55 Gallon Planted Tank. Should I Upgrade Light?

[bs6749]

Here is my situation:

I have been thinking that it would be really nice to have NICE LOOKING PLANTS in my tank, like quite a few of you on here. Currently I have 5 amazon swords, an ocelot sword, melon sword (noticing a pattern yet? LOL), some dwarf hairgrass (about 2 little clumps), 2 sprigs of anacharis, about 3 decent sized clumps of java moss that has lots of algae on it, an anubias bartari (spelling?), a banana plant, and a bunch of wisteria (quite a bit floating as well as planted). Oh, and some limnosomething aromatica.

My problem(s):

Do I have enough light? I have stock All-Glass Aquarium hoods with (2)15W (I believe) 18,000K Power-Glo (certain of this) bulbs. My plants don't seem to be "growing", they just seem to be "surviving". I want a lot of plant cover in the tank and I do not want any algae. I do not add CO2 because I can't afford that much for a setup and the DIY setups, I hear, are not recommended for a 55 gallon tank. I dose with Flourish (with iron) in the recommended amount (sometimes 1.5 times the recommended amount) about once a week/week and a couple of days.

Should I dose more often? Should I add anything else? Should I add tap water (very hard) to my next water change instead of the RO/DI that I normally add (ten gallons changed out per week/week and a half)? In this tank I have GBR's, ottos, BN plecos, glo-light tetras, and danios. (I am pretty sure that they can withstand some of the tap water as that is what I initially started the tank with and then added dechlor.

Right now the tank water is pretty soft from all of the water changes so maybe that is why my plants are starting to look like old lettuce (that dark green mushy color) in some spots. Some leaves are completely dieing, which is normal? Not a lot, usually a few then new ones grow. Maybe I should upgrade my lighting? ANY suggestions would be helpful.

P.S. Sorry about the long post.

[JustOneMore20]

I think you should definitely upgrade the lighting. The plants you have need more light than you are giving them and I'm surprised they are still living. Stock 55g lighting is only enough to grow java fern and java moss really.

I don't think I'd dose as much as you are...I think I would dose every 2 weeks or so with the Flourish if you keep your current lighting. The plants can't be growing enough to use up the nutrients from dosing more than once a week.

Around 110 watts over the tank would be good. That would give you 2 watts per gallon which would be enough for the plants (well except the hairgrass) and you wouldn't need CO2. If you wanted, you could get a 2x65 watt fixture, for a little more light and add some stem plants...and you wouldn't need CO2. I have the same fixture and no CO2 on my 55g and it grows plants nicely.

I would shoot for atleast 2 watts per gallon with the swords...they are medium light plants. The hairgrass is more medium-high light. I couldn't get it to grow in 2.4 watts per gallon...something around 3 would be best for it. Limnophila aromatica is also a high light plant.

I think you should upgrade your lighting...and then pick plants according to how much light you have. Pretty much all the ones you have now won't thrive in stock lighting.

[bs6749]

First of all, thanks for taking the time to read all of that and reply. I wanted to point out that it really isn't "stock" lighting so to speak because it has better output bulbs. They are each 18,000 K compared to the normal 6,500K or 10,000K used by most people. The guy at the lfs said that these would be better suited for what I had seeing as how I chose to keep the stock hoods.

I am actually contemplating getting 260 watts, possibly what is listed in the classifieds on here (260 watt PC's), but I am not sure if I want to or not. I would need to get new hoods that will work with this light or a glass/acrylic top because I am not sure that I am comfortable with having a fixture above the water without anything underneath.

My tank is by no means "dark" but I am not sure if the plants are receiving the best quality light.

[rkilling1]

First off, you need to think hard about want you really want.

Do you want to have a nice tank with 'some' plants in it?

Do you want to have a tank that can grow some common plants quite well, but others not so well, but you don't have to dose it every day?

Do you want a tank that you have to dose ferts every day and have to keep after or it will get over run with plants?


secondly its Limnophila aromatica, which needs more light then you have to grow nicely.

The 18,000K bulb does not put out anymore light then a 6700K bulb. Your LFS just made some money off you. (I, also have been bitten by the 18000K 20 Dollar bulbs. Once was enough for me. Let this be your lesson.) Home depot sells T-8 bulbs for 6 bucks that are just as good, well, they are better (same spectrum for less then half the price).

Let us know what you want and we will help you on your way.

[bs6749]

Which one would any of you guys/gals suggest that I buy or stay clear of and why. Thanks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/48-Power-Compact...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/CORALIFE-48-AQUA...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/48-INCH-JEBO-ODY...QQcmdZViewItem

[rkilling1]

I would strongly suggest NOT putting 260 watts of CF over a 55 gallon tank until you have figured out what you are going to do about CO2. If you cannot afford to provide your tank CO2 then all of those links you provided are NOT good choices, even with 50/50 bulbs you are over 2 WPG of CF lighting.

[bs6749]

I think what I REALLY want is a nice planted tank that has a wide variety of plants. I want these plants to fill in the tank. I would like a "carpet" of some sort of plant (dwarf hairgrass would be nice if I could get it to grow)in a large section in the front. Lots of taller plants (jungle vals, swords, other neat/uncommon stuff that grows tall and bushy). Stuff that wouldn't grow to tall (6-8 or so inches) but has lots of leaves or places for fish to hide in/around/etc. for the middle and sides of the aquarium.

I don't mind having to trim every week or two to keep up with the plants. I don't want to have to dose ferts every day but once a week wouldn't be bad. I am interested in a VARIETY of plants but I want to make stuff look like it fits together, ya know? LOL. Maybe keep to a theme like south/central america,and what plants are found there, as my fish are from there. But then again I may see something that I like and just have to have it.

BTW - I had lots of anacharis... now I only have 2 stems left. Guess what? My limnophilia aromatica is doing very well LOL. I have NO clue HAHA. Aren't jungle vals lower light as well? I had some of them and they died. I think they were shaded by a LARGE aponogeton that I had, but have since thrown away. It must have been 24 inches long or more! Most of the leaves were on top of the water going half way across the tank.

EDIT: So anything over 2 watts per gallon I would have to add CO2? Should I give you my water parameters when I get a chance to make sure? If so, what would you need?

[rkilling1]

IMO this is what I would do, since you said that money was tight. (again, this is ONLY what I would do)

I would purchase some glass tops and throw away those plastic hoods if you have them and run to home depot and pick up one or two shop lights. I would make myself a canopy. I know the shop lights are made to light rooms, but for 8 bucks they do a heck of a job for an aquarium. I would also pickup 2 or 4 pillips 6500K t-8 bulbs. Now you have 2 (bulbs) x 32 (watts) x 1.4 ( t-8 vs t-12) / 55 = 1.6 WPG or with two shotlighs you will have 3.2 WPG. And this only cost you 14 bucks for one shot light and bulbs and 28 for two shop lights plus the glass tops( and canopy if you desire).

I have a shop light on my tank rightnow. You can't beat the light for the price.

With the money you save from the light, you can spend on the CO2!

EDIT: FWIW I do not have a canopy, I just have the shoplight laying on the rim of my tank. It is hidden by my other light fixture.

[bs6749]

I was just reading about Flourish Excel and you can add it in place of CO2 as a source of carbon? This might be the route that I want to go along with new lighting (2 x 65 watt instead of 4 x 65watt).

[rkilling1]

Originally Posted by bs6749

I was just reading about Flourish Excel and you can add it in place of CO2 as a source of carbon? This might be the route that I want to go along with new lighting (2 x 65 watt instead of 4 x 65watt).

Excel works well for a C source, but for a 55 gallon tank, it will end up costing a lot of money.

Originally Posted by bs6749

Aren't jungle vals lower light as well?

No, they are medium light plants.

Originally Posted by bs6749

Guess what? My limnophilia aromatica is doing very well LOL

From plantgeek.net: "A slow growing species that requries high light and soft acidic water. Propagation by cuttings."

http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_viewer.php?id=147

Maybe it's not limnophilia aromatica?