View Full Version : Super Low Light
7itanium
03-02-2009, 5:45 AM
I have some new plants in my 55g
got some java ferns and some wisteria
all I have running is the stock flourescent lights that came with my all-glass hoods (not sure on the wattage)
will my plants stay alive under these? if not what do I need minimum? I dont wanna buy new hoods and im on a budget right now
ChrisK
03-02-2009, 7:21 AM
those are both very easy to keep and don't need much light. It would definately help to know the wattage of the bulbs, It should say on the bulbs.
tanker
03-02-2009, 2:59 PM
Wisteria would need more light, but Java Fern should be OK.
Ozymandias
03-02-2009, 3:10 PM
yup would like to know what wattage you have. but also have to agree with tanker, java fern would probably be alright wisteria will need something extra.
Do your bulbs cross the entire tank? Or do you have one on each side?
If your hood is the same as the one on my 55, then you have two 18" bulbs, one on the left and one on the right. Those are 15 watts each, giving you a little over a half of a watt per gallon (which is what I have, too).
The java fern should do ok, but the wisteria probably won't.
Anubias works very well for me.
7itanium
03-03-2009, 4:29 AM
Do your bulbs cross the entire tank? Or do you have one on each side?
If your hood is the same as the one on my 55, then you have two 18" bulbs, one on the left and one on the right. Those are 15 watts each, giving you a little over a half of a watt per gallon (which is what I have, too).
The java fern should do ok, but the wisteria probably won't.
Anubias works very well for me.
Thats exactly what they have
I am going to put my 48" Coralight hood on my 55g... and I have a set of power compacts that are going on the reef tank
the 48" Coralight is only a 40w bulb.. but its 10,000k and its much brighter than the 2 18" bulbs
you think I will be ok if I do that?
Kashta
03-03-2009, 4:34 AM
If you float the wisteria instead of planting it, it'll do okay.
pinkertd
03-03-2009, 11:58 AM
I have a 55G with the standard double hoods, each with a 15W 9,325K bulb and while I don't have wisteria in there now, I did and it grew and so do all my crypts and java ferns. This is it...as of yesterday. Few ferts and no CO2. Lights on from 4:30AM until around 10:00 PM.
Nice tank, Pinkertd! Impressive what you can do with low lighting. You leave them on 16 hours a day?
pinkertd
03-03-2009, 1:09 PM
Yes, I do. And there's no algae issues in that tank at all. The tank gets a 75% weekly water change and lots of fish poop!
icemanx23
03-03-2009, 1:18 PM
Lovely tank.
pinkertd
03-03-2009, 1:20 PM
This is my 75G after planting around 11/20/08, one 48" 40W 9,325 bulb on for the same length of time. You just have to know what you can grow and what you can't. I'm happy with not having to trim all the time. This one needs a bit of thinning now though.
Mokomon
03-03-2009, 3:02 PM
BEAUTIFUL tank Debbi!!
7itanium
03-04-2009, 1:26 AM
yeah-- I have opted to just swap out the 2 18" bulbs and use the stock hoods
that will give me about 50w of nice light-- and I will grow low-light plants
I cant afford the hood upgrade for the freshwater tank atm.. maybe later on. this reef tank is killing my budget