sharing my 10-gallon plant setup

[brookrun]

Just set up my 10-gallon planted tank and wanted to share. Got some Anubias Nana, Java Fern, and a few stems of Rotala Rotundifolia. Running a Nicrew light for 8 hours a day, no CO2. Substrate is Fluval Stratum. Anyone got tips for keeping the Rotala red without CO2?

[Riverman]

Nice setup! For Rotala to stay red, you'll need strong lighting and low nitrates. Try keeping nitrates below 10 ppm. The Nicrew should be enough if it's the planted version. How often are you dosing ferts?

[nightskyz]

I've had success with Rotala in low-tech tanks. Iron supplements help with the reds. Are you using any root tabs or liquid ferts? Also, what's your water change schedule like?

[brookrun]

Nice setup! For Rotala to stay red, you'll need strong lighting and low nitrates. Try keeping nitrates below 10 ppm. The Nicrew should be enough if it's the planted version. How often are you dosing ferts?

Thanks! I'm dosing Thrive once a week. Nitrates are around 15 ppm right now. Gonna try cutting back on feeding to lower them.

[flumine]

Rotala can be finicky without CO2, but it's doable. I'd recommend adding some floating plants to help with nutrient competition. Frogbit or Salvinia would work great in a 10-gallon. What's your photoperiod?

[turtle9]

Dude, your setup sounds chill. I've got a similar tank but with more moss. How's the Anubias doing? Mine took forever to attach to the driftwood.

[shellelle]

Love the plant choices! For the Rotala, try adding a bit more iron. And yeah, floating plants are a game-changer. They'll also give your tank a cool jungle vibe. What fish are you keeping in there?

[mintyke]

I'm new to planted tanks, but this sounds awesome. How long did it take for your plants to settle in? My Java Fern melted a bit at first.

[lumen]

Yo, that Fluval Stratum is legit. Had the same in my 10-gallon. Just watch out for the dust cloud when you first set it up. Messy af but worth it.

[kodrax]

Your setup sounds solid. I've had trouble with Rotala in the past, but keeping nitrates low seems to be the key. What's your filter setup like?