Low light

[medic747]

Any good recommendations for cool low light plants? All I have is a florecent bulb just think it would be cool to have some live plants!!!

 

[Bradfish]

I have a 55 gal with 1 flouresent power glo bulb and I have several Jungle Val and Contrusion Val Grass and it's spreading like crazy. Plus they were under $2 each.

 

[mom2reds]

some java fern might grow and maybe some anubias plants

 

[fort384]

Lots of crypts will grow in low light as well... and java moss is very popular.

 

[mudraker]

You can also grow Bacopa, marimo balls and red dwarf lilies in very low light.

 

[medic747]

Any idea on how v to dose and test co2 and ferts I'm new and lost to the whole live plants ordeal, any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BigJim]

If you're new to planted tanks, start slowly with a low-tech tank:

Keep your lighting around 1.5 Wpg. This will allow you to grow a variety of plants, but avoid the need for CO2 or a strict fertilizing regimen.

I don't run CO2 on any of my tanks at the moment and I use simple fluorescent bulbs. I also dose some Flourish after a PWC. My plants do well with a little algae growth on the tanks with the most light and the most surface agitation.

Once you've got the hang of the low-light tank, you can think about adding CO2, ferts, and more light.

 

[medic747]

Sweet whats Wpg though

 

[BigJim]

Wpg = Watts per gallon. It's a rough way to figure the amount of light you're providing to your tank. It's based on T8 bulbs, but it works well enough for most other light types.