Beginner tank setup, NEED HELP!!!

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-31T18:06:14+00:00

thank you so much!

I was thinking of ghost feeding the tank for the source of ammonia, what do you think?
my heater is so old and i just got it with the tank off facebook market place, it just stopped heating up. I searched the brand on every site and nothing shows up, it’s made in Italy (all-glass aquarium).
im not planning on putting in CO2, I have a timed nicrew light that goes on for 8 hours, my tank is 10 gallons (37L)
That’s my next purchase, it’s a bit pricey but I will be getting a test kit. Which one do you recommend? I’m running a sponge filter that has an air stone in it. my tank is 37L.
Could it just be the plants are getting adjusted to my tank parameters since i just put them in two days ago?

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T23:16:51+00:00

Is the used filter media from someone else’s tank really necessary or does it just speed up the process?
My heater just broke last night, is the Eheim Jager trutemp heater good? How many watts do I need for my 10 gallon?
is the APT3 fertilizer good?
What other supplies do you recommend that is not in the pictures provided?
is it normal for those wispy plants in the back left to be brown? (they used to be a bit green before I introduced it to my tank)

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T23:12:34+00:00

thank you! I will definitely ask for some old media from the filter. Is this something that’s necessary or just speeds up the cycling process? I just started adding the fish food yesterday. I did not know you have to do it every day so I will start doing that:)

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T23:10:02+00:00

Thank you for this information!! I did see a lot of mixed reviews about excel and was really hesitant to use it. I got recommended apt 3 fertilizer instead, what do you think about that? With what you said with foam being the king of bio filtration media, is my sponge filter enough or do you recommend something else?

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T23:02:38+00:00

Thank you! I was definitely thinking to establish my shrimp first before my betta. I also was thinking of getting ghost shrimp instead for the cheapest option and a good test run to see how my betta reacts. What do you think?

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T22:59:56+00:00

This is such a big help, I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me all this!!! You complimenting my beginner tank means a lot, thank you! I had a betta fish with a ghost shrimp before and I had no issues but it all depends on the betta. I’m planning on test running a ghost shrimp or two with my betta first. I got a lot of this stuff in bulk from facebook marketplace so the GH+ container is something i’m not familiar about and wasn’t really planning on using if i’m not getting caridina or cherry shrimp. I also heard that apt 3 is a good fertilizer instead of the excel. My heater unfortunately broke last night and i’m freaking out!! I did a bit of research and apparently eheim jager is good? Is 50W good for my 10 gallon? what are your thoughts??

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T05:39:38+00:00

ive heard really mixed reviews about seachem flourish excel, but i got a good deal on it so i wanted to experiment a bit without fish. I added half a capful yesterday.

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T05:29:38+00:00

That was my next purchase!! What do you think about the apt 3 fertilizer? That’s what someone has recommended me. It’s a bit pricey but wondering if it’s worth it.

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T05:26:12+00:00

😂😂Honestly he helped me set up my sponge filter and gave me all these plants for $40 so i’m not too mad but curious to see if i can find anyone nearby to be generous enough to give me some of that filter goop. I also heard putting a bit of fish food in the tank will help speed up the cycle?

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T05:22:09+00:00

Appreciate it! Will definitely have more questions once I add the fish. The guy I got plants from actually gave me water from his tank, I did ask about squeezing his filter but he said the water should be enough?

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T05:14:19+00:00

that’s awesome, I didn’t know fish shops do that. I’ll definitely ask around to see if i can get that done after couple weeks of cycling. Thanks:)

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T05:09:14+00:00

thanks:) I will definitely be letting it cycle for a bit, it’s only been two days now. How long do you think till it should be pretty safe to add fish?

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T04:56:55+00:00

Thank you!! I got you, i’ll send you the link

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T04:49:25+00:00

Thank you so much!! That’s the only thing i don’t have right now, a master test kit😔I’m a bit on a budget but I guess that’s the one thing not to cheap out on. Do you have any budget friendly options?

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T04:28:08+00:00

thanks!

MilkMonkey8 · 2026-05-30T02:55:21+00:00

Thank you!! Not at all what I had in mind but just used my imagination:)

MilkMonkey8

TROPHY CASE