Which are the "extremely" low light plants?

[swanandmokashi]

the 29 gallon I am setting up has just 17 watts of light .I have no money right now to upgrade to brighter light I know this is extremely low light with wpg <1.

What are my plant options if any ? I am sure going to drop in a few aponogeton bulbs. Anything else?

 

[Fruitbat]

Anubias species, many Cryptocoryne species, Java Fern (Microsorium pteropus) and Hornwort (Ceratophyllum) will all do fairly well at that light level.

 

[medge00]

possibly anachris (whoa, I think i'm way off on spelling that). hornwort will probably do quite well

 

[shawmutt]

Second the java fern. I had a bunch in a 30 gallon tank with 20W NO. It was actually pearling at one point. It's in my gallery. I wouldn't recommend the amazon sword you see in the background that was a mistake.

 

[swanandmokashi]

thanks everyone !
Will a DIY CO2 help in my case?

 

[malkore]

under low light, no. until you hit 1.5wpg there's no need to add extra CO2 as the plants just don't need it.

 

[William]

I disagree on the Hornwort and Javafern.


I had 20watts of light on my 29gal, and the Hornwort and Javafern eventually decayed into nothingness.

17-20ish just don't have the power to penetrate deep into the tank, because 29's are a tall tank they require more lighting to get the same effect.


I learned that the hard way. Even with 40-ish watts of light on it plants wouldn't grow.

 

[Fruitbat]

Interesting, William....

Until I bought my new light fixture I had 15watts on a 26 gallon bow-front and my Java Fern grew like a weed! I've always had luck with Hornwort in low-light tanks as well.

 

[William]

How deep was the tank tho?

a 29 is like...18-20 inches deep, so its harder for light to reach the bottom than, say, in a 12inch tank.

 

[swanandmokashi]

18 inches deep

 

[William]

Who knows, then?

Seems I am cursed with the 1 in a million odds for everything to go wrong

I mean, seriously...I can even kill Javafern and Javamoss.

 

[Mr Burns]

I can even kill Javafern and Javamoss.

8O wow...

 

[Gunnie]

I thought this might be helpful. I am in the same boat you are:

http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=1&filter_by=2

 

[swanandmokashi]

thanks ! great link

 

[SaltwaterDreams]

in fact i am also looking for some intersting plants that might be better at a lower light. at the moment i am debating heavily on java moss as i have heard it can tend to be a mess. but i do have a pennywort that is doing wonderful with my 15wts. Luck have it, hope it doesn't die off ~jinx~