just added enough light

[cbster]

i planted plants when i first started cycling my tank. and didn't know about how much light i needed. well two and a half weeks later i think i have enough light 2 coralife nutri grow plant bulbs 48 in. 40 watt in a 55 gal tank but the plants aren't looking that good should i just replace the plants or should i wait to see if they pull out of it. i don't remember what plants i put in i didn't think about writing them down just picked out the ones i wanted for where they were going in the tank thanks

 

[Dwarfnut]

Well, witout knowing what the plants are, it will be harder to figure out. But, I can tell you that even with 2x40 Watt bulbs, you are still way low on light. That as only equal to 1.45 Watts/gallon which is considered very low. If you only have plants life Anubias and Java fern, it might work, but most plants would like 2w/g or better. If you could add 2 more bulbs to that tank, then you would be much happier (or at least the plants would be!)

Good luck,
Bill C.

 

[djlen]

I have had a 55 with 2 40watt - 6700K daylight tubes in it for over a year with good results, although I dose all the Macros and Traces necessary and also inject CO2.
I've had to pull 2 Amazon Swords out of it because they were huge and taking over the tank. I've got Crypts, Anubia, Java Fern, and a bunch of different Aponogetons growing in it now.
With the right elements I know you can be successful with low light plants even without CO2. Obviously it will help and speed things up, but it definitely can be done.

Len