Vals in 45?

[severum mama]

Hey, I'm going to transfer my 29 gallon low light angel tank into a 45 gallon tank. The 45 has a twin tube NO flourescent strip light, which is 60W. That's a lot more than what the 29 had. I have a lot of vals that would make a pretty nice background plant in the 45 (I can pull these out of my discus tank) and I'd like to add them. My problem is, the 45 is 2 feet tall and I'm worried that the vals won't get enough light even with the twin tube strip. A new light really isn't in my budget right now so I hope it will work out. What do you think? Also, I have pool filter sand in the 45. Will the vals be able to grow in sand? I've never tried that before.

[discusman54]

I had Vals in sand, must have been 25 years ago. I remember they took over the tank, runners everywhere.
If I understand your first question...From all I've seen I don't think a few extra inches in tank depth will make any difference in the light the plants get.

[reybie]

Not sure about the light requirement of vals but I have the same tank setup that's 2ft tall with a 96W fixture on top but I guess it's too deep to grow glosso and microswords. I was told they're high light plants to begin with so... I'm s.o.l. :(

[Mgamer20o0]

well since you have them might as well try them. if they start to go down hill you could put them back or just leave them and see what happens.

[severum mama]

I just looked at the light and noticed that it has 2x25 W bulbs... not good. As a temporary fix I can use the light strip that was on my 29 gallon (that I tore down today). It's not much light, but if I set it in front of the twin tube light, I guess it would help.

The new and improved 45 gallon is up now, and it looks pretty good, so I'm hoping it will continue to look good. The new plants I added are vals and crypts from my discus tank. It was pruning time in the discus tank, so they had to come out anyway. Pics coming later, in another thread.

[Mgamer20o0]

keep us updated.

[discusman54]

Your saying the strip holds regular light bulbs? Not fluorescent. I don't know why they label those bulbs as "plant grow". I never have been able to get a regular bulb to grow a plant. You can always try the screw-in compact fluorescent daylight bulbs, (not the soft-white ones) at least until you can spring for a new fixture. I've got a couple of fixtures with them, they work pretty good.
I understand what your going through, wish my cash went as far as my wants!

[severum mama]

No, I meant normal output (NO) flourescent bulbs, as opposed to power compacts or T5's. They don't put out the lumens that PCs or T5s do, so I put that in there to clarify.

[discusman54]

Sorry bout that, I understand now.
Just a thought here, I took an old fluorescent light fixture that had a terrible dull white reflector, and put aluminum high heat tape behind the bulb. The stuff is used on furnaces and ducts, very reflective. I got a little more light out of it.
Have to be creative since on out of work with an injury!

[severum mama]

Thanks for the suggestion, but the strip I'm using actually has an aluminum reflector already. I hope that will help enough.:)