low light plants

[LMOUTHBASS]

Hello, i was hoping you guys could give me a list of nice grassy looking as well as broad leave (like sword plants) LOW light plants - as i can't seem to find any plant lights that are mroe than 15 W and my 55 gal tank has two hoods for it each with a 15 W light on each side I don't think this is a lot of light also if you guys coul tell me what the right amount of light woul be that woul be great? but in the meantime if you coul give me some low light plants that woul be great!!! thanks

[djlen]

You're going to need more light than that to be successful with just about anything.
I suggest you check out the below site. I just ordered the 2x55 watt CF daylight 6700K retro-fit kit for my 55. I've been using a shop light with 2 - 40watt tubes over it and it's been just barely enough to grow the low light varieties you're talking about.
The kit I ordered will fit right into my two fixtures, which I'm sure are the same size strip lights that you have if they came with the tank. The whole bit, including bulbs came to just over $100 and will practically double my light out put since CF lighting is much brighter than standard fluorescent lighting.
I would never have even attempted to grow plants under 2 - 15 watt tube in a tank that is close to 20" deep.
Check out the 2 x 55s at this site: www.ahsupply.com

Len

[TKOS]

You will be able to keep Java Fern alive in that tank. It won't grow very fast but it won't die either. As for fern like plants that is about it that is commonly available. One big problem for you is that the 30 watts of light is super low plus it will have trouble reaching the bottom of the tank so unless you start with really big plants, they won't be able to use even the light that is available really well.

[LMOUTHBASS]

this seems to be a problem! the stupid lights they sell in like petsmart etc are all only 15 Watts! don't they know we need brighter lights! the box for the lights say it's only 15w but are as powerfull as higher wattage bulbs - but when i look at the lights in my tank they are lower level of lighting than what came in the hood as far as brightness goes - woul it work if i just go to home depot and get higher watt flourescent lights or are the "plant growing lights" different in that they give off special lighting or something? sorry i'm a plant newbie with little success so far - my swords grow new leaves somehow but the old ones turn brown and die quickly

[TKOS]

You are stuck with what the ballast can take, and that is a 15watt bulb. The only thing you can do is get a new ballast. My brother made his own from parts from Home Depot. You could buy some larger ballast and then get better bulbs. Or the link listed a couple of posts up is a good place as well.

The lighting that tanks come with is really only meant for looking at fish, not growing plants.

Of course a Java Fern can grow to be a really large and nice plant so don't discount it. Just try and get the biggest one you can find to get a head start.

[MrGoodbytes]

I stopped buying my aquarium stuff at Petsmart long ago.

If you get some more light, try some Cryptocoryne species. They are generally easy to care for and look really nice. They are easy to propogate too.

Graeme

[Dean]

The only economical way that ive come up with is to build your own canopy using wood (you can make it as cheep or expensive as you want). It is very good that you have a 55 gallon beacuse it is 4 feet long. You can get 160watts for about $60. This is what you do get two shop lights that are made to fit two bulbs for a total of 4 bulbs. You need to buy four bulbs labeled for aquariums/plants, dont buy them at the pet store they cost way too much buy them at home depo for like 7cnd. This will give you a total of 160watts. You just plug shop lights in, no worring about ballasts. That is about 3 watts per gallon which will grow just about anything. All for abour $60. The only problem is fitting two dual bulb shop lights, width wise in the hood. For those who have aquariums less than 4 feet you cant use shop lights. So what ive come up with is useing compact flourecent bulbs which screw into normal light sockets. If you go to home depo you can get these bulbs which are 23 watts a peice and they replicate sun light and cost 10cnd and have their own ballast built in. (dont buy cheap cf because they will be soft light which is the wrong type of light). Iam useing 4 for my 33 gallon which gives me 92watts which i think is enough. The shop lights have their own reflectors where the cf do not. So all you have to do is attach silverish emergencey blanket, they sell it at walmart (not expensive) to the in side of the hood. and make sure your hood has a good seal with the tank. The second method i dont like as good as the first but its the only thing i could think of. Any way both will give off plenty of light for $60 and less. Hope this helps.

[LMOUTHBASS]

dean great suggestion will look into this!!!

[MrGoodbytes]

I have a double double flourescent shoplight fixture over my 35 gallon, but it doesn't leave very much room at the back.

[Dean]

What are the dimentions of the 35 ?

[MrGoodbytes]

I believe they are something like 36"x12"x"18".

Graeme