Light Requirements for plants

[Dave66]

At Lady Hobb's request, here are 10 commonly available plant species based on light levels. All light should be full spectrum, as remember, you're simulating sunlight.

HIGH LIGHT (4+ watts per gallon)

Alternathia reineckii
Ammania gracilus
Cabomba sp. (all species)
Glossostigma elatinoides
Elocharis sp. (Hairgrass)
Didiplis diandra
Myrophyllum (all species)
Rotala macranda and wallichii
Limnophila sp. (all species)
Nymphaea and Nymphoides (water lilies, lotus)

MEDIUM LIGHT (2-3 wpg)

Aponogeton sp. (all species)
Bacopa caroliniana
Bacopa monnieri
Barclaya longifolia
Crinum natans (both forms)
C. thaianum
Cryptocoryne balansae
C. beckettii
also
C. cilata, undulata, wendtii, willisii
Echinodorus sp. (all species)

LOW LIGHT(1 to 2 wpg)

Anubis sp. (both common sp.)
Ceratopyllum demersen
Vallisneria sp. (all species)
Egeria densa
Vesicula dubyana
Fontinalis antipyretica
Microsorium pteropus
Cryptocoryne affinis
C. lutea
C. walkerii
Lemna minor

There are several plants that are what I call 'tweeners', that is, they can be kept in low to high light. Riccia fluitans is an example. Floating, it can thrive in low to medium light, but can be secured to rocks, driftwood only in bright light. The Sagittaria clan will grow in any light, low to high. All the floating plants do well in nearly any light, especially the last low light plant; duckweed :) Also, the Hygrophilas are usually happy from medium to high.

Dave

[Lady Hobbs]

Very nice. Thank you!

Maybe we can keep this list and add others to it like Java Moss and Java Fern and others that come to mind? They may already be there but I am not recognizing them by the proper name.

I just got a anubus coffeefolia. (Does anubus have to be attached to wood?)

Thank you sweet thang!

[tropfish]

thanks! I want to add some plants to my 29g and this is just hwat i needed. We should sticky it.

[Lady Hobbs]

It is stickied. Takes a few minutes tho.

Hey, I finally found that plant I've been trying to get the name of.

Why is this listed as a tank plant? It is not a tank plant when you read about it.

LA PicSanderianas grow very slowly in tanks.

[ruecole]

Where does ludwegia repens fit into that list?

Thanks!

Rue

[squirt_12]

Very Nice Dave.....

[Dave66]

Very nice. Thank you!

Maybe we can keep this list and add others to it like Java Moss and Java Fern and others that come to mind? They may already be there but I am not recognizing them by the proper name.

I just got a anubus coffeefolia. (Does anubus have to be attached to wood?)

Thank you sweet thang!

You're welcome, Hobbsy :)

Java fern and moss are already listed in the low light category; M. pteropus and V. dubyana respectively.

Your coffefolia is just a man made cultivar of Java fern. It doesn't HAVE to be planted on driftwood, but it should be. To my experience they grow better on wood rather than on stones or gravel.

Dave

[Low]

what type of lights would you recomend for a 55g tank for plants that need about 4+ watts? i am in the process of setteing it up i have some of my plants in a 10g long with some lizerd like that puts out 15w per gallon and every thing is strong and lush but for my 55g i want long hanging lights and the light im currently useing is just a bulb u up into a heat lamp also for my 55g im going to add to DIY co2 injectors (dont have the money to buy a real one lol) do you think this will harm my fish?
Thanks for your time
~^~Low~^~

[Dave66]

JBJ makes a power compact four foot fixture that puts out 260 watts. Formosa DX is the name of the fixture. Coralife makes a similar fixture, which is easier to find. You can buy legs for both brands that will allow it to sit on your tank cover glass, or you can buy a hanging kit and have the fixture hanging down from your ceiling.

I'm aware 260 watts is more then 4 per gallon, but if you keep 30 ppm Co2 and use the EI method of fertilization, you'll have outstanding plant growth. With that much light, you'll be able to keep stem plants properly.

Dave