I Need Help With Aquascaping Ideas

I have a 10 gallon that I need to finally get around to aquascaping, but I'm drawing a complete blank when it comes to what exactly I want to do with it. I'm thinking about a forest theme but, since I'm only able to work with low-medium light plants....I don't exactly know what plants would give a foresty feel to the tank and still be alive later. If it helps, I'm either going to add pfs or flourite black sand and the tank will be housing a single male betta.

 

I have a 10 gallon that I need to finally get around to aquascaping, but I'm drawing a complete blank when it comes to what exactly I want to do with it. I'm thinking about a forest theme but, since I'm only able to work with low-medium light plants....I don't exactly know what plants would give a foresty feel to the tank and still be alive later. If it helps, I'm either going to add pfs or flourite black sand and the tank will be housing a single male betta.

You actually have lots of options so I wouldn't worry too much! Do you have driftwood picked out? In terms of plants, Java Fern and Anubias are great to attach to driftwood and pretty easy to care for. S. repens and dwarf sag make great fore-midground plants. It helps to google some aquascaping s to gain some inspiration. Its what I do when I don't have a general direction in mind and will also help you with arranging your plants and hardscape down the road.

 

There really isn't driftwood available around my area and what I've seen online is either much too costly or simply won't fit in the tank. I did find a cool tree root decoration at Petsmart today, I might add it to the tank in place of driftwood. The holes will have to be filled with plants, probably anubias, so the fish can't get stuck.

 

That's the decor I found. Do you think it would work?

 

There really isn't driftwood available around my area and what I've seen online is either much too costly or simply won't fit in the tank. I did find a cool tree root decoration at Petsmart today, I might add it to the tank in place of driftwood. The holes will have to be filled with plants, probably anubias, so the fish can't get stuck.

Faux wood is even better in some cases as it doesn't degrade as much over time and is easier to clean. I have a ceramic "log" in my 10 gallon and the fish are enjoying it just as much. Make sure to post pictures

EDIT: YES, that is a great piece!

 

That is a really cool ornament....but I am concerned it will be a bit large for a 10 gallon......It might be a bit cramped....

 

Depending on the placement, it may work. I was merely commenting on the aesthetic in my last post lol.

 

Depending on the placement, it may work. I was merely commenting on the aesthetic in my last post lol.

It is super cool looking, I agree. And I also agree that It can work....

I had a 10 gallon with a real piece of driftwood about that same size...and it took up half the tank.....This tank had baby bn plecos, so it was ok because they all took advantage of the extra surface area on that wood...and they eat driftwood, so it was just....good.....it worked.

but if I had fish in that 10 gallon that liked to have actual swimming space....it would have suddenly been more like a 5 gallon than a 10 gallon.....

HOWEVER, the OP's tank is only housing a single betta....so with that being said, I think it will be great! A nice huge focal point!

 

Bizaliz3, that was my first concern too. I found a 10 gallon in the store to see how the ornament would fit and I think it's pretty good. An inch or two of the ornament sticks out of the top, but otherwise it seems to fit fine.

 

Bizaliz3, that was my first concern too. I found a 10 gallon in the store to see how the ornament would fit and I think it's pretty good. An inch or two of the ornament sticks out of the top, but otherwise it seems to fit fine.

I am sure it will look great, and the betta will still have a lot more room than most bettas get!!

I am looking forward to a photo when you get it in there!!

 

I'll absolutely post photos when I'm done! What plants do you think would look nice with it, keeping with the forest theme? I thought maybe a carpet plant of some type around the bottom.....maybe dwarf baby tears or monte carlo.....but I'd have to upgrade my lighting, at the very least, to try those. Maybe just a pad of moss?

 

I'll absolutely post photos when I'm done! What plants do you think would look nice with it, keeping with the forest theme? I thought maybe a carpet plant of some type around the bottom.....maybe dwarf baby tears or monte carlo.....but I'd have to upgrade my lighting, at the very least, to try those. Maybe just a pad of moss?

Carpeting usually requires high light, ferts, and CO2 but you could probably get a decent carpet going with Java Moss!

 

I don't want to turn this thread into one about co2, but would there be an easy way to get into co2? Like maybe a kit I could buy or something similar? It seems like a lot of the plants I would like require it...

 

I don't want to turn this thread into one about co2, but would there be an easy way to get into co2? Like maybe a kit I could buy or something similar? It seems like a lot of the plants I would like require it...

There's liquid which you can dose like anything else you add to the water and injected which requires a setup. There are definitely CO2 kits you can buy and youtube videos to watch if you really want to get into it. I use a liquid CO2 and it does seem to help but injected + high light is the real way to go if you want some serious growth.

EDIT: just wanted to add that if you do go the injected CO2 + high light route to do so with caution because you'll have a huge algae problem if your CO2 + lighting + ferts aren't balanced just right.

 

Just a thought ... if you wanted smaller wood you could maybe add some pieces of cholla wood and attach anubias or Java moss.

 

Thanks! I'll look for the liquid, and check up on on some YouTube videos! I like the idea of cholla wood, maybe with moss wrapped around it for a shrimp or two. He likes to chase those.

 

Thanks! I'll look for the liquid, and check up on on some YouTube videos! I like the idea of cholla wood, maybe with moss wrapped around it for a shrimp or two. He likes to chase those.

Be careful ... he will probably eat them.

 

That's the plan

 

There's liquid which you can dose like anything else you add to the water and injected which requires a setup. There are definitely CO2 kits you can buy and youtube videos to watch if you really want to get into it. I use a liquid CO2 and it does seem to help but injected + high light is the real way to go if you want some serious growth.

EDIT: just wanted to add that if you do go the injected CO2 + high light route to do so with caution because you'll have a huge algae problem if your CO2 + lighting + ferts aren't balanced just right.

I was gonna help with the OP aquascaping. But your on it. He/she can't get any better help then you.

 

I'm a she
And I can always use another's input!

 

I'm not good at it. You got the pro helping you. I'll just fallow along and learn.

 

I was gonna help with the OP aquascaping. But your on it. He/she can't get any better help then you.

I appreciate the vote of confidence but additional input is always good!

 

Okay!
Would I be right in assuming that if I'm going to try to get into CO2 then I should use a soil that's made for plants?

 

Water wisteria is a nice undemanding plant that grows very well in my tank.

There's also Crypts that offer a nice bushy look. Ludwiga is a nice stem that is green in low light and doesn't demand a great deal either. Java moss, Java fern, anubias (many varieties), the list goes on

There's lots of options

 

I've had problems with wisteria growing out of control in my tanks, I'd like to avoid that plant. I might like some crypts though!

 

The driftwood you picket out is great but a little big for a 10 I think . Your black sand with a black background will make the green plants pop. A colorful betta too. Trees you could do java moss balls tied on top of tall skinny rocks. Mabee a java fern too.

 

A nutrient rich substrate definitely helps! Especially if you are trying for a carpet. But you don't NEED to use it. Just make sure you have liquid ferts and/or root tabs if you have root feeders.

 

I think I'll do the Flourite then. If it may give the carpet a bit of a boost then it's worth it. I liked the look of moss covered cholla wood so I'll probably do one or two of those in an attempt to even out the flow. If I added co2, would I need to trim the moss occasionally?

 

Depends on the moss that you have but trimming will be necessary for both carpets and for moss to keep it neat looking. Regular carpet trims help encourage bushy lateral growth.