How will my desired plants do under this much light?

dougz · 04-04-2008, 03:20 PM

I'm putting together a 75g (20" tall)..

I bought 2 light strips (Current USA Nova Extreme 48" 2x54W T-5, one tube 10K, one 6700K), because I wanted 2.9wpg..

I've since learned that the wpg and the low, moderat, bright scale was created with T-12 fixtures in mind, not T-5's, and that with T-5's I'm sitting at more like 4wpg..

So how will that affect these plants?

I know some, like the anubias, will have to be under frogbit.. But is there anything else I should know?

Any substitutions I should/could make?

I'm shooting for a S. A. biotope,, though I know I'm fudging a bit..

What about Stargrass? or B. Japonica? Riccia instead of frogbit? (so there's no distracting stems?)

I'd love to do Riccia as a carpet plant, but I fear my proposed corys and BN's will make a mess of it..

Anyhoo..

Thoughts?

Anubias barteri var. Nana (driftwood, rocks)

Valisnaria spiralis (background)

Echinodorus tennelus (foreground)

Cabomba caroliniana(background)

Amazon Frogbit (floating plant)

Java Moss

Thanks!!!

tinkerman · 04-04-2008, 10:48 PM

The stargrass I have and like. It grows very fast and is a good plant to have if your wanting a indicator plant.
D:\Plants\Heteranthera Zosterifolia(Stargrass).htm

dougz · 04-05-2008, 09:26 AM

By indicator do you mean focal point?

tinkerman · 04-05-2008, 10:48 AM

No. It is a plant that usally shows signs of a deffience first, so you can ajust ferts acordingly. There are other plants that are good for this also.

dougz · 04-05-2008, 11:17 AM

Gotcha, thanks!

I don't think I'm going to go overboard on ferts like what I've been reading (dump a bunch of ferts in, then do a massive WC)..

Rather just do the Seachem Flourish route..

I dunno..

I'm new to the whole thing..

John N. · 04-09-2008, 02:08 PM

I would say most of the plants you've listed will be fine under the high light of T5s. I actually think it's the perfect amount of light. You'll have the amazon frogbit to block out some light as well.

I have a 40 gallon with a Tek T5 4x39w fixture (running on two bulbs only). And it grows both stem plants, and slow growing mosses and anubias very well. I encountered algae problems because I didn't start of with enough plants.

Oh, riccia and cory's don't mix well.

-John N.

dougz · 04-09-2008, 09:15 PM

"Oh, riccia and cory's don't mix well.."

Yup.. that's the feedback I've been getting.. LOL

04-04-2008, 03:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
dougz Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: mackenzie, BC Posts: 251	How will my desired plants do under this much light? I'm putting together a 75g (20" tall).. I bought 2 light strips (Current USA Nova Extreme 48" 2x54W T-5, one tube 10K, one 6700K), because I wanted 2.9wpg.. I've since learned that the wpg and the low, moderat, bright scale was created with T-12 fixtures in mind, not T-5's, and that with T-5's I'm sitting at more like 4wpg.. So how will that affect these plants? I know some, like the anubias, will have to be under frogbit.. But is there anything else I should know? Any substitutions I should/could make? I'm shooting for a S. A. biotope,, though I know I'm fudging a bit.. What about Stargrass? or B. Japonica? Riccia instead of frogbit? (so there's no distracting stems?) I'd love to do Riccia as a carpet plant, but I fear my proposed corys and BN's will make a mess of it.. Anyhoo.. Thoughts? Anubias barteri var. Nana (driftwood, rocks) Valisnaria spiralis (background) Echinodorus tennelus (foreground) Cabomba caroliniana(background) Amazon Frogbit (floating plant) Java Moss Thanks!!!

04-09-2008, 02:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
John N. Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,213	I would say most of the plants you've listed will be fine under the high light of T5s. I actually think it's the perfect amount of light. You'll have the amazon frogbit to block out some light as well. I have a 40 gallon with a Tek T5 4x39w fixture (running on two bulbs only). And it grows both stem plants, and slow growing mosses and anubias very well. I encountered algae problems because I didn't start of with enough plants. Oh, riccia and cory's don't mix well. -John N. __________________ Welcome to AquaScaping World!

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04-04-2008, 10:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
tinkerman Aspiring Aquascaper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Moorhead,MN Posts: 99	The stargrass I have and like. It grows very fast and is a good plant to have if your wanting a indicator plant. D:\Plants\Heteranthera Zosterifolia(Stargrass).htm

04-05-2008, 09:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
dougz Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: mackenzie, BC Posts: 251	By indicator do you mean focal point?

04-05-2008, 10:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
tinkerman Aspiring Aquascaper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Moorhead,MN Posts: 99	No. It is a plant that usally shows signs of a deffience first, so you can ajust ferts acordingly. There are other plants that are good for this also.

04-05-2008, 11:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
dougz Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: mackenzie, BC Posts: 251	Gotcha, thanks! I don't think I'm going to go overboard on ferts like what I've been reading (dump a bunch of ferts in, then do a massive WC).. Rather just do the Seachem Flourish route.. I dunno.. I'm new to the whole thing..

04-09-2008, 09:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
dougz Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: mackenzie, BC Posts: 251	"Oh, riccia and cory's don't mix well.." Yup.. that's the feedback I've been getting.. LOL