Whitecloud09’s 10 gallon planted aquarium journal

[Whitecloud09]

I wanted to do this before now but here we go, gotta a 10 gallon, want more plants and more plants so I got some more from AC 2 days ago, currently in this tank I have anubias nana, Pearl weed, and micro sword, I ordered Java fern, root tabs, and moneywort 2 days ago, the fish in the tank is white cloud minnows at the moment,this tank has been set up since like the last day of December, got it for a killer deal at 50 bucks instead of 80, but over these last 2 months I have dropped at least 350 bucks on it, it has been quite a journey that I hope to share with others 🙂. 
 

Thanks to @Scaperoot for suggesting to start this topic!!!

ps: sorry for the bad pics 🙃

Edited April 1 by Whitecloud09
Added better pics + fixed typos

[Scaperoot]

You did it! Those are great choices for additional plants. They'll fill in the background very nicely. We have White cloud minnows and they are beautiful and very hardy. Another great choice. It's all coming together👏

[Whitecloud09]

On 3/11/2024 at 2:42 PM, Scaperoot said:

You did it! Those are great choices for additional plants. They'll fill in the background very nicely. We have White cloud minnows and they are beautiful and very hardy. Another great choice. It's all coming together👏

Yes they are my favorite fish ever, thanks for the suggestion again!!!

[FLFishChik]

Looks great!!! Congratulations!

[Whitecloud09]

Sorry for no recent updates, still waiting on package of moneywort and Java fern to come in, as soon as it does an update will be posted 🙂

[Whitecloud09]

Real quick, can anybody assist me on how much root tabs to use when it comes? I have a lot of micro sword soooo…..?

[Whitecloud09]

I need some help here, plants came 🎇🎇🎇!!!  I got the Java fern connected to rock decor thingy with the super glue jel stuff from aquarium coop. Did I do it right? I ask this because I messed up last time trying to do it with windelov Java fern and it died, I mainly hope that maybe @Mmiller2001 has some input here on that and I got moneywort but it did have a rubber band around the “runners”from the roots if u will????? Thanks here is some pics, Java fern came with 2, love that. 🙂

Edited March 14 by Whitecloud09
Forgot the picture

[Mmiller2001]

On 3/14/2024 at 7:09 AM, Whitecloud09 said:

Real quick, can anybody assist me on how much root tabs to use when it comes? I have a lot of micro sword soooo…..?

Root tabs with that substrate will just go straight to the water column. I would advise caution.

[Whitecloud09]

On 3/14/2024 at 12:55 PM, Mmiller2001 said:

Root tabs with that substrate will just go straight to the water column. I would advise caution.

Oh…..I did not know that, what do I do? I need them for moneywort but don’t want a different substrate because that would not work…. ? @Mmiller2001

Edited March 14 by Whitecloud09

[Mmiller2001]

On 3/14/2024 at 10:51 AM, Whitecloud09 said:

I need some help here, plants came 🎇🎇🎇!!!  I got the Java fern connected to rock decor thingy with the super glue jel stuff from aquarium coop. Did I do it right? I ask this because I messed up last time trying to do it with windelov Java fern and it died, I mainly hope that maybe @Mmiller2001 has some input here on that and I got moneywort but it did have a rubber band around the “runners”from the roots if u will????? Thanks here is some pics, Java fern came with 2, love that. 🙂

As long as the rhizome is open and the roots a free to breath, should be good to go.

On 3/14/2024 at 10:56 AM, Whitecloud09 said:

Oh…..I did not know that, what do I do? I need them for moneywort but don’t want a different substrate because that would not work…. ? @Mmiller2001

Just use a liquid all in one fertilizer.

[Whitecloud09]

On 3/14/2024 at 12:58 PM, Mmiller2001 said:

As long as the rhizome is open and the roots a free to breath, should be good to go.

Yes I guess so, I tried to get roots to open up around rhizome….

On 3/14/2024 at 12:58 PM, Mmiller2001 said:

Just use a liquid all in one fertilizer.

Thanks I will return it if I can and keep the plants, thanks for that very helpful info @Mmiller2001! So helpful 

[Mmiller2001]

Not all sellers do this, but here’s what I mean about opening up the rhizome.

https://youtu.be/GvurQ4Kja6E?si=gxqfMCRV6c1hNIgt

[Whitecloud09]

On 3/14/2024 at 1:09 PM, Mmiller2001 said:

Not all sellers do this, but here’s what I mean about opening up the rhizome.

https://youtu.be/GvurQ4Kja6E?si=gxqfMCRV6c1hNIgt

Thanks I will check it out now! I got them from AC btw

Edited March 14 by Whitecloud09

[FLFishChik]

On 3/14/2024 at 12:55 PM, Mmiller2001 said:

Root tabs with that substrate will just go straight to the water column. I would advise caution.

Maybe not. If the layer of substrate is thick enough and the root tab is buried as far down as possible. I’ve got the same substrate (but it’s 3.5 inches deep) and I use a LOT of root tabs without issue. However, I push mine all the way down to the glass almost AND I have a lot of root feeders. I believe @Cory uses the same type of substrate with root tabs without issue 

[Solstice_Lacer]

You can try pushing one root tab as deep as possible and see how it goes. If you have aquarium coop root tabs they become a kind of foam that just sits on the substrate in the couple cases I didn't push mine deep enough. Pretty easy to clean and not toxic

[Whitecloud09]

On 3/14/2024 at 4:07 PM, FLFishChik said:

Maybe not. If the layer of substrate is thick enough and the root tab is buried as far down as possible. I’ve got the same substrate (but it’s 3.5 inches deep) and I use a LOT of root tabs without issue. However, I push mine all the way down to the glass almost AND I have a lot of root feeders. I believe @Cory uses the same type of substrate with root tabs without issue 

Thanks I thought maybe I could, the gravel is close to 3.5 inches deep actually and I can push it to the glass, I will give it a shot, thanks for the info.

 

On 3/14/2024 at 5:34 PM, Solstice_Lacer said:

You can try pushing one root tab as deep as possible and see how it goes. If you have aquarium coop root tabs they become a kind of foam that just sits on the substrate in the couple cases I didn't push mine deep enough. Pretty easy to clean and not toxic

Yes got the easy root tabs and will try tomorrow, how many if first one works tho? Like 5? I have never used these before, I have a good bit of micro sword and Pearl weed, + just got moneywort. Thanks 

[Solstice_Lacer]

Between 3 and 5 is probably good

[Whitecloud09]

I am planning on, if the moneywort comes out ONE MORE TIME…..I am leaving it as a floater plant, I hate that my gravel is not that thick, messed up there a couple months back, but they both look good in the tank now, suggestions on some more plants? Maybe some Java moss in there? Idk, but here is a picture of tank now. Sorry, I decided on pic now, because will not have time later in afternoon and I forgot the light timer was not in yet 😉

[Whitecloud09]

Now, I am starting to think of, what other fish for this tank? I have gotten great suggestions from the following, @macdaddy36, @Tony s, @Jeff, @Schuyler, and others, thanks everyone, now what will it be? CPDs? Chilli Rasboras? Honey gourami? Shrimp? Panda catfish? Still thinking on it, I like all of em. Still trying to decide on that and plants if anyone could suggest plants to I would be happy! Thanks everyone for all helpful info 

[Solstice_Lacer]

I'm fond of anubius nana petite

[Whitecloud09]

On 3/16/2024 at 3:51 PM, Solstice_Lacer said:

I'm fond of anubius nana petite

Thanks for responding @Solstice_Lacer! I see that AC is out of stock with this but will continue to check, thanks

[Whitecloud09]

Update: 
 

Well, tank is going great, fish are super healthy, enjoying a good diet I have for them, got algae popping up (first time with algae BESIDES diatom algae). Here is some pics I got of them with the best camera ever on the iPhone 15 pro, love the camera. I am still trying to decide, am I going with a quick easy option of pandas at petsmart which is super close or going to petco which has the chili rasboras but really far drive? Can’t decide……..

[Scaperoot]

These white clouds are stunning!! We have the normal and golden white clouds, but I've been looking for the yellow fin white clouds for months. Hopefully Aqua Huna can get them in soon. 

[Bsquared]

Wow, your fish really are looking great! Love a white cloud!

[Whitecloud09]

Thanks @Scaperoot, and @Bsquared, I love em too!!! 
 

small update: 

I checked the ammonia and…..it was 1.0 ppm!!!!! 😦. I almost screamed lol, did the quickest water change ever and added some seachem prime for conditioner, hope that does not happen again, something about these white clouds is, they are crazy hardy!