Will "moderate Light" Plants Die In A Low Light Aquarium?

[Spookymuffin]

Basically, I'd love to have a few plants that have higher light preferences than Java Fern/Moss etc in my aquarium. Currently my light is only providing 1w per gallon. So, my question is:


Can plants with light requirements that are a little higher than 1 watt per gallon survive in a low light aquarium? Will their growth just be unbelievably slow or will they die?


I'm not trying to grow any high light plants (the kind that need 3-4w per gallon) or anything, I'm just trying to extend my range into the "2w per gallon is preferable" territory.

 

[Ian H]

what size is the tank with how much light?

a small tank with 1wpg would be terrible where as a big tank not so bad

 

[Renate]

A small tank with 1wpg would be terrible where as a big tank not so bad. Why is this? Found similar info at Rex Griggs' site but I don't understand it.

 

[aaronnorth]

A small tank with 1wpg would be terrible where as a big tank not so bad. Why is this? Found similar info at Rex Griggs' site but I don't understand it.

because of mimimum light thresh hold.

yes, we need your tank size to go any further. Also do you dose any nutrients? CO2 injection?

 

[Spookymuffin]

It's a 54litre (14 gallon) tank. I've been thinking of buying this to replace my hood. The 60com long one holds two 15w bulbs which boosts me up to 2w per gallon.

What do you think?

 

[aaronnorth]

2 x 15w would be great, how about this though - http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...ater-p-614.html

You will need CO2 injection - pressurized or Fermentation?
Fertliser that covers macros (NPK) and micros (trace)

 

[lljdma06]

2 x 15w would be great, how about this though - [URL="http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...ater-p-614.html"]http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...ater-p-614.html[/URL]

You will need CO2 injection - pressurized or Fermentation?
Fertliser that covers macros (NPK) and micros (trace)

Fermentation will be fine if you have more than one mix that you can alternate. I had a 15g high-tech that just used fermentation. It was such a small tank that I was able to dose using the estimative index with ready-made liquid ferts, but mixing your own will probably be cheaper. If you can find T5s, that would be better, what is the footprint of the tank?

llj

 

[Renate]

A small tank with 1wpg would be terrible where as a big tank not so bad. Why is this? Found similar info at Rex Griggs' site but I don't understand it.

because of mimimum light thresh hold.

yes, we need your tank size to go any further. Also do you dose any nutrients? CO2 injection?

What does mimimum light thresh hold mean?

 

[Spookymuffin]

2 x 15w would be great, how about this though - [URL="http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...ater-p-614.html"]http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...ater-p-614.html[/URL]

That's a little out of my price range

The hood I was thinking of getting is 53 euro, the one that you suggested is 75 gbp which is approx 94 euro!

You will need CO2 injection - pressurized or Fermentation?
Fertliser that covers macros (NPK) and micros (trace)

Probably fermentation; that seems like the easiest and least expensive method. Do CO2 tablets work at all?

Well, I have root tabs and a liquid fertiliser, not quite sure what specific nutrients are in them though and I'm not at home to check.

 

[Renate]

Check out Mizu-chan tank at the planted tank forum. She has just 2 clip on lamps over her 20 gallon long tank and she is getting great plant growth. She doesn't use ferts, just diy co2.
http/i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/p...20g/ggfdfgh.jpg

 

[aaronnorth]

oh, i thought it was £53 pound! CO2 tablets dont work IME.

http/www.rexgrigg.com/mlt.html

It is all to do about lux per square inch. With a smaller tank there is less are therefore more lux s needed to get the correct level. Above is a better explanation.

 

[Renate]

oh, i thought it was £53 pound! CO2 tablets dont work IME.

<a href="http/www.rexgrigg.com/mlt.html" target="_blank">http/www.rexgrigg.com/mlt.html</a>

It is all to do about lux per square inch. With a smaller tank there is less are therefore more lux s needed to get the correct level. Above is a better explanation.

According to Rex Grigg 10 gallon tank needs 71 watts! Even if I had the money I wouldn't do that, for it is a waste of electricity.

Mizu-chan at the planted tank forum has just 2 clip on lamps over her 20 gallon long tank and she is getting great plant growth. She doesn't use ferts. She just has diy co2.
[URL="http/i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/p...20g/ggfdfgh.jpg"]http/i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/p...20g/ggfdfgh.jpg[/URL]

I can't do that with my 29 gallon tank because of the depth but that is a good example of low light aquarium.

 

[aaronnorth]

it is a waste of electricity

some may agree, some disagree. In the end it is all about what plants you want to grow.

 

[RadaR]

oh, i thought it was £53 pound! CO2 tablets dont work IME.

<a href="http/www.rexgrigg.com/mlt.html" target="_blank">http/www.rexgrigg.com/mlt.html</a>

It is all to do about lux per square inch. With a smaller tank there is less are therefore more lux s needed to get the correct level. Above is a better explanation.

According to Rex Grigg 10 gallon tank needs 71 watts!

According to Takashi Amano, he would have 65W over a 10gallon tank. Interesting to see how people do things diferently, but still get fantastic results.