[qimonkey]

Hi folks. I’m in the initial planning stages for setting up my 30 gallon as a low tech tank. I have grown anubias, java ferns, various crypts and aponogetons (?) in the past to my satisfaction with a 28 W 6500K compact overhead. I was hoping to try the tall grassy background look this time around, but wasn’t really sure if vals could go that low. I’ve seen them recommended as low light plants in a few posts on these boards, but would I be able to get a decent grassy background with this lighting? Should I try Sagittaria instead? Any suggestions/insight would be appreciated.

 

[knuggs]

I currently have a 29gal with only 20watts w/ corkscrew val. They got beat up from delivery and broke off everywhere. But its been growing back, about new each other day. Its taking a little longer for them to get taller but their growing. I belive jungle val is low light also.:biggrin:

 

[bastalker]

Vals will do just fine in low light. Sags will also, but they will grow taller on you an would make for some good mid ground plants. You can put them in the fore ground, but it will just be a taller foreground. Its tough getting good foreground plants in low light. It just means that you wont be seeing any carpet type plants.

I would personally plant sags in the midground, an leave the foreground open.

 

[original kuhli]

Vals can do spectacularily well in low light, I've had them prosper in many setups.

 

[qimonkey]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think that I will give the vals a try. I was hoping to grow (eventually) a tall, dense background that covered a bit of one side of the tank to provide some privacy for the fish since the tank sits adjacent to a high traffic area in our house. I'm thinking jungle vals or the narrow leaf version should be able to fill out the space in my 20 inch tall tank.
Anyway, thanks again. I find the folks on these boards to be very helpful and knowledgeable.