65G with Triple Tube Strip Light - What Plants?

Clurin

Clurin

Melf
Sep 14, 2005
157
0
0
44
Maynard, MA
I have a newly setup 65G tank (36L x 18D x 24H) that I have an All Glass 36" Triple Tube Strip Light on (currently 75 Watts of light). I would like to plant it as heavily as possible.

The planned inhabitants are Apisto. Cacatuoides and Angelfish, with some mid-ground schooling fish. There is plenty of driftwood and slate caves, and I have pool filter sand as a substrate.

What plants can I put in here? I would definitely like Java Moss, and probably Java Fern. Any other recommendations? For the time being, I plan to use the tubes that came with the fixture, but upgrading them to a slightly higher wattage in the future is a definite possibility (provided the ballast can support that). Any suggestions?

If it matters, the parameters are: 7.4 PH, 7-8dGH, 2-3dKH, and 79F.

Thanks!
 
If you want heavily planted, your best bet it to buy a new light fixture. You are just over 1 watt per gallon which isn't bright at all and not many plants will grow in that. I would suggest looking at big al's for a compact flourscent light fixture that will give you at least 2 watts per gallon...
 
There are no plants that I could have a large number of that would grow under that lighting? ****...

How much would my options open up if I went with a 36" Coralife Freshwater Dual 96Watt fixture? I don't really want to eat the shipping on the triple tube.. I suppose I could eBay it, though, and probably make the money back.

Can I get some more quick responses on the current setup before I blow another $200? :laugh:
 
I had a 40 with triple tubes

I had a 40 gallon with triple tube, using the 9325K tubes that came with that strip, and it grew like gangbusters! The 40 was only about 18" tall and that may become important.

I say give it a try before you invest in more light. The key will be to get easy plants and add CO2 which will help the plants use the light that is there. If the tank gets a little bit of dappled sunlgiht, you have a better chance also.

I had all sorts of plants in that tank, sagitaria, compacta swords, water sprite, ambulia, sunset hygrophilia, moss balls, crypts, anubias, I think the lilaeopsis grass died off, as did the baby tears. I used both root tabs and liquid ferts, just once a week or less though. It had guppies and got a lot of food.

Circulation is also very important, and I had a HOT on that tank that was strong, flowing along the back wall of the tank, it does help growth.

You might try to elevate the plants as much as possible, let stem plants get to the surface and tie anubias and ferns up high on the wood and rocks. Crypts will be fine as well.
 
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I don't know, I really don't think your going to have a wide variety of choices for that lighting...1.1wpg. Like anan said, root tabs and getting plants as gigh a possible is your best bet.
 
Hmm.. well, maybe I will just start off with plastic plants and low light/floating plants and "graduate" to other plants later on. I had hoped a triple tube light would be sufficient for low-medium light plants, but I guess I was mistaken. :sad:

Java fern and moss should do alright though, yes?
 
wide selection

you still have a wide selection, you can make a beautiful tank with anubias and crypts and ferns and wood and rocks. In fact, limiting yourself to less types of plants and more artistic arrangement is a good way to start.
 
anonapersona said:
you still have a wide selection, you can make a beautiful tank with anubias and crypts and ferns and wood and rocks. In fact, limiting yourself to less types of plants and more artistic arrangement is a good way to start.
Click to expand...

heh, that's something I still have to learn but the red plants and the unique plants always sucker me in and I end up having a mess of plant varieties.

Back on topic, with a little over 1wpg you still have a large variety of plants which I like. I'm a big fan of anubias in all their forms and they're all incredibly easy to take care of. Narrow leaf java ferns look fantastic when you have a large mass attached to driftwood or rocks and they go well with crypts. I wasn't a big fan of crypts because they grow so slowly but they're beginnning to grow on me. I think if you keep to those three types of plants and add in java moss, you can create a pretty lush planted tank that has that aged, primordial jungle look.
 
Whew.. that makes me feel better. :clap:

Now, research on species.. Any good links?

I will probably start a thread in the General Freshwater forum akin to Xielos' new tank log thread. Gonna take some picture tonight now that all the air bubbles are off the sides. :cool:
 
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