new lights for my tank/ plant questions

[victimizati0n]

in my 20L i have 2 5500k lights.. thats all i know, im pretty sure i have a little over 1wpg, but im not sure

I have plants in the 20L, and i would like better lights for it...if necessary.

I have some moneywort, anarcharis, hornwort, and some other plant that i forget, but what i want to do is put a bunch of that "grass" plant and have the whole bottom of the tank, i think it will look sweet. Will my clown loaches eat it? is there any kind that the loaches wolnt eat?

Also, at my LFS, they have a discus tank, that has (i think) a color enhansing light, and they have a bunch of plants in them. I would like to do the same thing, their tanks seem kinda dull, but the plants are doing GREAT in them. How would i do this?

Oh well, thanks... and i think that is it for now

[Aquabum]

You say you have two 5500k's, what are the watts per bulb? Are they 20w bulbs? If they are 20w each then you have about 2wpg.

The plants that you mentioned should do well with that light. The grassy plant could be anything. Is it Dwarf Hairgrass, Micro Sword, E. Tenellus? Your Lfs should be able to tell you.

Dwarf hairgrass is a highlight plant, but I know that some people keep it with 2wpg. It may not thrive at 2wpg, but it'll live. Personally, I think it does way better in a 2.5+ wpg with co2. It looks gorgeous and spreads quickly with everything in balance. The others are easier to maintain.

The beauty of your setup is that you won't need co2. But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't try it. It will definitely help. You could try DIY Co2 if you'd like. The Hagen Ladder would be perfect. Or you could try Excell.

I don't know if your loaches will eat the grass. I had to get rid of mine when they made a salad of my Sunset Hygro. Besides, Clown loaches are not suitable for a 20g long.

If you want to use a color enhancing light, I don't see any reason why not. If the view is pleasing to your eyes, then try it.

HTH

Lissette ;)

[victimizati0n]

thanks alot, im not sure the wattage, i will check it out later today.

But if i get a color enhancing light, wolnt that effect my plant growth? I would like the "grass" stuff to spread out alot, but i dont want to do any co2, but i do have some plant food that i put in the tank (I think it is called flourish)

edit* is it the watts that effect the plants? like if i got some lights that were color enhancing (they make the tank look darker) but they are like 20w each, that is still good for the plants?

[Aquabum]

Yes, wattage is important. That's why you should know how much you have over your tank. Few plants will grow with 1 to 1.5 wpg (considered low light), but most plants need more light to thrive. If you have more light, you have a wider variety of plants that you can grow. That's why I think that your setup is perfect. It won't demand too much from you and co2 may not be necessary, though helpful.

I used a color enhancement light a long time ago. Actually, it was supposed to help make my plants grow. It's a GE light, I don't recall the name brand. I remember that it was a 20w bulb. It's the highest that you can get for normal fluorescent.

To be honest, I never had any problems with it, and my plants grew. Nothing spectacular, but they grew. You can go to a hardware store and ask the clerk for this type of bulb, that's where I got mine. I loved the color in the tank. It gave it a nice rosy appearance like the 55w Cf 9325k.

Buy one and switch it with one of the 55k, or add it to your existing setup and try to grow the grassy plant. Dose Excell for co2, and see how it goes. I know you don't want to add co2, but Excell is liquid carbon, very easy to use.

HTH

Lissette :cool:

[scott25]

I have a question for you I have a 46 Gallon Bowfront tank which I am trying to heavily plant. I have Red Sea Turbo Co2 System wihich is mostly like a DIY System. Im planning to put swords, vals, Cobomba, Anarchis, and other South American plants. I have Flourite substrate and a 36 Inch Freshwater Coralife Aqualight. Will the 96 wats the light gives be enough for the plants. From the top of the gravel to the top of the water its 16 and a half inchs. Is the light good enough for the plants I want. The light gives about 2 watts per gallon.

[victimizati0n]

Yes, wattage is important. That's why you should know how much you have over your tank. Few plants will grow with 1 to 1.5 wpg (considered low light), but most plants need more light to thrive. If you have more light, you have a wider variety of plants that you can grow. That's why I think that your setup is perfect. It won't demand too much from you and co2 may not be necessary, though helpful.

I used a color enhancement light a long time ago. Actually, it was supposed to help make my plants grow. It's a GE light, I don't recall the name brand. I remember that it was a 20w bulb. It's the highest that you can get for normal fluorescent.

To be honest, I never had any problems with it, and my plants grew. Nothing spectacular, but they grew. You can go to a hardware store and ask the clerk for this type of bulb, that's where I got mine. I loved the color in the tank. It gave it a nice rosy appearance like the 55w Cf 9325k.

Buy one and switch it with one of the 55k, or add it to your existing setup and try to grow the grassy plant. Dose Excell for co2, and see how it goes. I know you don't want to add co2, but Excell is liquid carbon, very easy to use.

HTH

Lissette :cool:


so if i got 2 color enhancing lights the same wattage, my plants would grow the same as they are now?

and what should i do, go to homedepot, and get a flourescent light there, or go to the fish store, and get one made specifically for fishtanks?

my lights are 17 watt, i just checked

[Aquabum]

Okay, so you have 1.7 wpg. You need more light.

You can try 1 20w Reg. Full Spectrum Bulb and 1 20w Color Bulb (for plants). Both can be bought at a hardware store. Home Depot is a good place to start, or Lowes. Just tell the clerk it's for your aquarium. I got it from a local store.

Your plants should do fine with this. Upgrading your lights will cost more money.

Lissette

[Aquabum]

Scott25,

You may need to upgrade. I have a 29 gal., which is also a tall tank, and in order for me to keep my hairgrass I had to upgrade to a cf. You need good light penetration in a tall tank.

If you don't want to spend more money on lights, raise your plants towards the light with more gravel. Some people have over 4 inches of gravel in their tanks. I've done this. I have to keep my lights at least 10 inches away from the water, otherwise, the water turns green, so I raised my plants, and it seems to be working.

Tanks that are larger than 30 gal. should have pressurized co2. But at 2 wpg, you should do okay. But if I were you, I'd add more light. Just my opinion.


Lissette