start-up

Question
Hi Jerry,

I want to start up a small aquarium. I think it's 7 and ahalf gallons. Which is lowest maintenance? sand, pebbles, gravel, river rocks? I also want live plants, and I don't know in which of the above they're best planted. Any details you can include about how to maintain the suggested bed and which plants are hardy will be greatly apprecitaed. Oh, and can you please suggest a good reference book?

Thanks
Heidi

Answer
Hello Heidi and thanks for your question, it's good to see you are interested in aquatic plants, they make tank stability so much easier. On to your questions:

>> Which is lowest maintenance? sand, pebbles, gravel, river rocks? ... I don't know in which of the above they're best planted <<

Sand is a nice look in a tank and it really brightens things up a great deal, but it is hard to keep clean. You can't vacuum a sand substrate. I'm not sure what you mean by pebbles so I can't speak to that. River rock is generally to large to plant in so that is out. That leaves us with standard aquarium gravel as your best bet, small size is best.

>> Any details you can include about how to maintain the suggested bed <<

A simple siphon operated gravel vacuum should be used every other water change to get all the mung out of the bottom should be all the maintenance needed.

<< which plants are hardy will be greatly appreciated >>

Try these to start:
Moneywort (Bacopa Monnieri)
Java Fern (Microsorum Pteropus)
Melon Sword (Echinodorus Osiris)
Java Fern

<< Oh, and can you please suggest a good reference book?
>>

I'm not sure if you are asking for a plant or tank keeping book so I'll recommend a few of each:
A few good plant books are

Hobbyist Guide to the Natural Aquarium
Andrews, C.
1991, Tetra Press

A Fishkeeper's Guide to Aquarium Plants
James, Barry
1986, Salamander Books Ltd., London.
Lots of people recommend this as a great first plant book.''

Water Plants in the Aquarium
Scheurmann, Ines
1987, Barron's Educational Services

Tank keeping book, this is the best I know of for beginners

The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquarium (Paperback)
by David E. Boruchowitz (Author), Terry Anne Barber (Author)

I hope this helped, feel free to ask any follow up questions you may have.

Jerry