How does this sound...

[Newbneedshelp]

ok so i am probly switching to sand this weekend(help on how to do that would be great lol) then i want to get plants like anubis and crypts...will they do ok in sand and with only 1.5 wpg? Its a 10 Gal tank. TIA

 

[Toirtis]

Sand will be fine, but the 1.5 wpg won't. What sort of light do you have over the tank?

 

[malkore]

there are plants that'll survive under that meager amount of light. He must have a normal 15 watt fluorescent over that 10gallon.
java ferns, crypts, anubias species, java moss, and hornwort is all you'll be able to grow under that lighting.

 

[Toirtis]

java ferns, crypts, anubias species, java moss, and hornwort is all you'll be able to grow under that lighting.

I would go 2wpg for those guys....1.5wpg is a bit low, as far as I am concerned. Of course, a couple of compact spiral fluorescents will give you 3+ wpg.

 

[Newbneedshelp]

my problem is i cant find anything over 15 watts. Where can i, but i dont want to have to pay a lot....??

 

[malkore]

tortis, I've actually had spectacular growth of java fern and crypts using a single 20 watt halogen desk lamp over a 15gallon tall. the java's did nothing but sprout plantlets (i turned 3 ferns into about...25, and tossed several more)

course I've been accused of having a wet-green thumb.

Anyhow, Newb...your options are either to overdrive your existing fixture (which I hear is simple, but I've never done it) or trade out the fixture for something beefier. You could build a little canopy and install normal screw-in sockets (cheap) and then use screw-in compact fluorescents...but try to get the U-shaped ones rather than the spirals.
Otherwise you'll have to drop close to $50 for a 28watt power compact fixture, and the ones I found don't come with a plant bulb, so that's another $18

 

[Toirtis]

You could build a little canopy and install normal screw-in sockets (cheap) and then use screw-in compact fluorescents...but try to get the U-shaped ones rather than the spirals.

This is more or less what I have done with a few tanks....but used standard Hagen 10 gallon incandescent canopies, and put in two 13 - 18 watt screw-in compact fluorescents (most are spirals, and the canopies are rated to 25 Watts/side)....gives you about 1330-1500 lumens, or about 133-150 lumens/gallon.

 

[BrianNY]

I've got to agree with malkore here Toirtis. I've got tremendous growth with just over 1 wpg in my low light 55. Crypts and Java fern especially. Pics in my gallery.

 

[malkore]

I too have used a 2 bulb screw-in fixture, and put power compact screw ins. the problem is the reflector is still crumby, so you're getting maybe 60% of the actual bulb's output into the tank. it's still a great idea though.
If you scope out my 15gallon tank in my sig, it's using one of those 10gallon, 2 bulb screw-in type fixtures. I run 3000K screw ins cuz I can't get cheap 6500K screw ins (our Wal-marts don't carry them, adn the LFS want's $12.99 for one 10watt 10,000K bulb)
so it's a yellow light, but as you can see that tanks full of java ferns, crypts, and even some moneywort that grows slowly but surely.

I think I paid $15 for that little fixture, but it only has enough clearance for the U-shape bulbs...a spiral is too big, at least in the brand I got (which I think is top-fin or all-glass).

I think we've explored your lighting options

 

[Newbneedshelp]

yeah now i just need to deside, im on VERY tight budget cause of my no budget lol. so ill have to get a couple of bucks...well more than a couple..out of my parents. Maybe i can just upgrade what i have now? if so how would i go about doing this?

 

[Toirtis]

I've got to agree with malkore here Toirtis. I've got tremendous growth with just over 1 wpg in my low light 55. Crypts and Java fern especially. Pics in my gallery.

Java fern sure....but a grand total of 10w in a 10 gallon for crypts? I have a few on 2.5 WPG that are exploding, but always had them only just maintain a static existence under 1 WPG.