View Full Version : watts per gallon.
seangingras
12-06-2002, 8:48 PM
in my tanganyikan tank I am trying to grow valisinaria(?) and sagittaria, along with come crypts. and anubis... how many watts per gallon should I have?
static69static
12-07-2002, 1:10 PM
First off, those plants won't do too well since the fish you have need hard water, PH over 7.6. Crypts and anubias are low light plants, so around 1.5 watts per gallon, for val and sag, my best results is withh at least 2.5 watts.
I would pick up a few good pieces of java fern and plant those. They should stand up to the high PH.
djlen
12-08-2002, 12:41 PM
Also, unless my memory fails me those fish will rip up plants as fast as you can plant them......Lottsa Luck!!!
Len
another vote for the java fern. it's said fish don't care for eating it.
I've grown both Val and Anubias nana quite well with Malawi fish, including mbuna. Haven't tried with Tanganyikans. There are numerous Val beds in Malawi, it is part of the habitat. I don't know if any Anubias make it in the lakes, as these are emerse plants in the wild.
seangingras
12-08-2002, 11:04 PM
I have a bunch of java fern on a large piece of driftwood. its growing slowly but it is ratty. the crypts seem to be doing fine but my prob is mainly with the val. It just wont grow.
I was told it would do well in high ph +hardness. I just bought 2 65 watt powercompacts to go with the 3 25 watt lifeglow bulbs I have now. maybe that will work.
and tanganyikan cichlids (mine at least ) are micropredators who are too small to do much damage to plants. NOT like large destructive Mbuna.
I have some fertilizer too, but should I just wait to see if the lighting improves the situation?
does anyone know what species of val does best in rift lake setups?
The one I used was plain ordinary V. spiralis, flat-bladed and tall.