Short foregroud low-light plants?
- Thread starter katana1200
- Start date
Ok, I'm definately heading twards dwarf sags, with anubias nana petite sprinkled here and there. Perhaps I'll see if I can get my hands on some microw sword for a small area and see how it does. Now for an after shot or 4
I am so getting a new camera. I hate this fugi POS we have. Perhaps the camera would be great in someone elses hands. I may need one thats a bit more "idiot proof". I'm just gonna blame the equipment for now.
Ok, my apologies for the substandard pictures.
The full tank shot.
The right side.
The left side.
The random panda cory with amano shrimp.
The SAE sitting on an anubias leaf.
Notice the undulata growth in the back center. The stems have grown almost half way up the tank with the "undulating parts" having covered the surface of the water. The anubias are doing stellar in this setup, leaves are nice and green and thick and probably more than 1" of new rhizome growth in under a year. I'm not really happy with the scape in general. I wish I had more of an eye for it. Doesn't seem to have any intentional flow. Everything mimicks the inside of my head....chaotic. If there are any over all suggestions you are welcome to give them. I'm going to change things around a bit one way or another.
I'd like to continue to update this thread with more pictures when I get some forground plants (and a better camera) in place so people can see what a low light setup can do. Right now I feel like its a pretty poor example, especially considering the outstanding looking tanks I've seen by our other members here. I guess a plan would have been a good thing to start with.
I am so getting a new camera. I hate this fugi POS we have. Perhaps the camera would be great in someone elses hands. I may need one thats a bit more "idiot proof". I'm just gonna blame the equipment for now.
Ok, my apologies for the substandard pictures.
The full tank shot.
The right side.
The left side.
The random panda cory with amano shrimp.
The SAE sitting on an anubias leaf.
Notice the undulata growth in the back center. The stems have grown almost half way up the tank with the "undulating parts" having covered the surface of the water. The anubias are doing stellar in this setup, leaves are nice and green and thick and probably more than 1" of new rhizome growth in under a year. I'm not really happy with the scape in general. I wish I had more of an eye for it. Doesn't seem to have any intentional flow. Everything mimicks the inside of my head....chaotic. If there are any over all suggestions you are welcome to give them. I'm going to change things around a bit one way or another.
I'd like to continue to update this thread with more pictures when I get some forground plants (and a better camera) in place so people can see what a low light setup can do. Right now I feel like its a pretty poor example, especially considering the outstanding looking tanks I've seen by our other members here. I guess a plan would have been a good thing to start with.
I have no eye for aquascaping either BUT as far as I'm concerned, my fish are happy and healthy in their environment. Quite frankly I don't think my fish care whether my anubias nana petite is on the left or right side of the tank. Just my measly 2 cents.
there are really no low-light carpet plants, unless you consider moss. Dwarf hairgrass you need at least 2wpg to grow healthy, rest higher lighting.
The one exception as mentioned is dwarf sag, they also like higher lighting but will "survive" in your 1.5 wpg without co2.
I wouldnt mix carpet plants, if your dwaf sag do get established and start to expand with runners, it will eventually outcompete the rest carpet plants. Dwarf hairgrass and other smaller plants have no chance whatsoever to compete against dwarf sag unless you plan to artificially keeping the sag in check by cutting off the runners.
The one exception as mentioned is dwarf sag, they also like higher lighting but will "survive" in your 1.5 wpg without co2.
I wouldnt mix carpet plants, if your dwaf sag do get established and start to expand with runners, it will eventually outcompete the rest carpet plants. Dwarf hairgrass and other smaller plants have no chance whatsoever to compete against dwarf sag unless you plan to artificially keeping the sag in check by cutting off the runners.
There are two types of Micro sword, both lilaeopsis species. Standard micro sword has been around for ever and is EXTREMELY light demanding. It needs very intensive light and even then grows extremely slowly. It would have zero chance of growing in your tank.
The other is called narrow leaf micro sword, Lilaeopsis mauritius. It grows much faster and grows pretty well under low light.
I agree with the others here though that your light is below low, and most plants will struggle
The other is called narrow leaf micro sword, Lilaeopsis mauritius. It grows much faster and grows pretty well under low light.
I agree with the others here though that your light is below low, and most plants will struggle
I dont consider more than 1 wpg to be that low...I've grown a few plants with much less. I think the plants suggested will work, but wont spread too quickly. The lowest I've tried dwarf sag was at 2 wpg but it should be fine with a little less light.
Thanks for the replies everyone. It's not really the carpeting look that I'm going for, so much as just plants that will stay shorter and add another deminsion to my current setup. The anubias petite sounds like a great option for just that reason. Will it be cool in 10 years if the ones I get cover 1/4 of the bottom of the tank? Sure! When I absolutely can't go without a carpet of dwar babies tears any longer I'm gonna mortgage the house, sell the kids and go with a 150g high light, high tech, auto water change, pressurized CO2 system with optional leather seats and cup holders. Untill that day, I'm gonna have to settle for the pearling thats happening on the coat of BBA in my cichlid tank. She hates me anyway.
