Plant Newbie w/ a lighting Q in a 90G

[ct-death]

Okay, so I've had my 90G set up for ~7 months now. I have a 48" 96W CF with two 12" 14W CF lights at each end of the hood (6700k).

pH7.2
No CO2
Fish: See Sig
Substrace is Black Gravel mixed with Tahitian Moon Sand 50/50 mix

Plants I have :

Vals
Swords
Cripts
Hyagra (?)
Sprites (Does very well)
Anacharis (Does very well)
Java Fern (always dies?)
Java Mass (doesn't do well)
Guppy Grass (doesn't do well)

On town water (we are the headwater community so we ahve very good water), but I add Seacham; Trace, phosphorous and Potasium at each WC.

Tank images here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117231&page=3

I grow my plants/QT them in my 10G before adding them to my 90G.

I'm looking for ways to improve/expand my planted tank. Is my light adequate, ferts, can I avoid CO2, other plant ideas, etc., etc.?

Thanks!

[Digital]

Too much light for the java fern I believe. As they are a low light plant. I have only 40w over my 90G they do well with that.

[ct-death]

Okay, I never gave consideration that too much light could kill! But makes sense...

I can always place this under my large driftwood or under the taller plants and see how things go.

[Squawkbert]

Nitrogen source?

[ct-death]

Nitrogen source?
Oops, I neglected to list that. I have Trace, Phosphorous and Potasium and nitrogen ;)

I do not have anything else like iron, etc.

[BoredAgain]

I don't have a hi-tech tank, I don't dose CO2 or ferts...but I do know that they go in order, light, then CO2, then ferts...not light and ferts and no CO2. Perhaps the addition of CO2 is what will resolve your issue.

[Digital]

Okay, I never gave consideration that too much light could kill! But makes sense...

I can always place this under my large driftwood or under the taller plants and see how things go.

Yeah if you could find a way to give it shade that would be good. I bet you it will start to do better then. I've noticed in my 37G when I have 80w of light on it, the plants start to melt it seems, but when it's only 40w, they do better.

I guess it's the concept of too much sun for humans = sun burn :)

Probably same with some plant life as well.

[plantling]

Another suggestion is you could secure/arrange floating plants to cover the spots above where you want your low light plants. The floating plants can provide shade.

[ct-death]

Thanks for the tips!

Any suggestions to move forward. "What's my next phase in the evolution of my planted tank?"

I'm just getting started and I'm also looking to see what sugestions may be offered, if any.

My goal is ultimately to have a far and away more green than anything else. For example, I really like the rich green 'carpet' look, but I don't know the plant(s) that acheive this. I also would like to see more hieght in my tank (again what plants are these), and I think I'm lacking "texture" (ie. plants with broad leaves, etc.)

Are these out of the realm without CO2?

[plantling]

I found the plantgeek site extremely helpful when researching plants. Their plant guide has pic's and categories such as lighting and plant type. I think the rosettes tend to have broader leaves (usually root feeders) than the stem plants (usually water column feeders). They also suggest aquascape placement. Enjoy!

http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide.php