Wondering if Ferts will help speed up growth

[Riso-chan]

Some of my plants are taking longer to settle in than others. I know they are slow growing low lighters, but was wondering if adding some ferts would help a little. The reason I'm asking is because I should be trading in my swordtails in for some kuhli loaches. I want the tank to be healthy with plant-cover for them. They'll have rocks and other things too, but I want to try and make it as natural feeling as possible for all my fish. Drop a line or two and let me know what I should do. Thanx.

 

[SnakeIce]

I think it is to little light for the plants to really settle in. you only have 30 watts total of normal florescents over that 55 which is only about 1/2 wpg. you need at least 1.5 wpg for plants that are tolerant of shade versus full sun.

I think two four foot 40 watt bulbs would be a minimum of light to get you more results out of your plants. Even three 40 watt bulbs wouldn't be considered high light especially for how much water there is between the lights and the bottom. I had a 20 gal tank with 1.5 wpg and everything happened slowly.

Ferts added in a balanced fashion would only help, but with the light you have you won't see much change after adding that.

 

[nursie]

Check out the thread above if you haven't already: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12585
SnakeIce's suggestion is the first thing to look at. Anacharis doesn't work well with the Flourish Excel, I had to get rid of mine, but everything else will like it. Java ferns & moss are also good low light plants.
Flourish Excel is a source of carbon that plants need that you can use isntead of injecting CO2 and helps growth.

Kuhlie loaches are cool!! Mine know when it's feeding time and start peeking out of their hiding places and will come wrestle the clowns for algae wafer pieces.

 

[Riso-chan]

Well, the poblem there is I can't add more lighting due to the fact I've already got enough plugged into this one outlet. The plants have been doing fine for months. Plus, the light fixtures + bulbs have built in reflecters, and the k rating on the bulbs is 10000k. As long as they keep doing well, I guess I won't complain. The other thing I do to help with CO2 is keep the output flow on my filter medium. Most of the plants I have will grow tall enough to get to both that and the light.

 

[SnakeIce]

I wasn't sugesting more fixtures, rather different fixtures with longer/higher wattage bulbs to give you the extra light you need. 48" fixtures are pretty easy to find in twin tube designs and if you look you can get triple tube versions.

That fixture could replace however many lighting plugs you have now with 1 plug. I run my 48" triple tube fixture's cord through a timer so I don't have to try to remember to turn it on and off on a regular schedule.

If you equate the amount of light you have to throttle position on a car your plants growth would be at an idle, if you put the car in gear it might go somewhere but you could almost walk faster. more light equals more energy to power your plants growth.

 

[Riso-chan]

That sounds like a good idea! Luckily, my birthday is coming up, and I could save some money for the fixture+bulbs. Have to replace the bulbs this coming month anyway. That would really help the wires and plugs situation. Thanx! BTW, my tank has a divider in the center to hold the glass panels in place, it's some type of plastic. Will it melt if I add that 48" fixture and higher wattage bulbs?

 

[nursie]

I have the same type of situation. I got a 48" light strip with 2 40 watt regular bulbs and it is not a problem. It has the reflector strip too. I couldn't find a triple bulb fixture in town, but I could have ordered one...but I didn't.