Need suggestions for low-light 5 gallon, no CO2.

CaysE · 08-29-2006, 10:17 AM

I recently got an Eclipse hex 5 gallon which comes with a 15watt compact flourescent (I think it's 5500K). This works out to 3wpg but at such a small lumen rating it must be low light. I don't wish to use CO2 as there is very little room already, and still need a heater. Right now there is a nice piece of malaysian driftwood with some java moss on one end, and some Ludwigia repens in the back, and one ramshorn snail.

I would like some suggestions on small, low-light, ambient CO2 plants that I could put in here. Will the L.repens survive in here or should I put it back in my regular tank? Eco-complete is the substrate.

Puffer Pita · 08-29-2006, 10:54 AM

The watt per gallon ratio breaks down in smaller tanks, so yes, you have a low light tank. Anubias and crypts are great. The repens will probably survive but might not grow very fast. You can go to www.plantgeek.net and look at their plant guide. They have them categorized by lighting requirements, ease, etc.

CaysE · 08-29-2006, 11:14 AM

I'm looking on there now but they don't say how big each plant gets. I'm thinking of a couple of nana petite on the driftwood and dwarf sag in the foreground. I think I'll replace the L.repens with hornwort, too.

Anything else?

Puffer Pita · 08-29-2006, 11:38 AM

I would go with regular Anubias nana for the driftwood. Nana petite, the entire plant, gets to be about the size of a 50 cent piece. Its really tiny and is really expensive, averaging about $7 per plant from the places that I've seen it sold (hard to find, too). A.nana would be better, IMO. Hornwort shouldn't be planted or the parts that are planted will rot. Chain sword would be a better option IMO than dwarf sag, which can grow rather long.

**Damon** · 08-29-2006, 11:42 AM

Chain sword will have a hard time growing in that environment. And neither will stay short with that amount of lighting. I do agree with the A. nana and java fern. Just remember, most plants will get big (ever seen a java fern mother plant?). Crypts will get big also but these will grow slow so that shouldn't be a problem. Aponogetons are another suggestion but will grow tall. You will just have to prune

CaysE · 08-29-2006, 11:57 AM

Is there a plus side to the A.nana besides price?

**Damon** · 08-29-2006, 11:59 AM

Pretty plant, stays small, grows slow. Doesn't need much light.

CaysE · 08-29-2006, 12:05 PM

I mean comparing the regular nana vs. the petite. The regular nana costs less, but are there any other pluses? I personally like how small the petite is.

**Damon** · 08-29-2006, 12:18 PM

Petite is a little more difficult to grow (not much). Other than size there is no difference. Let me see if I can find some pics.

**Damon** · 08-29-2006, 12:24 PM

Anubias nana. http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_anubias.php
http://www.plantgeek.net/images/plantpics/nana.jpg

Petite. http://www.plantgeek.net/images/plan...nanapetite.jpg

Hope they help.

CaysE · 08-29-2006, 02:31 PM

hmm tough call. Maybe i'll get one of each and go for a tiered effect on the wood.

**Damon** · 08-29-2006, 02:50 PM

That sounds like a very good idea. It will add depth to your tank also.

08-29-2006, 10:17 AM	#1
CaysE Stowaway Winner Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bloomfield, NJ Age: 29 Posts: 311	Need suggestions for low-light 5 gallon, no CO2. I recently got an Eclipse hex 5 gallon which comes with a 15watt compact flourescent (I think it's 5500K). This works out to 3wpg but at such a small lumen rating it must be low light. I don't wish to use CO2 as there is very little room already, and still need a heater. Right now there is a nice piece of malaysian driftwood with some java moss on one end, and some Ludwigia repens in the back, and one ramshorn snail. I would like some suggestions on small, low-light, ambient CO2 plants that I could put in here. Will the L.repens survive in here or should I put it back in my regular tank? Eco-complete is the substrate. __________________ 20gal tall! The display tank. Flourite substrate, Nutrafin CO2 system, Aquaclear 50, 55W 6.5k bulb @ 10hrs, 65W 10k bulb @ 2hrs, 100W Visi-Therm 4 furcata rainbows (and 8 fry!), 1 albino longfin bristlenose pleco, 6 crystal red shrimp, ramshorn & physa snails 5gal hex! Mini planted tank Eclipse Hex5 with Eco-Complete substrate, 25W heater, 1 male crowntail betta, some ramshorn and physa snails.

08-29-2006, 10:54 AM	#2
Puffer Pita Puffer Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,677	The watt per gallon ratio breaks down in smaller tanks, so yes, you have a low light tank. Anubias and crypts are great. The repens will probably survive but might not grow very fast. You can go to www.plantgeek.net and look at their plant guide. They have them categorized by lighting requirements, ease, etc. __________________ Tina Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2 Colomesus asellus x1 Tetraodon travancoricus x1 Tetraodon biocellatus x2 Tetraodon nigroviridis x1 Tetraodon baileyi x2 Tetraodon lineatus x1 Tetraodon palembangensis x1 The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. - Mohandas Gandhi

08-29-2006, 11:14 AM	#3
CaysE Stowaway Winner Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bloomfield, NJ Age: 29 Posts: 311	I'm looking on there now but they don't say how big each plant gets. I'm thinking of a couple of nana petite on the driftwood and dwarf sag in the foreground. I think I'll replace the L.repens with hornwort, too. Anything else? __________________ 20gal tall! The display tank. Flourite substrate, Nutrafin CO2 system, Aquaclear 50, 55W 6.5k bulb @ 10hrs, 65W 10k bulb @ 2hrs, 100W Visi-Therm 4 furcata rainbows (and 8 fry!), 1 albino longfin bristlenose pleco, 6 crystal red shrimp, ramshorn & physa snails 5gal hex! Mini planted tank Eclipse Hex5 with Eco-Complete substrate, 25W heater, 1 male crowntail betta, some ramshorn and physa snails. Last edited by CaysE; 08-29-2006 at 11:18 AM.

08-29-2006, 11:38 AM	#4
Puffer Pita Puffer Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,677	I would go with regular Anubias nana for the driftwood. Nana petite, the entire plant, gets to be about the size of a 50 cent piece. Its really tiny and is really expensive, averaging about $7 per plant from the places that I've seen it sold (hard to find, too). A.nana would be better, IMO. Hornwort shouldn't be planted or the parts that are planted will rot. Chain sword would be a better option IMO than dwarf sag, which can grow rather long. __________________ Tina Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2 Colomesus asellus x1 Tetraodon travancoricus x1 Tetraodon biocellatus x2 Tetraodon nigroviridis x1 Tetraodon baileyi x2 Tetraodon lineatus x1 Tetraodon palembangensis x1 The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. - Mohandas Gandhi

08-29-2006, 11:42 AM	#5
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Chain sword will have a hard time growing in that environment. And neither will stay short with that amount of lighting. I do agree with the A. nana and java fern. Just remember, most plants will get big (ever seen a java fern mother plant?). Crypts will get big also but these will grow slow so that shouldn't be a problem. Aponogetons are another suggestion but will grow tall. You will just have to prune __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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08-29-2006, 11:57 AM	#6
CaysE Stowaway Winner Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bloomfield, NJ Age: 29 Posts: 311	Is there a plus side to the A.nana besides price? __________________ 20gal tall! The display tank. Flourite substrate, Nutrafin CO2 system, Aquaclear 50, 55W 6.5k bulb @ 10hrs, 65W 10k bulb @ 2hrs, 100W Visi-Therm 4 furcata rainbows (and 8 fry!), 1 albino longfin bristlenose pleco, 6 crystal red shrimp, ramshorn & physa snails 5gal hex! Mini planted tank Eclipse Hex5 with Eco-Complete substrate, 25W heater, 1 male crowntail betta, some ramshorn and physa snails.

08-29-2006, 11:59 AM	#7
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Pretty plant, stays small, grows slow. Doesn't need much light. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

08-29-2006, 12:05 PM	#8
CaysE Stowaway Winner Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bloomfield, NJ Age: 29 Posts: 311	I mean comparing the regular nana vs. the petite. The regular nana costs less, but are there any other pluses? I personally like how small the petite is. __________________ 20gal tall! The display tank. Flourite substrate, Nutrafin CO2 system, Aquaclear 50, 55W 6.5k bulb @ 10hrs, 65W 10k bulb @ 2hrs, 100W Visi-Therm 4 furcata rainbows (and 8 fry!), 1 albino longfin bristlenose pleco, 6 crystal red shrimp, ramshorn & physa snails 5gal hex! Mini planted tank Eclipse Hex5 with Eco-Complete substrate, 25W heater, 1 male crowntail betta, some ramshorn and physa snails.

08-29-2006, 12:18 PM	#9
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Petite is a little more difficult to grow (not much). Other than size there is no difference. Let me see if I can find some pics. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

08-29-2006, 12:24 PM	#10
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Anubias nana. http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_anubias.php http://www.plantgeek.net/images/plantpics/nana.jpg Petite. http://www.plantgeek.net/images/plan...nanapetite.jpg Hope they help. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

08-29-2006, 02:31 PM	#11
CaysE Stowaway Winner Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bloomfield, NJ Age: 29 Posts: 311	hmm tough call. Maybe i'll get one of each and go for a tiered effect on the wood. __________________ 20gal tall! The display tank. Flourite substrate, Nutrafin CO2 system, Aquaclear 50, 55W 6.5k bulb @ 10hrs, 65W 10k bulb @ 2hrs, 100W Visi-Therm 4 furcata rainbows (and 8 fry!), 1 albino longfin bristlenose pleco, 6 crystal red shrimp, ramshorn & physa snails 5gal hex! Mini planted tank Eclipse Hex5 with Eco-Complete substrate, 25W heater, 1 male crowntail betta, some ramshorn and physa snails.

08-29-2006, 02:50 PM	#12
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	That sounds like a very good idea. It will add depth to your tank also. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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