planted 5 gallon

[wrs]

I was thinking about taking my 5 gallon tank getting a 12 watt light for it and plannting it. I want to get a new female betta, and it would be the perfect place for her.

I want to know, how many plants would there be able to be kept in there?
What kind wouldnt get to big?

I want them to be thick so that the betta wont be seen by anyone, apart from my self some times. I know that sounds weird, but I want to tell my parents I just want to plant it and have nothing else in it.

 

[KentBlokey]

Java Fern, Java Moss, Anubius, Hygrophilia are all low light plants. Though I don't know the minimum light requirements for these. They all stay fairly small with exception to Hygrophilia, Which is easily trimmed and propogated.

 

[wrs]

is 12 watts low light?

I dont mind getting a higher watt, as I do have some plants like ludwiga and a frill plant that I want to add.

 

[KentBlokey]

Yep, 12 watts is fairly low. Seen as the Tank is only 5 gallons the watt per gallon rule won't really work.

 

[wrs]

Oh.

 

[Jen]

thats 2.4 wpg, so thats pretty decent.

 

[wrs]

thats good. Would ludwiga be okay with that lighting?

 

[Discomafia]

Not 2.4 wpg.

The wpg "rule" doesn't work in tanks below 30 gallons, remember...

Lumens per square inch would be a better "rule" to follow...

 

[KentBlokey]

EDIT>

Just ignore me

 

[Jen]

The wpg "rule" doesn't work in tanks below 30 gallons, remember...

I had no idea that's how it worked.

my bad.

 

[Discomafia]

No prob. No big deal...

Even Amano's tank data conforms to a watts per area formula.

 

[Nospherith]

Would ludwiga be okay with that lighting?

Ludwigia is my favorite type of plant. I've had 2 varieties of Repens now and 12 watts will not be enough for it. Ludwigias are generally a medium to high light plant.

I tried growing it over 15 watts in my 20g. It didn't die or anything but it also didn't grow.

Then I got a 55 watt, DIY glass top, and now there's 70watts over it and the leaves (which normally grow green under lower light) are now a nice maroon color. It's growing really fast.

 

[Silly me]

I have 28Watts of 6400K light over a 2.5g.

I would say thats the min amount of light to grow anything.. staying alive you might get away with less. also I would say 30watts over a 2.5g and 30Watts over a 10g is the same thing..

 

[Discomafia]

I have 28Watts of 6400K light over a 2.5g.

I would say thats the min amount of light to grow anything.. staying alive you might get away with less. also I would say 30watts over a 2.5g and 30Watts over a 10g is the same thing..

Interesting... Care to explain? Wouldn't it be "better" in a sense, in the 2.5G tank?

 

[jimbooo]

this pic is of my 3 gallon betta tank which has an 8W tube.

the grass grows really slowly but the Java Fern (on both pieces of bogwood) is thriving.

i'd say doubles it's size every month.

the tank is really simple, plain gravel, crappy filter and heated

to be honest it's the "poor relation" of my tanks and i've just given it away to a mate.

but in answer to your question you should have no problems with lighting for low light plants, if mine is anything to go by.