Lighting for swords

**dewalltheway** · 08-10-2008, 03:09 AM

I wasn't sure to put this under lighting or swords so if it is the wrong place please move it.

I am thinking of buying some swords and putting them in my 90 gallon tank I have but I did not want to spend a fortune to update my lighting. How many watts/gallons do swords need in order to grow properly? Also, will they do ok in just aquarium gravel and just using the EI method of dosing?

lauraleellbp · 08-10-2008, 03:48 AM

Depends on the swords. Most are pretty low-maintenance and adaptable, and can survive in very low lighting. They may not grow well or even at all, but they usually won't die on you. The red swords generally need more lighting than the green swords, however. All swords appreciate root tabs.

**customdrumfinishes** · 08-10-2008, 04:16 AM

swords are usually most people 1st plants as there easy,low light and usually hard to kill
im about to set up a sword,java fern, anubias,moss tank. ive got 2 wpg and im sure they will do fine!
they will grow in low light condtions but need some kind of ferts to actually grow as said above.

swords in just eco will grow ok. root tabs will aid in ferts for the swords

i think of aquarim plants like outdoor plants. there the same really.
miracle grow fert your plants and they grow like crazy, dont and they barely get along.

**dewalltheway** · 08-10-2008, 04:23 AM

Well i am talking real low light like .6watts/gal. I am just tired of looking at those plastic plants and want to put some swords and anubius in there. In a few years that tank is going to become a coral reef tank and will upgrade the lighting and all that stuff then. For now I just want to have some real plants that will be ok in low light and aquarium gravel.

**customdrumfinishes** · 08-10-2008, 05:45 AM

i think a amazon would need 1wpg to actuall grow grow.
you have a nice tank already and figure you know how plants are lol

**Aquarist_Fist** · 08-10-2008, 06:42 AM

I'd go for Anubias/Java Fern/Moss. It's true that many Swords can do fine in low light conditions, but in case of my small swords (sold as bleheri, not sure if this is correct) 2 wpg even in a shallow 15 gallon tank was not enough. Brown leaves, hardly any grow, holes...

I upgraded to almost 4 wpg, and now they are doing great. So it was definitely the light that bothered them.

**customdrumfinishes** · 08-10-2008, 07:22 AM

in a 15g tank i could put 2 15w spiral flo. bulbs and grow any low or med. light plant easily.

the strip light that comes with a 15g wont grow much for sure!

08-10-2008, 03:09 AM	#1
dewalltheway Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (131/99%) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,882	Lighting for swords I wasn't sure to put this under lighting or swords so if it is the wrong place please move it. I am thinking of buying some swords and putting them in my 90 gallon tank I have but I did not want to spend a fortune to update my lighting. How many watts/gallons do swords need in order to grow properly? Also, will they do ok in just aquarium gravel and just using the EI method of dosing? __________________ Current Tank Journals: 125 Dream~~~~ Retired Tank Journals: Tranquility ~~~~ Les Collines Rouges ~~~~ Restful Hideaway Riparium~~~~Gone Live-55Gal

08-10-2008, 03:48 AM	#2
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (69/100%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 22,486	Depends on the swords. Most are pretty low-maintenance and adaptable, and can survive in very low lighting. They may not grow well or even at all, but they usually won't die on you. The red swords generally need more lighting than the green swords, however. All swords appreciate root tabs. __________________ Geckos galore: Geckos in Tails, and follow Geckos in Tails on Facebook 29 gal Planted Tetra Tank, 46 gal Betta simplex community, 90 gal Low Tech Community, Amazon Fishing; my Journal of 10 days in Bolivia along the Rio San Martin

08-10-2008, 04:23 AM	#4
dewalltheway Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (131/99%) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,882	Well i am talking real low light like .6watts/gal. I am just tired of looking at those plastic plants and want to put some swords and anubius in there. In a few years that tank is going to become a coral reef tank and will upgrade the lighting and all that stuff then. For now I just want to have some real plants that will be ok in low light and aquarium gravel. __________________ Current Tank Journals: 125 Dream~~~~ Retired Tank Journals: Tranquility ~~~~ Les Collines Rouges ~~~~ Restful Hideaway Riparium~~~~Gone Live-55Gal

08-10-2008, 06:42 AM	#6
Aquarist_Fist Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,188	I'd go for Anubias/Java Fern/Moss. It's true that many Swords can do fine in low light conditions, but in case of my small swords (sold as bleheri, not sure if this is correct) 2 wpg even in a shallow 15 gallon tank was not enough. Brown leaves, hardly any grow, holes... I upgraded to almost 4 wpg, and now they are doing great. So it was definitely the light that bothered them. __________________ Pimp Club Member #313 Originally Posted by macclellan my personal favorite is Random Capitalization. It is so Very fun and Surprising.

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08-10-2008, 04:16 AM	#3
customdrumfinishes are you experienced? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (108/98%) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: south carolina Posts: 1,989	swords are usually most people 1st plants as there easy,low light and usually hard to kill im about to set up a sword,java fern, anubias,moss tank. ive got 2 wpg and im sure they will do fine! they will grow in low light condtions but need some kind of ferts to actually grow as said above. swords in just eco will grow ok. root tabs will aid in ferts for the swords i think of aquarim plants like outdoor plants. there the same really. miracle grow fert your plants and they grow like crazy, dont and they barely get along.

08-10-2008, 05:45 AM	#5
customdrumfinishes are you experienced? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (108/98%) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: south carolina Posts: 1,989	i think a amazon would need 1wpg to actuall grow grow. you have a nice tank already and figure you know how plants are lol

08-10-2008, 07:22 AM	#7
customdrumfinishes are you experienced? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (108/98%) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: south carolina Posts: 1,989	in a 15g tank i could put 2 15w spiral flo. bulbs and grow any low or med. light plant easily. the strip light that comes with a 15g wont grow much for sure!