High-Tech Lighting For a 10 gallon.

HI everyone!

So i'm thinking about setting up a 10 gallon planted tank for a betta and then eventually purchasing some otoocinclus, cories, and maybe some tetras. I have been using just regular dirt and then i capped it with Eco complete in some tanks and Pool filter sand in others. I have had decent results with this, but i have never really expierinced having a high tech tank and have never used, co2 or ferts before. In this tank i'm thinking about putting either t5 ho or CFL. Here is the two choices....

http://www.aquatraders.com/20-inch-4x18W-T5-Aquarium-Light-Fixture-...

http://www.aquatraders.com/20-inch-1x36W-Power-Compact-Light-Fixtur...

Which one would you suggest i use? I know the first one which is the T5HO has 4, 18 watt bulbs in there. That would mean 72 watts on a 10 gallon! I feel like that is just overkill and could even just kill the plants with too much light! So i was thinking about taking out a bulb or two so i would have either 54 watts or 36 watts over the 10 gallon. I like the T5HO because they are more stylish looking and seem to have more potential output. They also have blue moonlights which is a cool little bonus :D. The CFL (Compact Florescent Lighting), looks alright but it looks less stylish. I plan to be using either dirt and clay and then cap it with eco complete or just eco complete and possibly supplement it with root tabs if necessary. Then i am planning to use flourish excel and possibly flourish plant supplement or flourish trace or iron. I don't know exactly which ones i'm going to use but i will at least use the flourish excel i think. Then i plan on running my own DIY co2 mix just so it helps balance out the tank and all of the lighting on it. Which one would you chose?

Thanks, Braden :D

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Permalink Reply by Dan w on April 23, 2012 at 7:29am

Braden,
I recently set up a 10gal planted dirtied aquarium and it's doing awesome. I have to trim the plants back like every other week. Check out how I did it (http://fishtanktv.com/profiles/blogs/frist-attempt-at-dirted-tank). As far as tech I have a plain 15w life-glo, and I don't fertilize. What I have added thats not in that blog is a DIY co2. I am a home wine maker and I was trying my first batch of mead and it ferments slow for months. So I thought why let all that good co2 go to waste, an I plumbed it to the tank. But all and all for a 10gal save the money on the lights and dirt it, after the light only has to travel a max of 12inches. After 3weeks mine was cycled and real stable I now have baby tetras some micro fish and inverts in there.

Dan

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Permalink Reply by Braden on April 23, 2012 at 2:48pm

Nice. I'm kind of trying to get away from dirt. Thanks though.

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Permalink Reply by Mr Crazeemofo on April 23, 2012 at 11:13pm

I currently am running a 10 gallon tank. No dirt substrate. My lighting is done with two fluorescent daylight 40watt 1500k bulbs. I am using only flourish excel no CO2. Regular water changes and my lights are on a 12 hour timer. Just put a Male Crown Tail Betta in there. He needs time to adjust to his new home and tank mates but my plant thrive. Check my video let me know what you think.

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Permalink Reply by Braden on April 24, 2012 at 3:28pm

Thank for the reply! I checked it out and i like it. Hopefully one day you can get some plant substrate and get the bubbler and pirate ship out and have it a planted tank if you want! Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Mr Crazeemofo on April 27, 2012 at 10:46pm

I actually did away with the bubble wall and ship ornament. Re did the plants and pottery that they came in. Looks much nicer now. Latest video shows a great deal of changes made.