Wattage Vs Time

[akudewan]

I have a 23 gal tank. And I have planted it with Amazon swords many times, but they all die after a few weeks. Then I started reading the pinned topics and I realized that there is really no way for me to have plants in my tank.

I have a 15 watt light in the tank. That comes to 0.65 watts per gallon. Are there any plants that can survive in such low light? Also, the light is "pink" in colour. Its a "Hitachi 15 watt F20/T10 BR Preheat Aquarium Lamp". I asked around in shops and this is the most powerful one that can fit into my hood.

If the wattage is low, and if I keep the light on for more time, like 12 to 13 hours, then is it possible for me to have a planted tank?

Also, there are more issues:
1) I don't get any plants here except Amazon Sword, and a few random floating varieties
2) I don't have an internatioinal credit card, so I can't buy them online
3) There is no space to keep a CO2 cylinder, but I could probably use the yeast method.
4) I don't get any testing kits, so I won't know the pH, kH, and CO2 levels of the tank, and I can't buy the kit online, well, coz I don't have an international card, and shipping costs more than the kit itself.

Is there any hope for me? Or will I have to find beauty in those horrible plastic plants?

 

[jimbooo]

hi there,

it's a long shot but can you get hold of any substrate additives. laterite, flourite, eco-complete. anything like that will help your swords loads. they are heavy root feeders and regardless of light will die in plain gravel or sand. if you manage to get some your swords should improve even under the low lighting. swapping the tube for something around 7500K will also help. pink light is weak, although the spectrum is good for plants you need loads of them to have the desired effect.

just a thought but if available any of those will help.

 

[akudewan]

Well, no aquarium fertilizers unless I can get anything from a plants nursery.

I was thinking of another thing. i have an empty 6 gallon, meant to be a betta tank. It has a 15 watt lamp of the same type, only smaller. Thats well over 2 watts per gallon. Maybe I could experiment here before I try anything on the 23 gal?

Now, subsrate additives, what do I do...I'll post some more thoughts tomorrow, I can't think right now, got an exam tomorrow.

PS: Jimbooo, thanks for the pics.

 

[akudewan]

Ah, exams are over, and had a nice long nap. Now back to business.

The situation looks rather hopeless.
I figure the amazon sword needs a good deal of nutrients, so is there anything at all that I can do? Any chemicals that I can use? Can I chuck in soil from the garden?
Also, about CO2 monitoring, what exactly can I do without a testing kit?

What I would need is a plant that can just live without me having to do anything. Since there's hardly any choice in LFS's, maybe I can fetch something from a pond or a lake? I'm still scratching my head though, I can't figure out a way. Maybe I just have to go the fake plant way?

Any suggestions? Anything at all?

 

[houndour]

are amazon swords really the only plant you can get?

Try asking around for Anubias and Java Fern. These plants are to be attached to wood and only require low light levels.

 

[akudewan]

Yes, its amazon swords everywhere! Almost like an infestation. But I'm going to travel across the city on wednesday to try my luck in other shops.

 

[akudewan]

Hey guess what!! I found a local aquarist group, and I also found a shop where I can get eveything!!!!!

Finally, me will have planted tank