48" 55 gallon tank

pufferfreak · 10-20-2003, 04:56 AM

ok this is stupid but i have one light on my 55 gallon. Its a 40watt 6500K light and it looks great. I just added a 3 liter DIY CO2 system to it and it will help alittle i hope. I have mirco sword, java fern, soon to be java moss, amazon sword and a bulb from wal-mart that was growing with no co2 and crapping lighting. It stoped because i moved it but will start in like 2 weeks. My question is i want a good nice tank but low light plants. I know that the amazon sword is not low lite and will prob. die. The micro sword looks like it is going to die so if both die then I will have a forest of java moss and java fern. I don't really care that shounds kinda cool. I would like a cheap way of getting enough light for all of these plants to grow. I don't have any fert. and don't have riched subtrate. The tank was allready established when I added the plants. Any info on what types of plants i should get that will grow in my stupid tank besides the ones that i got? I am new and can't really get alot of money since I am 15 and dont have a job yet, but soon i hope. I am also setting up a salt tank too so the money is kinda divided but the salt tank can wait. I quess I will be able to buy this good light and co2 thing with my money i will get from Christmas. Thanx for the help and I have takin some pics of the tank, but got to upload them. Thanx

aquatic-store.com · 10-20-2003, 01:58 PM

Java moss
Java Fern
Bolbitius
Any type of anubius

pufferfreak · 10-20-2003, 03:14 PM

Well, i got java fern, going to get java moss, got amazon sword and a bulb that is a lilly pad, and mirco sword that is dying. What would you guys do in my situaction? I want low light plants, which is what I got, I want to start slow, not go to 2 or 3 watts per gallon yet. What would you do?

GDominy · 10-20-2003, 06:02 PM

I have grown Amazon swords under such a low light tank.. but they grow VERY slowly.

Realistically speaking, your plant choices are extremely limited and you will find yourself easily frustrated. Most people recomend 2-3 watts per gallon not to grow medium light plants, but to grow most plants more easily.

It is considerably easier (and cheaper in the long run) to spend a little money and build a canopy that can hold a shop light fixture (about $12 Canadian, or $8 American) so you can have 2 x 40 watt bulbs.

pufferfreak · 10-20-2003, 09:57 PM

yea I was thinkin that maybe I should do it?

Anonymous · 10-21-2003, 03:28 AM

UGGGGGGGGGG! Shoplights. Turns and walks out of the room.

pufferfreak · 10-21-2003, 03:33 AM

well, I am going to say forget the 55 and i am turning my 10 gallon to a sunken garden with all the plants in my 55 and move them to the 10. Will have 30watts and 6500k bulbs! DIY CO2 and no fish so the CO2 won't have to worry about ph swings! Can't wait!

10-20-2003, 04:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
pufferfreak Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,018	ok this is stupid but i have one light on my 55 gallon. Its a 40watt 6500K light and it looks great. I just added a 3 liter DIY CO2 system to it and it will help alittle i hope. I have mirco sword, java fern, soon to be java moss, amazon sword and a bulb from wal-mart that was growing with no co2 and crapping lighting. It stoped because i moved it but will start in like 2 weeks. My question is i want a good nice tank but low light plants. I know that the amazon sword is not low lite and will prob. die. The micro sword looks like it is going to die so if both die then I will have a forest of java moss and java fern. I don't really care that shounds kinda cool. I would like a cheap way of getting enough light for all of these plants to grow. I don't have any fert. and don't have riched subtrate. The tank was allready established when I added the plants. Any info on what types of plants i should get that will grow in my stupid tank besides the ones that i got? I am new and can't really get alot of money since I am 15 and dont have a job yet, but soon i hope. I am also setting up a salt tank too so the money is kinda divided but the salt tank can wait. I quess I will be able to buy this good light and co2 thing with my money i will get from Christmas. Thanx for the help and I have takin some pics of the tank, but got to upload them. Thanx __________________ 55 gallon- Flourite, XP3, 110wattCF Auto-CO2 system 55 gallon- Soon to be Reef Aquarium 20 gallon- Soon to be Reef Aquarium

10-20-2003, 01:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
aquatic-store.com Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: May 2003 Location: St. Louis Missouri Posts: 598	Java moss Java Fern Bolbitius Any type of anubius __________________ Marcus S Russo JBJ powerheads buy 2 GET 1 FREE LIVE PLANTS Co2 supplies Largest on the net. Dupla substrate heaters http://www.water-testers.com.com <p>Enter the 2005 Photo contest and win lighting, co2 supplies and more. </p> http://www.aquatic-store.com/index2.html

10-20-2003, 03:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
pufferfreak Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,018	Well, i got java fern, going to get java moss, got amazon sword and a bulb that is a lilly pad, and mirco sword that is dying. What would you guys do in my situaction? I want low light plants, which is what I got, I want to start slow, not go to 2 or 3 watts per gallon yet. What would you do? __________________ 55 gallon- Flourite, XP3, 110wattCF Auto-CO2 system 55 gallon- Soon to be Reef Aquarium 20 gallon- Soon to be Reef Aquarium

10-20-2003, 09:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
pufferfreak Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,018	yea I was thinkin that maybe I should do it? __________________ 55 gallon- Flourite, XP3, 110wattCF Auto-CO2 system 55 gallon- Soon to be Reef Aquarium 20 gallon- Soon to be Reef Aquarium

10-21-2003, 03:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
pufferfreak Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,018	well, I am going to say forget the 55 and i am turning my 10 gallon to a sunken garden with all the plants in my 55 and move them to the 10. Will have 30watts and 6500k bulbs! DIY CO2 and no fish so the CO2 won't have to worry about ph swings! Can't wait! __________________ 55 gallon- Flourite, XP3, 110wattCF Auto-CO2 system 55 gallon- Soon to be Reef Aquarium 20 gallon- Soon to be Reef Aquarium

10-20-2003, 06:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
GDominy Digital Aquascapes (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Victoria,British Columbia, Canada Posts: 3,124	I have grown Amazon swords under such a low light tank.. but they grow VERY slowly. Realistically speaking, your plant choices are extremely limited and you will find yourself easily frustrated. Most people recomend 2-3 watts per gallon not to grow medium light plants, but to grow most plants more easily. It is considerably easier (and cheaper in the long run) to spend a little money and build a canopy that can hold a shop light fixture (about $12 Canadian, or $8 American) so you can have 2 x 40 watt bulbs.

10-21-2003, 03:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
Anonymous Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 251	UGGGGGGGGGG! Shoplights. Turns and walks out of the room.

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