[Jsack12]

So I have a standard 55 gallon with some rock and driftwood and two java ferns. I use flourish excel every other day and flourish root tabs. I just got a 48" aquatic life t5 HO fixture with a 6000 k bulb and roseate bulb. The fixture has been on the tank for about 3 weeks now and the plants haven't really done anything except green up a little. Not really sure why thre not taking off considering they are one of the easiest plants to grow. Any help would be appreciated

 

[Jsack12]

I have the exact same light fixture. You really need to upgrade the bulbs to two 6700k bulbs. I did and can really tell the difference.

Ya rick dale I've heard about this a lot online, will do this when I get some money. The ferns have been in the tank for 3 or 4 months now and were living under a single t12 bulb so when upgrading lights I figured they would take off. The roots of them are about half in Sand and half out and yes I'm using sand as my bottom substrate. They are growing just very slowly. I would add some pictures but idk how to do that from an iphone

 

[Jsack12]

Well I'm not really familiar with too many plants considering I'm new to it. But knowing javas are slow growers that makes me feel better. The plan in the future is to replace both bulbs with 6700k bulbs and then rigging a red led or another single tube t5 with a roseate bulb and connecting it to my aquatic life fixture

 

[Jsack12]

Ya I been thinking about CO2 but it seems there is so many systems out there mainly DIY ones. Is there any good ones you can buy right off the market? Or is DIY ones the way to go?