Still about light...

[Skittyfish]

Is two 55w compact flourscent end to end enough light to grow decent plants? This figures out to be about 1.5 watts per gallon.
I don't want to have to add CO2.
Also what is the best liquid fertilizer to buy?
I don't know the KH but PH is 7.0 and the local LFS always says everything else is fine (yes I need to buy my own test kit)
temp stays about 79 degrees.
What types of plants are pretty and easy to grow?

TIA



guess I need to ask this in the plant forum

 

[Rocketman]

In Absence of TncGal:
Welcome to Aquaria Central!

Anyway, it depends a lot on what fish you have, and the size of your tank.

Without that, I wouldn't feel comfortable suggesting any plants for you to go out and buy right now. Judging by your two 55W
fixtures producing 1.5 Watts a gallon, I can say you have a fairly large tank, but I don't feel like doing the math to see how large. Without CO2, you may be able to grow plants such as anubias, some swords, and java ferns and moss. Java Moss can take hold very well on things like driftwood and filter intakes. Swords grow well, I've heard, and I believe most are broad-leaf plants. I am not sure about fertilizer.

Post your tank size and stock list (or probable stock list) and maybe someone with more experience can help you out.

 

[carpguy]

1.5 watts per gallon is considered fairly low light. It sounds like this is a fairly deep tank (edit: bad math, why english majors should not have calculators ) as well, so that will compound the problem. If you want to do plants well you should probably look at more than that. How long is the tank? The 55s (CF) are good for multiples of 24", you could get 96s for multiples of 36". The width of the light is also going to be a factor in wider tanks. One band of light will not work as well in a wider tank (You'll wind up with diagonal plants).

Right now I have 2.4 wpg and am getting decent growth in a shallow tank, wouldn't mind having a bit more light. Next time I'll go with 3.2 for the same size tank. I'm using Flourish as a fertilizer and Excel as an alternative carbon source. The Excel is good for a smaller tank but you'll go through a lot in a big tank. Pressurized C02 is likely to be your cheapest and easiest option long-term. I'm looking around for Flourish Iron and will be picking up some Stump Remover later today so I can boost nitrates. Plants add an extra layer of complexity and aren't really plug and play.

I'd check things out in the Plant Forum. You'll get better info in there. Here is a good place to start.

 

[Skittyfish]

Sorry, I know better.
72g bowfront
48 long
about 18-20 in from light to substrate
(going to put flourite under existing estes bits- o -walnut and next size up gravel)

Right now, there are very few fish....6 serpae tetras, 2 pictus cat, 3 otocinclus, and one green cory.....I'm trying to decide whether to invest in high cost Discus or lower cost Angels and maybe an Eartheater or two.
I also have a huge piece of driftwood and some slate rock.

So far I have two Java Fern, I think an Amazon Sword (has a large hard brown bulb) and Something that looks like an Onion bulb with tall Grass like leaves.

I've looked in the plant forum but most people starting out have smaller tanks and they are straight fron (easier to put more regular size flourescents on).

I'm on limited fish budget (read "husband") and can't go for the CO2 yet, maybe next year.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

[carpguy]

Depending on your canopy, a nice solution for a bow front might be 2x55w across the rear with a 3rd centered to light up the foreground. That would be almost 2.3 wpg. 4 would probably be better still, but 2.3 wp is "moderate" light and you'll probably have better luck with it. I'm doing well with 2.4 wpg.

You might want to look at Excel as a carbon alternative until you can get some CO2 going. I'm using it until I can get some CO2 going.

You may enjoy this "Tips for Growing Aquarium Plants". I thought it was very funny myself.

 

[Skittyfish]

I think I've read these tips - the reason Im Asking all these questions.

Thanks for the thought of using three lights.

How about If I keep using the 40w Aquaglo Flourescent I currently have and just add two 55w Compacts behind it?
Still probably won't help the foreground though, huh?


It has a full glass canopy on it with the original single strip light.

 

[JeffP]

Take a look at the lighting section at http://www.thekrib.com . It can get confusing when people reference old "watts per gallon" rules of thumb and then mix recommendations for VHO/CF lighting which are much more efficient than standard flourescents and able to generate more light per watt.

 

[carpguy]

My understanding of the increased efficency of VHO and CF is that there isn't more light per watt but less bulb. The 40 watts of NO is probably 2 24" bulbs. The 55 watts of CF is one 24" bulb. Still 40 and 55 watts of flourescent light.

One problem with the higher efficiency lighting is that it becomes too easy to concentrate it. In a 12" wide tank with a 4" strip near the center, I'm finding that my tall background plants lean forward toward the light. With a wider tank this would be even more of a problem. Tall plants with 2x55w across the back and 40w for the foreground may work fine, or it may not. I think that is where it'll depend on particulars.