55 gallon to use as the main tank to house all these inhabitants plus more, and the 10 gallon is going to turn into a Dwarf Gourmi breeding tank

YouTube - Planted 10 gallon Aquarium

[Gizmo]

Very nice tank!

I noticed there's very little in the upper water column - is that because the plants are young or are you just trimming them that way?

[automatic-hydromatic]

a little of both actually

[BlueSaphire]

Awesome tank! Hope to eventually develop mine like that

[automatic-hydromatic]

well the 10 gallon is now torn down

everything got moved to the 30 gallon I just set up


minus the Chinese Algae Eater... I turned him in at the LFS today for some Anacharis

[ValorieMackison]

I quite enjoyed viewing the 10 gallon. Is the 30 gallon setup in a similar fashion (in terms of decor)?

[automatic-hydromatic]

yup

I'll have to get some video of it