Whats a good light for my plants?

[doxponygirl]

I have just started to put live plants into my tank. Ordered the testing kit and plant liquids. I do have a DYI Co2 in the tank, which is putting out about 20 bubbles or more a sec. from an airstone. The lighting is just the stock bulb that came with the hood(40w GE). What is a good, non expensive light that will be good for the plants as well as the coloring for my fish? As these plants(anacharis) have only been in the tank for about 5 days, but thet are already showing an opaque/brownish wilting tips on the leaves. Anyone know what causes this? As I have to wait on my supplies to arrive(another 2 or 3 days).

[doxponygirl]

OK Guys or Gals, would this kind of light work good for me, or would I need a better one than this? http://www.onemain.com/~dox/images/light.jpg Coralife Spectramax Super Daylight Bulb
Unique mix of 75% 6,000K and 25% actinic 03 blue. Full spectrum, high-intensity lamp enhances color and clarity. Utilizes rare earth phosphors.

[Skittyfish]

What size of tank do you have?

[doxponygirl]

This one is a 55 gallon tall

[Skittyfish]

I think from what I have read that taller tanks need more light because the light has to go farther to reach the plants. Can you add another light strip? And, for the record, I can't grow anachris...it just melts away in my tank:rolleyes: . Also, how many other plants do you have?

[doxponygirl]

I really cannot add another light strip without having to purchase a whole new top system or making a DIY one. I have only that type of plant in the tank at the time, but there are about 30 stems that have no roots yet. And they are melting away. But I do have some Java Moss(3oz.) that should be arriving today that I purchased. Hopefully it will do alot better.

[Skittyfish]

I don't know what to tell you. Maybe if we keep bumping your thread to the top, somebody more knowledgable will respond.

And for the strip you have, get the highest watt you can, but try to stick with 5000k -6000k.

Check out Home Depot or Lowes..look for the lights with the green end on them. They should be about the same thing, at a fraction of the cost.

[famman]

Sorry, it just isn't enough light. try compact flourescent, I have 110 watts cf on my 55 gal.
good luck
:)

[Gomer]

you can probably retrofit your current system with a PC setup for relatively cheap using the www.ahsupply.com setups.

[superjohnny]

Custom Sealife makes really nice compact fluorescent light hoods, but they cost $100+. If you want to keep low-light plants you should be ok, but when they start to "melt" you know they aren't getting enough of something. If you don't want to replace the light fixtures try java fern, java moss, anubis or hornwort. Other, more knowledgeable people can help with other low-light plants or you can do a search.

Live plants look great. I really like mine... eventhough I have had to spend a lot of $ and time to make it happen.

[cpr4cpu]

anacharis should be fine with low light, and be perfectly happy.
In a 55 gallon tall tank, a single airstone bubbling out CO2 isn't doing the job. I hope you just left out the part that you have a CO2 reactor in there somewhere. A powerhead is an option, but any time the CO2 enters the water column and immediatly starts toward the top, you don' thave enough time to dissolve into the water. Hagen makes an affordable system with a decent starter diffuser, or there are good powerhead/vacuum tube DIY ones.

As superjohnny pointed out, the melting away brings up the question of fertilizers. You might want to look for posts from Plantbrain and follow advice on fetrilizers. I used Flourish and Flourish Excel until I felt I was ready to graduate to mixing my own fertilizers. (thanks to a certain PlantGeek)

I also second skitty's advice on the bulbs, just grab the plant/aquarium bulb from your local building supply super center (or discount chain store). It will give you the best bang for the buck with what you have right now.