Looking For Small Light Or Low Light Plant

[gurnie]

I am in the final stages of building my Mac Aquarium (its been a fun project for me) and I am trying to find a lighting solution. I want fresh water plants inside the tank for the betta I plan to house (since they are easier on the fish's tail and better for the water). I need some-sort of small light that I can put at the top of the tank (or mac case I should say) so the plants can get enough light. So I guess I am looking for a small light / low light plant solution. Can anyone throw out any suggestions?

And for those concerned of having a mac aquarium, mine is a Mac Color classic (a bit bigger than the older Macs and therefore larger) and the tank holds about 2 gallons, I am using a carbon filter and I already have fish (here at my office) and have had many bettas in the past.

 

[eschaton]

Java Fern, Java Moss, and any of the Anubius species will be fine with low light.

 

[Biulu]

Have a look at this site: www.tropica.com, and choose 'advanced search'. There under the light options you can choose your light level, and automatically all the corresponding plant species are listed.

 

[gurnie]

Thanks for all of your suggestions!

Does anyone have a suggestion for lighting? Do the low light plants still need aquarium lights (blue-ish grow bulb-ish light) or would they be satisfied with a regular light?

 

[BigC]

Anubius sp. nana

 

[Biulu]

It depends upon whether your aquarium is closed or not, and if not, what the light intensity in the room is. I have successfully grown vallisnerias and anubias in well-lighted (not direct sunlight though!) rooms in tanks without a lid.

If it is closed, you should have a light. A light tube imitating daylight (around 6500 K) is best, and for low light, we normally think around 1 - 1.5 Watt per gallon.

 

[gurnie]

Hm, I haven't been able to find a 3 watt light (a very small one)

Would a light rope be ok?

 

[Dorkhedeos]

try some marimo(moss balls). they are really neat