Crypts in a 10 gallon

[Gideyon]

I'm setting up a 10 gallon planted tank - a task that is taking forever and a day.  It'll be my first planted tank. I'm having a change of heart of what I want as I feel the real estate in a 10 gallon just isn't much.

Instead of wisteria, dwarf sag, and a reddish crypt as a centerpiece, I'm considering crypts only.  Either two, or three (I really have no idea of size of these things) 

Low tech is the goal.  No crazy lights and no ferts. 

So here's my question(s) :

I want to get the plants established before bringing in fish (likely 3 platies).   Since I can't rely on fish poop as fertilizer, will the plants be fine with just the ammonia added to the tank?   Would ghost feeding help?   Or does it look like I have no choice but to add fertilizers (easygreen, not tabs)?

If I kept dwarf sag as well, will they be taller than the crypts? 

[Jennifer V]

I added crypts and dwarf sag to my 10g and the dwarf sag was much taller. I actually originally thought I couldn't do much as far as planting, but I've found ways to cram a bunch of plants in the tank so you might be able to play with much more than you think. Maybe send over a pic of your tank so the lovely folks here can give you some suggestions?

I didn't add any fish food or ammonia to cycle the tank, I just let the plants to their thing and thankfully got a lot of bladder snails to start. 

I'm a big fan of ferts, although I know some people are not. I've just noticed that they really help the plants. Any reason you'd prefer to not use them? 

Edited February 2, 2022 by Jennifer V

[Gideyon]

On 2/2/2022 at 5:59 PM, Jennifer V said:

Any reason you'd prefer to not use them? 

I really don't want to spend much money.  Pretty much the only reason.  Especially since this will be my only tank for a long time.  

 

Have you shared your tank on here? 

Currently mine is dormant. I shut it off as I hit a road block in the initial setup.  Freezing temps are keeping me the next step to reset, so I shut it all off until I can get to it. 

[Streetwise]

Dwarf sag spreads well in a good soil. I chose two crypts for my oldest-tank reboot.

[Jennifer V]

On 2/2/2022 at 4:07 PM, Gideyon said:

I really don't want to spend much money.  Pretty much the only reason.  Especially since this will be my only tank for a long time.  

 

Have you shared your tank on here? 

Currently mine is dormant. I shut it off as I hit a road block in the initial setup.  Freezing temps are keeping me the next step to reset, so I shut it all off until I can get to it. 

I haven't done any tank maintenance yet this week so excuse the algae and I'm a horrible photo taker but this is my 10g. It has anubias nana petite, Java fern, dwarf sag, crypt parva, various swords, a Marino moss ball, Christmas moss, anacharis and susswassertang in it. It used to have two other crypts but I accidentally killed one somehow and sucked up another one that was very tiny and didn't know until it was too late. I plan to replace those eventually. This tank has been running for a year.

I also have a 5g that has two different kinds of anubias, Java fern, two kinds of bucephalandra, Christmas moss susswassertang and duckweed in it. 

If it helps at all, Easy Green and Easy Root Tabs are such great products and last quite awhile. I bought mine when I set up the tank and still have plenty left. I know setting up tanks can start to get cost prohibitive but ferts are definitely something to consider if you're planning a planted tank. And you can go in stages! 

Excited for your journey! 

[Gideyon]

On 2/2/2022 at 8:49 PM, Jennifer V said:

g. It has anubias nana petite, Java fern, dwarf sag, crypt parva

 

Is the crypt in the back left?   Or front right?  I don't  see any dwarf sag.  Is it hidden?

 

That is quite a lot. It makes the tank look even bigger.   I like the swords too but they could just too tall (my substrate is about 3").   I also prefer root feeders to take advantage of the fish poop. 

 

On 2/2/2022 at 7:27 PM, Streetwise said:

Dwarf sag spreads well in a good soil.

What about gravel?   If it's taller than crypts, I could try it in the background, as Val would be too tall for my tank. But I know it can spread wherever it wants.   

[Jennifer V]

@Gideyon the back left and front right are Java ferns that started off as babies from my original. The dwarf sag is kind of hiding in between the rock and Driftwood. I may need to replant it because it isn't doing amazingly well in that spot. It may be too crowded. 

I may regret the swords because the tank is only 10g but they're fine for now. 

[Tomp]

Have you considered Cryptocoryne Parava? Smaller than other Crypts. Though I’m told it should have a bit more light and fertilizer definitely helps. I’m also told it’s slow going, but it does look pretty. I just got some and am excited about seeing how it does in my tank. 

[anewbie]

I'm not a fan of crypt parva; esp a low tech tank. I have several that are 3 years old. A pinto anubia would be nice or nana anubia; crypt wendti in low tech should stay small enough and add a bit of colour. With a bright light and rich substrate crypt flamingo can grow. There are also some more interesting crypts like jacobensii pink; nurii rosen miden, green grecko, and tiger or red spiralis. These are all crypts with interesting colours.

[Odd Duck]

On 2/3/2022 at 2:14 PM, anewbie said:

I'm not a fan of crypt parva; esp a low tech tank. I have several that are 3 years old. A pinto anubia would be nice or nana anubia; crypt wendti in low tech should stay small enough and add a bit of colour. With a bright light and rich substrate crypt flamingo can grow. There are also some more interesting crypts like jacobensii pink; nurii rosen miden, green grecko, and tiger or red spiralis. These are all crypts with interesting colours.

Same for me on all these, but I’ve had Crypt. wendtii ‘Red’ get 10” tall in low tech.  A little more light and they don’t “reach” as much and will stay a bit shorter.  I love the look of Crypt. parva, but here’s a picture from today and one from several months back. This tiny 2 gallon tank is one I’ve struggled with but you can see there isn’t exactly impressive growth from the parvas.  They did start out as tiny babies from tissue culture, but they’ve been out of the tissue cup since at least July 5, last year and aren’t exactly breaking any growth records.  If I knew then what I know now, I would buy adult plants, not tissue culture.  I might still try some adult plants.  Sorry the pics don’t show the same angle but trust me, they’re still tiny.

Edited February 3, 2022 by Odd Duck
Trying to add pics but forum is not cooperating.

[Gideyon]

On 2/3/2022 at 3:28 PM, Odd Duck said:

I’ve had Crypt. wendtii ‘Red’ get 10” tall in low tech.  A little more light and they don’t “reach” as much and will stay a bit shorter.

You mean this grows more with less light?  Didn't know that was possible. 

It's hard to find the red one.  Aco doesn't have it at the moment either.  Maybe after winter. 

 

[Patrick_G]

I really like Crypt spiralis. It’ll get tall but trimming is easy. Crypt Hudori is also fun and would make a nice midground or background, it’s bronze colored and really pops against bright green Crypt Lucens.  
 

[Patrick_G]

Crypt Parva is tiny and beautiful but takes absolutely forever to grow. 

@Odd Duck, I bought potted Parva and it hasn’t grown noticeably in a year. A interesting trait is it’s seeming resistance to algae. 

[anewbie]

On 2/3/2022 at 2:28 PM, Odd Duck said:

Same for me on all these, but I’ve had Crypt. wendtii ‘Red’ get 10” tall in low tech.  A little more light and they don’t “reach” as much and will stay a bit shorter.  I love the look of Crypt. parva, but here’s a picture from today and one from several months back. This tiny 2 gallon tank is one I’ve struggled with but you can see there isn’t exactly impressive growth from the parvas.  They did start out as tiny babies from tissue culture, but they’ve been out of the tissue cup since at least July 5, last year and aren’t exactly breaking any growth records.  If I knew then what I know now, I would buy adult plants, not tissue culture.  I might still try some adult plants.  Sorry the pics don’t show the same angle but trust me, they’re still tiny.

The adult plants start larger but don't grow much faster 😞

On 2/3/2022 at 2:46 PM, Patrick_G said:

I really like Crypt spiralis. It’ll get tall but trimming is easy. Crypt Hudori is also fun and would make a nice midground or background, it’s bronze colored and really pops against bright green Crypt Lucens.  
 

The colour versions (tiger and red) do not get that tall....

[Jennifer V]

On 2/3/2022 at 1:53 PM, Patrick_G said:

Crypt Parva is tiny and beautiful but takes absolutely forever to grow. 

@Odd Duck, I bought potted Parva and it hasn’t grown noticeably in a year. A interesting trait is it’s seeming resistance to algae. 

Same! I'm just now noticing any growth from it in a year. I knew they were slow growers but that seems a tad dramatic. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I don't think I'd buy it again. But you're right, it doesn't seem to collect algae like other plants. 

[Gideyon]

Are the red crypt wendtii a very popular one, or just very rare?   They're sold out everywhere (everywhere I'd trust). 

 

Also, I understand in one order from most places it's not one plant but multiple in a bunch. But can you plant it as one if you want it to be full?  Or will that be harmful in anyway? 

[anewbie]

On 2/3/2022 at 5:03 PM, Gideyon said:

Are the red crypt wendtii a very popular one, or just very rare?   They're sold out everywhere (everywhere I'd trust). 

 

Also, I understand in one order from most places it's not one plant but multiple in a bunch. But can you plant it as one if you want it to be full?  Or will that be harmful in anyway? 

They are fairly common; just a result of winter and pandemic.

[Patrick_G]

On 2/3/2022 at 3:03 PM, Gideyon said:

Are the red crypt wendtii a very popular one, or just very rare?   They're sold out everywhere (everywhere I'd trust). 

 

Also, I understand in one order from most places it's not one plant but multiple in a bunch. But can you plant it as one if you want it to be full?  Or will that be harmful in anyway? 

I bought Tropica brand  crypt wendtii red a few weeks ago from a LFS. They had a lot at the time. With the exception of crypt Parva I’ve planted all my crypts in a bunch. To me it looks better than scattered single plants. 

[Odd Duck]

On 2/3/2022 at 2:42 PM, Gideyon said:

You mean this grows more with less light?  Didn't know that was possible. 

It's hard to find the red one.  Aco doesn't have it at the moment either.  Maybe after winter. 

 

Crypts tend to grow flatter and wider with more light, taller with less light.  They “reach” upward for the light.  It almost seems backwards to me, but that’s what they tend to do.  Under brighter light, most will lay flatter and thereby stay shorter.

[Odd Duck]

On 2/3/2022 at 5:03 PM, Gideyon said:

Are the red crypt wendtii a very popular one, or just very rare?   They're sold out everywhere (everywhere I'd trust). 

 

Also, I understand in one order from most places it's not one plant but multiple in a bunch. But can you plant it as one if you want it to be full?  Or will that be harmful in anyway? 

They will tend to grow better if you at least separate them a little.  I do tend to plant them close together, but if you can easily separate them, they will grow better and end up making their own clump fairly soon (as long as you’re not talking about parva 😆).  Crypt. wendtii ‘Red’ tends to grow pretty well for me and makes nice clumps.  It also runners fairly well.

I have a Crypt. pontederiifolia runner in my 14 G cube that has randomly popped up at least 10” from the parent plant.  I’m going to need to move it but I know it’s going to disturb things like mad!  If I only cut the runner close to the new plant, it will just keep trying.  I’m going to have to try to remove the entire runner.  First time for ponte to misbehave this much for me.  It’s usually fairly well behaved and runners don’t usually go anywhere near this far before popping up.

Crypt. axelrodi is one of the more commonly found and less expensive Crypts with markings.  It’s also a well behaved Crypt.  You might see if you can find that one if you can’t currently find C. w. ‘Red’.

[Torrey]

On 2/4/2022 at 7:02 AM, Odd Duck said:

Crypts tend to grow flatter and wider with more light, taller with less light.  They “reach” upward for the light.  It almost seems backwards to me, but that’s what they tend to do.  Under brighter light, most will lay flatter and thereby stay shorter.

Most plants will have a shorter internodal length under brighter lights.

Some plants are slow growers, no matter what, and it's hard to see the growth difference. 

Others will appear to grow faster under lower light, because they stretch the internodal length and expend less energy on leaves until they get into optimal light zones.