Sunbird73 Posted September 5, 2010 Report Share Posted September 5, 2010 Not sure if this should be in technical or plants..... I have a secondhand 2x 24watt t5HO on a 76LX 40WX 43 H (around 33G) tank that came with 2 coral tubes (one is white the other is purple/blue). I have replaced one of the tubes with a powerglo, but can't afford to replace the other just yet. Can I grow plants with one of the tubes being a coral light? Which tube (blue or coral white?) would be best? (keeping in mind the blue one makes the fish look awesome ) Have some ambulia, rotala rotundifolia (sp?) that I want to put in it - any other ideas for easy plants (that are easy to get too)? Do I have enough light to make the rotundifolia grow anything but green? (ie. do I have enough W per gallon even if I change out both bulbs to powerglos?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted September 5, 2010 Report Share Posted September 5, 2010 i've got an 8w T5 14,000k over 50cm x 28x 30 deep and growing ambulia and cabomba well. Also twisted val, riccia, duckweed and tiger lotus, hydrocotyle and 2 new crypts. Plants not doing well are java fern (though new babies are very green), and bolbitis/congo fern - jury still out on that plant but the issue could be not much current making it sad. I started a thread asking about these lights and the consensus was that mine was within the range of OK light for plants, though generally suited for marine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunbird73 Posted September 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2010 Thanks for that Sophia, I will plant it and see how it goes. Got given a tiny bit of xmas moss too :bounce: yay for kind TM traders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 5, 2010 Report Share Posted September 5, 2010 The blue tube - marine blue is absolutely useless for plant growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunbird73 Posted September 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2010 Thanks for that P44 - I did suspect as much! I have the white one and the powerglo in it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish_tank0311 Posted October 1, 2010 Report Share Posted October 1, 2010 I also agree, but the white ones i dont believe are as effective either. You can use the same fitting for the marine light just get different 'K' bulbs and your plants will be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish_tank0311 Posted October 1, 2010 Report Share Posted October 1, 2010 i've got an 8w T5 14,000k over 50cm x 28x 30 deep and growing ambulia and cabomba well. Also twisted val, riccia, duckweed and tiger lotus, hydrocotyle and 2 new crypts. Plants not doing well are java fern (though new babies are very green), and bolbitis/congo fern - jury still out on that plant but the issue could be not much current making it sad. I started a thread asking about these lights and the consensus was that mine was within the range of OK light for plants, though generally suited for marine. 14,000k is quite a while off. Most plants i heard like 7000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted October 1, 2010 Report Share Posted October 1, 2010 A 14000K halide will grow plants just fine. Ferns in particular do quite well under it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted October 2, 2010 Report Share Posted October 2, 2010 most of my plants are doing very well. Only complaint is windelov and I don't think it's the lighting as there is a baby one sitting close to the light that is healthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted October 2, 2010 Report Share Posted October 2, 2010 the marine glo looks really cool though I have a brand new 24w that im trying to get rid of if anyone wants one... $20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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