13 Watts ok to grow plants?

[SilverDollar_03]

the title explains it all. i am getting a 12 gallon eclipse tank, with 13 watt lighting. i am going to have 3 dwarf puffers and some ghost shrimp in this tank. I also want to start my first planted tank too. is 13 watts enough? i know that this is considered "low light", but which plants can grow in this light?

 

[endparenthesis]

Java fern, some anubias (nana for sure... my only anubias experience), some crypts, maybe anacharis if you don't mind it melting and coming back spindley, usually java moss... those are my suggestions. It would also depend on if the tank is tall rather than wide. No matter what you're going to be pretty limited.

 

[Small Fry]

13 watts of what?? There is a huge difference between 13 watts incandescent vs 13 watts flourescent with flourescent giving you 2-3 times more light.

The general rule is at least 2 watts per gallon for bigger tanks (24" deep or more) but I don't know for the smaller tanks.

 

[endparenthesis]

I'm guessing it's fluorescent, because 13 watts of incandescent could probably be outshone by a night light.

The watts per gallon thing falls apart with tanks under 30 gallons or so. There's a bare minimum of light needed for the plants... but I'm not really sure what that level is. I have 52 watts over a 10 gallon tank, but I don't consider it 5 watts/gallon when putting plants in.

EDIT: In fact... http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=48167

 

[heresmike]

Eclipse tanks come with flourescent lights, and there are many low-light plants that will grow with 1 watt per gallon. All my tanks have less than that, and they're flourishing. endparenthesis mentioned some good ones. Some others are hygrophilia (many different varieties, grows and grows), red tiger lotus (try to get the compact version), lutea, thai onion plant, sagittaria. I could go on....

Try going to this site, and clicking on the 'low light plants' link for more ideas. This is where I got most of my plants from.

 

[cometcattle]

Here's another good plant link:

http/www.plantgeek.net/plantguide.php

 

[clutterydrawer]

Heya Some plants I have growing in my tank with only 1wpg are: anubias barteri, java fern, hygrophila corymbosa "siamensis", cyrptocoryne wendtii and crytocoryne willisii. Also some amazon swords which are alive but not doing as well as the others.

The wendtii in particular is doing very well.

I seem to remember reading that puffers tend to damage plants? If this is so then stick with anubias and java fern cos they are really tough and don't get damaged/eaten easily.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I also find that vallis practically grows in the dark!

 

[SilverDollar_03]

well thanks guys, youve all been a great help, and have encouraged me to buy the tank with live plants. unfortunately petsmart only has some bright light plants, except for java fern...so i have no idea where to get aquatic plants other than there...

 

[tstenback]

Im pretty sure there is a Big Al's in London or at least somewhere pretty close.

 

[LadyMinion]

I seem to remember reading that puffers tend to damage plants?

Puffers don't deliberately destroy plants, but when chasing snails they can cause damage while atacking.

 

[tstenback]

but when chasing snails they can cause damage while atacking.

i know what you mean but that just conjures up an image that is very funny

 

[LadyMinion]

..that just conjures up an image that is very funny

It is very amusing watching them hunt generally. I love the way their little eyes "stalk" their prey never leaving them for a second.

 

[heresmike]

well thanks guys, youve all been a great help, and have encouraged me to buy the tank with live plants. unfortunately petsmart only has some bright light plants, except for java fern...so i have no idea where to get aquatic plants other than there...

You might want to keep checking back, or ask someone at the store if they ever get them in. The PetsMarts in my area will often have crypt wendtii and lutea ... both are excellent low-light plants. To be honest, those and java fern are the only low-light plants I've seen there. Good Luck!!

 

[SilverDollar_03]

yeah ill keep checking back there. where could you get small snails for the puffers anyways? because the ones at petsmart are about the size of the puffers themselves!