Marimo balls light requirements in Hexagon

Okay so I have a 40 gallon Hexagon tank I think it is like 25" tall. I read that marimo balls require like 2-3 currently I just have two regular fluorescent fixtures. I thought it would be awesome to finally get some marimo balls cause they would look super cool in this tank so basically I need to figure out what sort of light I would need (currently upgrading filters so this is a future thing if I can afford it) with what bulbs to get the required light they need down to them, was think about get 5-6 not sure if amount matters, I wasn't planning on adding CO2 cannot afford it, didn't seem necessary from what I read.

Thoughts?

I read that they needs like 2-3 watts per gallon, but if yours are doing fine with .5 wpg than if I have two fluorescent fixtures on my 25" tall 40 gallon hex is that plenty of light? I was mainly worried because of the light diffussion due to the tank being so tall.

pbeemer said:

what kind of lights do you have now exactly?

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Just you run of the mill fluorescent lights like these http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/15465/product.web

I think one of the bulbs may be a plant bulb, but I am not positive.

So I think with asukawashere's comment I may just get some and see how it goes, maybe replace the bulbs with some nice plant bulb if it looks like it is necessary. I may wait until I sell the fish in my other tank so I can move the cories out, the assassin snails will be gone Monday and then I won't be trying to catch fish around them.

Bubbles2112 said:

I had tried keeping a marimo ball in a 20g hex that had just stock lighting. The ball did not grow and flattened out slightly. The flattening was not due to it not being turned--it was insufficient lighting. The brightness of the ball diminished greatly over time and it just looked sickly after about six months. I took it out and placed it into a higher light tank with a specialized plant bulb and the bright green coloration returned as did normal growth but it never regained the roundness. Now it is a flattened piece like a carpet. I cut it open and laid it down on a rock and it is doing just fine.

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Well if you had it on a 20 hex and mine a 40 then there seems to be no hope for me, what sort of lighting and what tank did you move it too?

Mgamer20o0 said:

i would look into putting cfl bulbs over the tank though i am keeping mine in a 60 gallon with dual 32w bulbs and going fine. they really dont need a lot. more then likely they will be fine.

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So you are saying they will be fine as is or that I need to buy compact fluorescent lights if I want to have them?