Hey everyone. I've got a lighty planted tank. The tank itself is new, the plants have been transfered over from a 55G (tall) hex tank into a 46 gal bowfront. My question concerns the light that came with the all glass light strip. Its a 36" GE bulb, and says "Aqua Rays Fresh and Saltwater, 30W and the model # is F30WT8-AR-FS. Is this florecent strip any good for my plants? I was running a 15w, 18" Sun-glo bulb before... but I like the color the new bulb gives my fish. Running both isnt out of the question, but it does get a bit crowded with both lights. Could I possibly run the sun-glo for a shorter ammount of time than the other light and get all of the benifits of both lights? This is my first attempt at 'properly' keeping plants, so I'd like to do it right. The plants are local species I've collected, so I cant tell you the exact names of them, sorry. Any suggestions or input is appreciated. Thanks!
Bulb Specs is it adiquate?
- Thread starter corvettekid82
- Start date
The general rule of thumb for planted aquariums is, for low light conditions, 1 1/2 watts/gal.
I think your saying you have 30watts over a 46 which I think you'll find is too little. But then you say you were running 15 watts. Was that over your 55 tall? None of this sounds like enough light, IMO, but if you had success with your plants in the 55 with 15 watts they must be really, really low light plants.
Len
I think your saying you have 30watts over a 46 which I think you'll find is too little. But then you say you were running 15 watts. Was that over your 55 tall? None of this sounds like enough light, IMO, but if you had success with your plants in the 55 with 15 watts they must be really, really low light plants.
Len
Thanks Len... Like I mentioned, this is my first go round of doing it the 'proper' way. I'd like to have a tank set up as nicely as some of the aquatic gardens I see on this forum and Im just getting started.
Is there a good place with lots of pictures of plants where I might ID the ones in my tank? Im pretty sure one of them is Eel Grass and the others some sort of Hibiscus but a guess is all I can muster.
The floating plants are very healthy, but the planted ones aren't doing as well as I'd like them too. I've looked into fertilizers also.. whats a good one to go with that can be added to the water column?
Thanks again!
If you really want to do plants properly, You'll need more light.
And floating plants cut down on the lights reaching your planted plants. You need to figure what plants you want to keep.
Low, moderate or hight. If you want to go moderate or high you may want to think about co2 also.
And floating plants cut down on the lights reaching your planted plants. You need to figure what plants you want to keep.
Low, moderate or hight. If you want to go moderate or high you may want to think about co2 also.
More light it is.. Im running the 15w and the 30w now.. looking into another 30 and moving the 15 to a different tank. Heres a rundown of the plants
#1 Pistia stratiotes Linnaeus Common Name(s): Water Bonnets, Water Lettuce, St. Lucy's Plant
Thats the floating one... I have a small bundle of them, maybe 6 plants in total. They cover maybe 1/10 of the surface area of my tank. I'd really like to keep these as my fish love to play in their root system
#2 Hydrocotyle umbellata Linnaeus Common Name: Marsh Pennywort
I have one small strand of these at the back of my tank. Probably 5 leaves total.
#3 Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle Common Name: Hydrilla.
I have a big bundle of this in the center of my tank. Probably 20 stalks of it.
#4 Chara species Common Name: Muskgrass.
I have 3 large clumps of this attached to a branch in the mid level of the tank.
Lastly, #5 Vallisneria americana Common Name: Eel Grass/Tape Grass
This is the most abundant plant in my tank and the one thats struggeling the most. Its heavily planted on both left and right sides of the tank from the front to the back.
Sorry for the long post, but I know how it can be difficult to give advice if you're unsure what you're working with.
#1 Pistia stratiotes Linnaeus Common Name(s): Water Bonnets, Water Lettuce, St. Lucy's Plant
Thats the floating one... I have a small bundle of them, maybe 6 plants in total. They cover maybe 1/10 of the surface area of my tank. I'd really like to keep these as my fish love to play in their root system
#2 Hydrocotyle umbellata Linnaeus Common Name: Marsh Pennywort
I have one small strand of these at the back of my tank. Probably 5 leaves total.
#3 Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle Common Name: Hydrilla.
I have a big bundle of this in the center of my tank. Probably 20 stalks of it.
#4 Chara species Common Name: Muskgrass.
I have 3 large clumps of this attached to a branch in the mid level of the tank.
Lastly, #5 Vallisneria americana Common Name: Eel Grass/Tape Grass
This is the most abundant plant in my tank and the one thats struggeling the most. Its heavily planted on both left and right sides of the tank from the front to the back.
Sorry for the long post, but I know how it can be difficult to give advice if you're unsure what you're working with.