Plants for new tank.

[Lokkzer]

So I recently bought a 40g and am looking to put some Christmas moss in there. I like the way it looks and was gonna attach it to this ornament I have to grow on. Will it grow well with just a fluorescent light that comes with most hoods or do I NEED a Better light?

Also, I've heard that some plants absorb? Eat? nitrates. Is this true and which plants are they? And can I get away with them being in normal light, 12 hrs a day?

 

[mfdrookie516]

All plants consume nitrates. Some, more than others. Mosses typically don't. Your fast growing stem plants like anacharis are the ones that I like to call 'nitrate sponges'. There are also several 'floaters' like duckweed that soak up nitrates (but, duckweed is a pain to remove and covers the entire surface if you keep the nitrates up). With your lighting, I don't think you'd have a problem. Java moss would be a better option IMO, as it can live with barely any light. 12 hours is a pretty long photoperiod. I'd stick to about 8.