low light success

Beautiful tanks!

I want to plant my 125 gallon but haven't gotten the courage yet. I only have the standard lights right now and don't really want to put a lot of money into better lights.
 
Both tanks are very lovely. I have a 75g with the same light, looks like I need to get planting! I have some of those same plants but spread over more tanks. Time for a make over.

I think the long val-like plant is crypt. spiralis, I just got some, still a bit melty.

Could we have another shot of your big tank, it's hard to see the unlit part but it looks like plants there too? Cool loach tank, how big are they?

My loaches are 5-8 inches.

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what are the wpg?

do you add ferts or co2, or have you used little maintenance

what is the substrate?

I think the 75g tank has 96 watts of t8 flourescent. I dont know the K number.

The 125g has 110 watts compact flourescent. 9325k bulbs.

No co2 on either tank. The 74g has never had ferts.

I used to fertilize when I first started the tank, but havent in over a year.
My clowns are hard on newly planted or small plants, pulling them up or smashing them. All of my java ferns are attached to wood so they stand up pretty well. Some of my bigger crypt do ok as well. The clowns poke holes in the leaves and the rainbows will pick at the tips of the crypts.
The sub in both is 50/50 gravel flourite.
 
Thanks for the pics, very nice loaches! I've been thinking about adding red tailed rasboras but I was a little concerned about keeping them at the 81*F I have for my clowns. What temp are yours?

Also what are the other fish, not the SAEs or the bosemanii, the 1 in front of the left rainbow & the 1 on the gravel by the big rock?
 
Thanks for the pics, very nice loaches! I've been thinking about adding red tailed rasboras but I was a little concerned about keeping them at the 81*F I have for my clowns. What temp are yours?

Also what are the other fish, not the SAEs or the bosemanii, the 1 in front of the left rainbow & the 1 on the gravel by the big rock?

He is an old chinese algae eater. Over 12 years and still kicking.....
The one in front of the rainbow is a flying fox.

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