Low Light Plants

[InvaderJim]

I was wondering what would be some cool low light plants that I could put in my 55g. I really don't have the money to drop on new lights for my tank and was hoping I could successfuly keep some plants with my stock lighting. Any suggestions?

[IceH2O]

Here are some links to help you decide


http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/plantfinder/index.php

http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide.php

[InvaderJim]

Doesn't look like there are any low light plants that would go in a South/Central American tank.


I think I am going to go with some:

Anubias nana (front)
Java Moss (various spots)
Cryptocoryne walkeri (middle)

[aaron6175]

Hey would florescent tube lighting count as low lighting?

[Primetime]

Hey would florescent tube lighting count as low lighting?
Depends on how many watts. If you have a 10 gallon tank with less than 10 watts for example, its a low light tank. If it has 20 Watts, its medium, and if it has 30+, its high.

Therefore;
Less than 1 Watt Per Gallon=Low
2 Watts Per Gallon=Medium
More than 3 Watts Per Gallon=High

[joephys]

Rotala rotundifolia
Myriophyllum simulans
anubias v barteri
cryptocoryne lutea
java fern
vallisneria spiralis
anubias v nana

I have 40 watts on my 29 gallon tank. These plants all seem to do ok. They Myriophyllum grows a little more slowly and isn't as full as it might other wise be, but still is ok. The rotala is usually a redish color, but in lower light its green. Its growing fairly well. The anubias, crypt, and java fern are great low light plants.

[InvaderJim]

One of my hoods has a 15w Aqua-Glo bulb, and the other a Coralife Spectramax bulb, which I also believe is 15w. Told you I need some low light plants. :rolleyes:

Will I still be able to grow plants with that little of lighting?

[joephys]

It should still be possible. You might be able to buy some bulbs that have better out put. If you have two 15w bulbs on a 55, they are probably T-12. Look into your set up and see if you can use T-8 bulbs. They usually put out some more light and most T-12 ballasts can use T-8 bulbs (but not all).

These 2 at least should do fine in low light. They grow vary slowly though.
anubias (almost any type)
java fern (there are lots of different typs, and they look different enough you could do a whole tank and the plants would all look differet.)

[InvaderJim]

The Coralife bulb is a T8. I have noticed it is quite a bit brighter than the other bulb. So if I switched to two T8s I could keep those plants? But those are about it right?

[joephys]

My cryptocoryne lutea seems to do pretty good. I am sure there are other plants that will do ok as well, I am still fairly new to this. I am supprised that more people haven't made suggestions on plant types. You might want to go to www.aquaticplantcentral.com You will probably get a lot of suggestions there.

[nursie]

I've had some fine looking anubias in a 10 gal with a regular lighted hood. I have it on some driftwood. that and some java moss. Java fern does ok too. It'll grow slow.