lighting for planted tanks?

ryanmr

ryanmr

AC Members
Dec 31, 2008
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Hello everyone... I have a few questions concerning live plants for freshwater tanks. First, do I need lighting other than the (NO) fluorescent 15w light that came with my aquarium? I don't want anything too fancy as far as plants go. I would like something hardy and easy for a beginner. I have several artificial plants as decor right now but would like to slowly replace them with live plants. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Here is a pic of my new 26gal. bowfront......

100_0506PS.jpg
 
Nice looking tank. You would not be able to grow live versions of any of those plants in there. With your lighting you may have success keeping anubias, java moss, maybe java fern. Or you could float some hornwort at the surface. Not many options.
If you double the amount of light you can grow most low light plants.
 
i agree with gmh, your tank looks really good as is, if you invest in better lighting then you could get some more beautiful plants then that of low light plants.
 
I beg to argue that one of the most beautiful plants available to the hobby are of a genus that can live with almost no light at all: anubias.

i have successfully kept an anubias nana in a 2.5g betta tank that receives nothing more than ambient room light from a ceiling fixture for a few years now. They don't call it the "living plastic plant" for nothing.
 
Anubias, Java fern, some swords - bare in mind most low light plants are slow growers and dont normally grow tall, something that I think you will need given the dimensions of your tank. Unless you have some spare time on your hands to care the plants, plan on some good lighting (60W+) and at least some DIY C02 then I would stick to what you have.
 
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