First plant in tank..question

BoJangles

BoJangles

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Apr 24, 2008
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I have some java fern in my 45 gal tank and i have read (specifically here http://www.rexgrigg.com/) that i need 2 WPG i have a 20W (T-8) light that measures 24" across (so that leaves me at .44WPG) is this going to be enough light for my java fern?

I do plan at some point (prob middle of the summer or towards the end) to upgrade the lighting system all to gether bc i do like the naturalness of plants and feel they are better for the fish then are fake plants

Also at (http://www.rexgrigg.com/) he said that i should be running some CO2 to my tank do you think this is nessicary for just java fern? if it is nessicary i will just do a DIY as i dont have to much cash right now
 
Java fern does not need that much light to survive. With the amount of light that you have it might be questionable. I think it needs at least 1 wpg to be successful and to see growth although it will be slow. As far as the co2, it will not be necessary with just java fern. Most people will consider co2 when they have 3 wpg or more since without it they will have a major algae outbreak with that amount of light. Java fern with low light such as yours will not need co2 but you may want to consider using a product called Excel. It is a form of liquid co2. I use it in my low to medium light planted tanks and my plants do just fine with that and adding some suppliments for plants.

Hope this helps.

Marinemom
 
Thanks marinemom that helps alot. Right now it is just in one big clump woudl it be more benifical for the plant to be broken down into its individual pods?..also my Cory's seem to love it, they arent eating but they seem to be cleaning it throughly
 
there is what is called a 'low tech' tank- low light, no CO2, or the DIY w/ yeast type set up, etc. I would do some research on that. (That's what i'm *trying* to set up atm with my 55 :) )

Btw, here's a list for some good plants to use with 2wpg, or even less: Low Light Plants

Good Luck
 
Thanks for the list sillypony it was very insight full i saw the DIY for the yeast CO2 and it seems very easy to set up but is there a spreader bar? for the CO2? into the tank(i only saw a the setup for the yeast CO2 generator(if thats correct term)
 
well i can't edit my post but i just saw the DIY CO2 and its more complciated then i thought but i think that it would be beneficial(sp?) becuase i plan on upgrading my plants and lighting by the end of the summer
 
I bought some fern recently too and found it difficult to seperate so I just clumped it up to make a large fern. I don't know anything either so by any means don't listen to me! Thanks for asking the question for me. My tank is on the wall about two feet next to my window so I open my blinds up to get natural light and it seems to be working well with my plants.
 
i live in my basement,becuase it is cooler and i dont have to use AC to cool my room, also it is a more constant temperature than the rest of my house, but it does have its draw backs as i have 3 small windows and my tank is on the other side of the room so it doesnt get much natural light...i have a feeling that i will be doing alot more DIYing that i planned this summer
 
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