Best way to light lower leaves...

PumaWard

PumaWard

In loving memory of Meeko
Jul 23, 2003
1,935
0
0
39
Vermont
Does anybody have any advice on how I could light the lower leaves of some of my plants? Mainly, the lower leaves of a Hygrophila sp. (sorry, not sure as the ID tag said it was water wysteria). Most the lower leaves are dying on me and then blocking light at the surface.

Should I increase my WPG or try to find a way to give the lower leaves direct light?

Thanks for any help in advance.
 
The only ways you could really do it is to increase your wattage or to keep the plants shorter so that more light penetrates through to the bottom.
 
dying leaves

They may just be the emersed leaves dying as the plant converts to submersed form. Make sure that there is enough nutrients in the water/substrate too. Sometimes plants will lose their lower leaves if there isn't enough of something to keep them going.
 
I have 2 WPG and the tank is 20'' high. I dose with Flourish, Flourish Excel, and Flourish iron 2X a week (after each WC).
 
A very high tank for that wattage with stems.
Leopardess and Hook have good points on this for that wattage and depth. Light has to penetrate for the lower leaves to be able to catch it.
Keep em low or add some wattage.

Len
 
Thanks guys, I was afraid I'd have to cut them back, oh well :). I can stop when I get more money to put towards more lighting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom