Lighting Question And A Plant Id

[Kizz]

Well have noticed that my lights don't seem to be as bright as what they were when i first got the tank . i got the tank in august /september and i'm still using the same lights so have no idea on how old they actually are

My plant growth has slowed and not really getting any new shoots or regrowth i only give the the root tabs but before lights went dodgy they still grew like wildfire

What sort of lights am i looking to get ? i have never had to buy lights before and don't even know what wattage the old ones are as there's no writing on them !

i have a trigon 190 which from the water level to sand is 19" deep my plant stocking is the following

Giant Vallis
Vallisnera Americana
Vallisnera Twister
Alternanthera Rosaefolia
Echinoclorus Parviflorus
Cryptocoryne Vecketti
Sagittaria Natan
Ceraoteris Thallitrichoides (Indian Ferm)
Hydrophillia Polysperma
Ludwigia Palustris
Pennywort
Bacopa Monneiri
X-Mas Moss
Java Moss
Riccia Mat

What lighting am i looking at ? I do not wish to dose in c02 but will be starting to dose with TPN+ And easy carbo ...Just never get round to ordering it


Now i also have this plant that i have no idea on what it is ...anyone Hazard a guess?

Cheers

 

[Ludwig Venter]

IMO,... the plant you have there is not a true aquatic.... If it is though, the closest resemblemce I can recall is that it is (or related to) a Madagascar lilly... (unfortunately, I cannot remember the scientific name to narrow it down).....

 

[aaronnorth]

the plant might be hygrophila corymbosa
You need the same wattage & diamter tube. (T5 or T8 are the most common)

 

[Kizz]

How do i find out what wattage my lights were ? There's no writing or anything on the tube one light is white the other is like a bluey colour they have definatly decreased in brightness over time

am i better with T5's or T8's ? Does one penetrate further than the other ?

And the plant looks like neither of the ones said i have a funny feeling it isn't aquatic but want to see how it fairs in the tank with correct lighting as all the plants look a tad sorry for themselves at the moment !

 

[aaronnorth]

How do i find out what wattage my lights were ? There's no writing or anything on the tube one light is white the other is like a bluey colour they have definatly decreased in brightness over time

am i better with T5's or T8's ? Does one penetrate further than the other ?

And the plant looks like neither of the ones said i have a funny feeling it isn't aquatic but want to see how it fairs in the tank with correct lighting as all the plants look a tad sorry for themselves at the moment !

what size are they? they are standard size for certain wattages, such as 1149mm = 54w tube.

With the diamter you dont have a choice, as they are different sizes! T5 = 5/8 of 1" and T8 are 1".

if it isnt hygro then i dont think it is aquatic.