My betta...

[kritas]

Hey everyone,
I just upgraded to a 10.5 gallon tank and was just wondering whether or not i should put a bristlenose catfish in with it.
Would it be to crowded?
Also, while i was setting up my 2.5 gallon tank for cycling, the plant i had put in there stated to deteriorate and fogged up the whole tank. I put a halogen light over it. I've been reading some more over these forums, and you guys keep saying fluro lights. Stupid LFS dont know nothing...
Anyway just making sure a fluro light is essential for plants or not, and for the catfish i have in mind.

Thanks!

[fish_4_all]

A BN really needs a larger tank. At 5.5-6 inches they can be cramped in such a small tank especially with them wanting to have places to hide and such.

If you are looking for an algae eater, small fish, then Otos are great addition. 4-5 of them would fit greeat in a 10.5 and the betta shouldn't even care about them.

As for the lighting, Halogen is likely way too much for a 10.5 gallon. Fluorescents would be the best at 20-30 watts for most plants that require very little maintenance.

[kritas]

Aren't the bristlenose females only like 4-4.5 inches?
Have they still got the same fins as males?

[bf2king]

b-nose pleco's should be kept in a 20 gallon long minimal.

[kritas]

But even still my plants shouldnt deteriorate like that should they??? I bought the plant from my LFS and stupidly, i didnt ask what type it was. The guy that owned the shop didnt know the proper name for half the fish he had...
Can someone clue me in on why my plant deteriorated so quickly? while in his water it was thriving...???

Thanks in advance!

[Flashygrrl]

Maybe it's just "die back" and will grow again, moving some kinds of plants will to that and the lighting change probably didn't help. We can't tell you for sure unless we know what kind...look on aquariumplants.com and see if you can find which one looks the most like yours. I'm betting it's a Crypt.

[kritas]

Originally Posted by Flashygrrl

I'm betting it's a Crypt.

I don't know how the hell you guessed it was a crypt but you were right...
Umm i thinking it might be the PH level of the water... As i just put simple tap water in, and didn't realise that plants only survive between 6.8-7.2 PH... Anywayz thanks for the advice guys! :D

[Flashygrrl]

Crypts die back when you move them :)

[Oldman47]

First thing about your light, you do not need a fluorescent light. People use all kinds of lights like metal halides, etc. for plants. What we do have is lots of information on how much fluorescent light for which plants. If you get about the same light intensity from another light and it is not in a place to affect the water temperature it should work about as well.
pH, I don't know where the 6.8 to 7.2 came from but most of my tanks are 7.6 to 7.8 and my plants are thriving. There might be some particular plant that has a narrow range like that but not most of them.

[kritas]

What exactly do you mean by die back?