Since it seems like this is getting quite a bit of attention i will do a full breakdown.
The tank is a WaterBox 6 gallon which i saw at a big box store for around $40The driftwood is spiderwood also from the big box store it was $20The soil was the leftovers from a bag of Fluval Stratum $18 (Probably used about half of that)The grass is Sagitaria Subulata, the LFS said it was dwarf sag, but i am not so sure. Took these out of my 20 gallonThe plant halfway up the driftwood is Bucephlandra, not sure which variant, it was from the lfs as wellThe top plant which is emergent i am not so sure on i am thinking it is some type of sword but it was from a big box store last year and i have totally forgotten what it is.The light fixture is a Lominie LED Aquarium Light, $40 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07236CXBQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
EDIT: oh and the stones are petrafied wood from a craft store.
It’s a nice little light. I have one on each of my nano tanks.
Here is the link for those in the USA.
I’ve had this light for almost two years now and after revisiting this link, I just noticed they used my photos in their product description so that’s mildly interesting.
I believe that is actually an Asta but nevertheless I'm curious about it as well. About to start a new 22 long and am debating a Stingray vs x2 of these. I like the look of these clip-ons better but I trust Stingrays and already have one on my other tank.
I do have co2 injection going but for the rotala it is completely unnecessary. It grows like crazy in my low tech, but with co2 I can get enough growth in only 2 days to cut/propagate . I have a cheap($40) LED light from amazon that has been working just fine so far.
Tips -
Swap out the gravel for sand, it's far easier to clean
Dont waste money on fake decor, it's quite expensive. Go for live plants - anubias, java ferns, java moss, moss balls, and anarcharis are very easy. Amazon swords and most crypts are also fairly easy but they will definitely require root tabs. Plants will improve water quality and will act as a buffer for any 'oops' ammonia spikes.
the nicrew lights on amazon are super cheap and work well for low-light, low-tech setups
r/aquaswap always has great deals on plants. Especially floaters, bettas love them, and they soak up nitrates like nothing else.
I've heard nothing but good things about the Finnex Planted+ 24/7. In fact, I just bought one for myself because of what I read. So far, I've only had it operating for a few days but am satisfied. Notice if you scroll down on that amazon page, there is a table with other finnex lighting options that give specs on general applications, how difficult plants the particular product supports, among other things. I found that particularly useful. I went with the planted+ 24/7 because it could support plants ranging from low-high light requirements. But you can see there are others available depending on your goals.
What size is the tank?
Aquarium Lights – Aquarium LED Light 30W(±5%) Saltwater Lighting with Touch Control and 3W LED Chips for Coral Reef Nano Fish Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727V8C5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_3BYJHCJNFCBSMXMCBDSR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Is a generally approved of and good light for cheap reef builds. But, depending on your tank size, you may need more than one.
I've had good luck with Nicrew lights; they come in a variety of sizes. Here are some on Amazon. There are plenty of other good lights out there though, hard to go wrong.
Also, if you're getting a light, I'd highly recommend an outlet timer. Consistent lightning can help with algae, etc.
Take care.
Check this out. Those are my two 10 gallons with those lights. Plants are thriving. I also put the link to amazon. They are 40$ CAD for a 20-27 inch long. http://imgur.com/a/1SHR5DD / https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01C84SLRO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kkHIBb11K3QDF
The cheapest way to go, but will require a bit of researching, is purchasing a lightbulb that can grow plants from your local hardware store and just having a lamp over the tank. Just be sure not to have a light too powerful or else you’ll run into problems with algae (especially if you don’t run any c02)
My tank is 12in in height and 3 gallons. This is the light I am using. I can’t speak on personal experience of how effective it is since my tank is only 5 weeks old but it was recommended by one of my favorite youtubers and has good reviews. I personally told him my tank specifications and he responded with this light
$25 on Amazon Here it is: https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-StingRAY-Clip-Light-Aquarium/dp/B00LMH10HC
Great light for the price and could be a good fit for a 20gal
Take it back. Rust is not okay. Even if your stock isn't as sensitive to rust as something like corals, take it back. If he doesn't give you 100% refund, talk to the owner next time, or ask for his manager. "This dude sold me a rusted light off of a tank for $25" is the kind of thing that would make for a very bad google+yelp review, so it's unlikely they'll give you trouble.
On my betta cube i have this finnex LED strip I like it very much.
Aquarium Lights – Aquarium LED Light 30W(±5%) Saltwater Lighting with Touch Control and 3W/5W LED Chips for Coral Reef Nano Fish Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727V8C5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_SNB456PQDYMEAWS67H35
Lominie LED Aquarium Light, Full Spectrum Saltwater Freshwater Fish Tank Light for Coral, Reef, Planted Nano Aquarium Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07236CXBQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_VZ7PAHJSEF7XAT1M7EKZ
Something similar to this might work too with a goose neck you’ll be able to get further or closer to the tank depending on your lighting needs.
These plants are gonna rot in this setup. And it will kill your betta.
Live plants need a legit light or they melt/rot. If you'd like to operate on the dirt cheap, pick up something like this
I'd pull the plant tho. It's gonna do more damage than good until you get some real structure in place.
That is just about perfect, thanks!
Think this one would be overkill for a hardscape tank? I like the idea of point lighting but if it's too bright the stingray seems like a better option. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07236CXBQ/ref=ewc_pr_img_2?smid=A272AHJMCEAKQE&psc=1
Plz do! After 2 months it grew this much! I only do liquid fert once a week and I use a cheap NICREW light from Amazon . It’s worth it! Especially now that it’s not summer yet, this is the best time to buy plants online!
HIPARGERO LED Aquarium Light – Aquarium LED Lights 30W Saltwater Lighting with Touch Control and 3W Cree Chips for Coral Reef Fish Nano Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727V8C5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_pkC-Fb7D9KBBX is this what you’re talking about?
>My husband gave me an Amazon gift card for my birthday so that I can upgrade my planted tank.
Is this what married people do?
All joking aside, The light that comes with it isn't too good, but should probably work with low-light plants. If you want something that will grow most plants, you can check out a small clip-on like this. https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-FugeRay-Aquarium-Moonlights-Cliplight/dp/B00LIL7YPE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469052287&sr=8-1&keywords=finnex+clip+on
That is way too bright. Could cause major algae growth too because of excess light
I used NICREW:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C84SLRO/
Only downside is it does not come dimmable like the Chihiros that /u/Elhazar recommended.
Edit: Canadian Amazon link:
Thank you!
Live plants aren't really hard, here's some good tips for a low-tech setup:
Photoperiod of 8hrs, get a light timer.
Get some seachem flourish (dose 1x a week) and seachem root tabs.
Pick easy, low-light plants. Anubias, java ferns, java moss, moss balls, anacharis, amazon swords, and some crypts are all pretty undemanding. Also check r/aquaswap for easy plant bundles!
If you don't have a light, these lights on amazon are super cheap and work well for the above plants.
My money's on this light from Amazon, as /u/Gredival said, it's sold under many different names, chinese.manufactured LED. The nicrew on Amazon has loads of good reviews tho and at a price that's not too painful at all.
NICREW ClassicLED Aquarium Light, Fish Tank Light with Extendable Brackets, White and Blue LEDs, 6W https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_AiKZAbAGYQ19B
The lights are available on Amazon, but I don't sell them.
The type/wattage of the light depends entirely on what you plan on using the tank for. If it's just a couple fish and low light plants, a simple inexpensive clip on from amazon would work fine.
It looks like it's under a different name now but it's the Asta 20 from Amazon. Kessil knockoff? Maybe. But good light for cheap.
I use these on my 5.5 gal tanks just fine.
whoops forgot to mention that. its from amazon. link below
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0727V8C5Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hey man, sorry for the late response. If your plants are doing good with your current setup, it is 100% okay to keep your current lights, just bump it up to I’d say around 16 hours. I have mine set up for 8 am (or when you wake up) to about 11:30 or so. I keep my shrimps lights on as long as I’m awake.
Here are a few lights that might make your plants and algae grow a bit better:
Nicrew long light: NICREW ClassicLED Plus Planted Aquarium Light, Full Spectrum LED Fish Tank Light for Freshwater Plants https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F7391M2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fab_XonFFbRN52YPP
Or a clip on gooseneck spotlight: Lominie LED Aquarium Light, Full Spectrum Saltwater Freshwater Fish Tank Light for Coral, Reef, Planted Nano Aquarium Tank (F20 Freshwater) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07236CXBQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fab_lqnFFbPJASGGN
I only recommend them because their lumens are much higher than package lights that come with the tank themselves. They also have red and blue light, which helps the plant absorb the light more effectively, i don’t know the exact science to it, but I know it makes a huge difference!