Change Up My Lighting

[karin]

Hi.

I'm fretting about my lighting. I have a 60 gallon tank with two hoods and have 30 watts of light, two 15 watt T8s. So I'm way low light.
I've got anubias, crypts, a water spright, java fern, fava moss and italian vals and an Amazon sword. Oh and some dwarf swords. Plants are doing okay, as far as I know. The vals growing tall but every week I trim out yellow pieces. I guess they are fine but I have no other experience to compare it too.

So I have in my head the 1 wpg recommendation and think I need to figure out new hoods that allow more light. I want to stay in the low light realm, no CO2 system etc. Should I be focusing on the 1wpg or should I be focusing more on types of plants for low light and fertilizers?

Fertilizers: I do Flourish once a week and have put in the Flourish tabs. That is all.

Ideas for which way to focus to improve a low light situation?

Here is a photo:

 

[ian]

firstly, that tank looks good and secondly, i wouldn't worry to much about the light situation. The plants you have will just grow slower. If the pic is a pic where the plants have been planted for a while, then i think you're doing fine and have nothing to worry about.

 

[lljdma06]

First, I agree, it looks quite good.

If you can get some TPN+ in there, that might help with the yellowing vallis. You've a pretty high plant mass, and despite the low light, you might need some additional nutrients. I wouldn't worry about the lighting level either. How long has the tank been setup?

llj

 

[karin]

Thanks, assurance from both of you is great. I've looked at your tanks and tracked your recommendations before so giving me a pat on the back is worth something.

Tank was fully cycled the end of March. I'm really lightly stocked with fish right now as I wait to move the tank and add an HOB to my Eheim 2215. The 2215 is not quite doing the job. But stats have been spot on (Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 and Nitrates 20-40) and both the angels just spawned and I think my apistos are getting ready as well. So I think the tank is doing well.

Okay, I will get some TPN+ and stop worrying about the darn lights.

Any other lowlight plant recommendations? I think I'll put in an order soon. Any must haves?

 

[ian]

What you need to do is work out where you want to put things, if that were my tank, i would have a Aponogeton Ulvaceus in the far right hand corner (as your looking at the tank), these plants grow like there is no tomorrow and my fave aquatic plant, they flower every week and also i would put a few Pogostemon Helferi in the bottom right hand corner, these are classed as medium hardness plants, but i know myself and a few others have grown them under your tanks conditions. They will spread and make a kind of carpet. Also a couple more bunches of Vallis in the left hand corner.

 

[karin]

Excellent. These are the kinds of recommendations I want. Thanks so much.

 

[DAlmond123]

I've never seen an Anubia so big before. What kind is it?

 

[karin]

I've never seen an Anubia so big before. What kind is it?

The one in the center right? It is called ANUBIAS FRAZERI, Tall Anubias Species.

 

[DAlmond123]

Yes that is the one I was referring to. Do you know if it will get bigger?

 

[karin]

Where I got the plants, the website says this:


This is a great Anubias for mid to background as this plant is a tall Anubias Specie. It Can get up to 20+" tall.



Anubias Frezeri will hold up to cichlids and other tough settings.

As with all Anubias it does well fom very little light to high light.

Hardiness: Very Easy
Light Needs: Low
Plant Structure: Rhizome
Family: Araceae
Genus: Anubias
Location: Mid-Ground to background
Growth Rate: Slow