I AM SO SICK OF LOW-LIGHT PLANTS!

[Pointy_kitty]

thats it!
i am so sick of low-light plants!
they are SOOOOOOOO scarce around here and when you find them
they are rediculously expensive and in bad condition!
i had 2 beautiful tanks
one green and planted
the other dark and eerie (for my semi-aggressive fish)
to see a small picture of both (before the plants died) click on my signature picture in yellow letters
at the bottom of my signature

so anyways this was before i knew anything about plants
the plants eventually (and suddenly) browned and died, as they were high-light plants and i have 15W in my 20 gallons

now i have some beat up java fern and some ornaments and i no longer feal pride in both of my tanks
in fact i'm a little turned off on my supposed to be green tank
i want to have it planted
but i need and inexpensive way to relight it
now they don't make bulbs with enough wattage to properly light these tanks since my canopy is for 2 prong flourescent lights
a good friend of mine (cometcattle) spoke of spiral lights
what would i need light fixture wise to light these tanks in an inexpensive way keeping in mind i can't go over 40-50 bucks canadian
i'm not at all crafty with anything electronic so there is no building my own of anything
and the less expensive the better

oh please save my tanks
i want them to be beautiful again

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

I'm no electronics expert either.

Losing plants can be a devastating experience to any aquariast/horticultarist. For aquariasts, it can mean the difference between a 'green' tank to a 'bleak' one. Personally, like yourself, I prefer 'green'.

My advice, and I'm no expert but hope it helps, is to use what light you've got and perhaps move the tank a little close to your window/s. If you have anything resembling 'normal' daylight (white-light) eg desktop lamp, even old Christmas lights why not give them a try? Just make sure it's not Christmas (if you're Christian) when you do?!

In addition, double-check that your tank is well aerated (aired). Unfortunately, there is no way around this, but you may have to shell out some cash for an air-pump/CO2 booster. Unless you want to keep blowing bubbles into the tank!

Not lecturing, but here goes (from what I remember from my high school days), plants need CO2, light, water, and earth/nitrate in order to do well. If you have all of these ticked off, then your plants will prosper and grow. I'm sure someone's going to correct me on this info!

Finally, if you're still skint, and there's nothing you can do to amend this. Then keep the remaining Java plant and ditch the others. Clean the tank from having too much plant detritus, clip any diseased/disintegrated leaves, and locate the remaining plant in-between the light source and filter vent.

Sorry, but this is probably all your tank can support.

 

[clutterydrawer]

you could try using relfectors? The idea is that they maximise the amount of light that reaches your plants from the tubes you've got. I don't know how efficient they are but i saw some in my lfs that claimed to double the effectiveness of your lighting.


if you do a search on this forum there's some posts about them. in fact, if you're skint, you could try to make some yourself - i've heard of people using tinfoil and there's a post here:

http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?sh...03&hl=reflector

where someone used somethigg for behind radiators madness!

 

[Pointy_kitty]

I'm no electronics expert either.

Losing plants can be a devastating experience to any aquariast/horticultarist. For aquariasts, it can mean the difference between a 'green' tank to a 'bleak' one. Personally, like yourself, I prefer 'green'.

My advice, and I'm no expert but hope it helps, is to use what light you've got and perhaps move the tank a little close to your window/s. If you have anything resembling 'normal' daylight (white-light) eg desktop lamp, even old Christmas lights why not give them a try? Just make sure it's not Christmas (if you're Christian) when you do?!

In addition, double-check that your tank is well aerated (aired). Unfortunately, there is no way around this, but you may have to shell out some cash for an air-pump/CO2 booster. Unless you want to keep blowing bubbles into the tank!

Not lecturing, but here goes (from what I remember from my high school days), plants need CO2, light, water, and earth/nitrate in order to do well. If you have all of these ticked off, then your plants will prosper and grow. I'm sure someone's going to correct me on this info!

Finally, if you're still skint, and there's nothing you can do to amend this. Then keep the remaining Java plant and ditch the others. Clean the tank from having too much plant detritus, clip any diseased/disintegrated leaves, and locate the remaining plant in-between the light source and filter vent.

Sorry, but this is probably all your tank can support.

thanx for responding guys,
this specific tank has a bubble bar, plant fertilizer, nitrate and "water"
the only problem is light
but i don't think a desk lamp or window would work since it is hot down here already and both would heat the tank even more so

oh yeah and what does "skint" mean?

i'm a little skeptical about the reflectors
we pretty much only have good high light plants around here and i was told that i need like 50-60W so even if the reflectors work i'd still only be looking at 30W of light

once again thanx for responding
i guess i'll keep lookin'

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

Think nothing of it (the advice). Both 'clutterydrawer' and I am sure you'll find something to balance/amend your situation. Good luck.

 

[Bol]

but i need and inexpensive way to relight it

Check out what Colin_BC did with two standard "bathroom vanity lights". If this idea appeals to you, you could probably just use one strip, to make it cheaper/easier.

 

[clutterydrawer]

thanx for responding guys,
this specific tank has a bubble bar, plant fertilizer, nitrate and "water"
the only problem is light
but i don't think a desk lamp or window would work since it is hot down here already and both would heat the tank even more so

oh yeah and what does "skint" mean?

i'm a little skeptical about the reflectors
we pretty much only have good high light plants around here and i was told that i need like 50-60W so even if the reflectors work i'd still only be looking at 30W of light

once again thanx for responding
i guess i'll keep lookin'

you weirdo
why'd yopu put water in your tank? this is obviously the cause of all your problems.


But really though. Skint means being in a situation of having no available cash...quite like "broke"...for example...

"I'm skint this week cos I just bought a new tank." (I'm sure everyone here can relate to that one )

I guess even 30W would be better than 15, and might help the java fern to grow faster, and grow nice new leaves instead of the scruffy old ones...dunno though. the idea Bol linked to sounds good to me.