36W PL light enough for which kind of plants?

[toe_toe7]

I have a 5ft PL light (36W x 6 tubes). Which kind of plants I can keep? Thanks in advance..

[bossteck]

What's the dimension of your tank? Specifically, what's its height?

[toe_toe7]

I am having a 522 tank bro..

[AquaObsession]

It's quite weak for a high-tech tank, meaning if you intend to inject Co2 and doze fert to speed up growth.

However, if you plant to go for a non-co2 injection tank, with moss and java fern, or anubia species, it might be still enough. I am more concern about your 2 feet depth. Usually, if you want good growth a 2 feet, e.g having a nice carpet of glossotima, or E.tenellus or A.P.P, in my views, only a 150w MH lights will do the job, and for a 5 feet tank, you need at least 2 of those, best is 3.

It all depends on your growth rate expectation, water change regime/nonco2-co2 tank regime/plants type.

For my 4 feet, I use 2*150MH lights (high tech tank) (4*2*1.5 / L*H*W) (unlimited choice for plants/though I am not happy with carpet plants, so I do add another 4*54T5 occasionally)
For 3 feet, low tech, I use 3*39 T5 lights (3*1.5*1.5), sometimes I switch on only 2 blubs, sometimes 1 only. I rarely do water change for this tank. (limit to moss and java fern and anubia, crypts)
For 3 feet high tech (3*1.5*1.5), I used 150w MH light, or I used 2 sets of 3*39T5. (no limits on plant choice)

Cheers, Christophe

[toe_toe7]

so meaning if i keep those java or moss, they can keep without CO2 injection?

[AquaObsession]

yes you are right, they can be kept without Co2 injection.
With Co2 Injection, you aim at a higher growth rate, and you need to increase your ferts and your lights, such that with all inputs increased, the output (plant grow) is increased a well.

For non Co2 injection and no fert (less fert to be honest), read on Tom Barr non Co2 method, or others non CO2 method. They recommend less frequent water change (honestly, I change water 50% in a 3 feet every 4-6 months with no-Co2 injection)(provided you have good filters and small fishes), less fert dose as the plants will get the nutrients they need from the fish and plant waste. Lights will be low!

You will have to be quite patient, but if you are willing to wait 4-6 month to 1 year for a beautiful hazzle free maintenance tank, that's the way to go.
Just make the right selection at the start, and with low maintenance, it will grow out to a beautiful tank.

Cheers, Christophe

[toe_toe7]

Appreciate your input bro.

by the way, for a hazzle free maintenance tank, do you mean I don't need to do water change rather than just topping up of water?

[barmby]

Hygrophila difformis !!

[toe_toe7]

let me google it..:P

[barmby]

Hygrophila difformis should be good if you are looking for quick growth. This is my old tank when I first started planting. Look the left side Hygrophila polysperma almost dying.. while the difformis is surviving well. Also look, the Balansae looks like crap.. This is a common problem for tank withno CO2 and limited light source.



Eventually the nana in the rear succumb

[toe_toe7]

i see..without CO2, seems like it's quite difficult to maintain a planted tank huh...what about those CO2 tablets? are they useful as what they stated?

[barmby]

what about those CO2 tablets? are they useful as what they stated?

Sorry mate. No. I do not once believe these CO2 tablets work.

[toe_toe7]

i see..thks for all the information bros..really appreciate it..