Je55*e

Right now I have a coralife fixture with a 65w bulb over a 20g FW planted tank. Some plants do better than others (ex., Scarlet Temple not doing well, Red Ludwigia not so well, had mixed luck with Cabomba, sword plants doing fine, moss ball doing fine). I wonder if the lighting is a little bit too bright. I use flourish excel in addition (put it in once a week after WC) to a Hagen Co2 diffuser.
What do you think of the following bulbs for my tank? They're all 14W, which is quite a bit lower than what I have now, but they're all T5.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...t510000klamp24

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...colormaxlamp24

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...00kplantlamp24

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Nate McFin

I dont think the lights are the issue. What type of substrate do you have? Are you dosing ferts?
What is the water temp for the plants you have. For instance I kept killing a plant that was a cooler water plant.( My 80F water was too warm for it and kept killing each time I got it.)
Excel should be added every other day with a larger dose at water change.
How are the plants dying and how long were they in the tank?

Je55*e

I dose with flourish regular and seachem iron after water changes also. I didn't know I was supposed to use the flourish excel every other day (I read the instructions on the bottle, which says once a week). Thank you!
I have just plain sand substrate with some laterite mixed in, but I know it's not doing a good enough job. I'm actually about to buy some ecocomplete and replace it with that.
I really should have mentioned that. ><; Forgive me!
Once that is done, the lighting won't be too strong?

Nate McFin

It might be too strong for some plants and not for others. Proper planting of moss should help some with that. Try planting the moss and other plant "low" light plants under the shade of bigger plants like swords.
It is strong lighting but 3.x watts per gallon is not overkill. IMO your money would be better spent on a Co2 set up. As you increase light the need for more Co2 and Nutrients increases.
Any problems with Algae at all?


Scarlet Temple description-
LIGHT-very bright TEMP- 64-86°F
Telanthera roseafolia - Scarlet Temple
Hardiest of genus, it does require very bright light. A very beautiful plant of contrasting color that is hard to exclude as a mid level plant in any aquarium.

Having said all that- I have very good success with Crypts and Rotala which are supposed to be a little more demanding. I cannot grow Wisteria for the life of me. Everything on paper says it should do great but it doesnt like my water I guess. Sometimes the plants will just not cooperate so pick the plants that like your water conditions.
Best Wishes,
Nate