Can You Grow Plants Under A 20 Watt Bulb

Today I was getting the light bulb for the lamp that is going to light my betta tank. In this tank I am going to plant, java moss, ludwigia, jungle val, rotala indica, waterwistera, and some kind of carpet plant. The tank is 5.5 gallons and is really needing live plants. Can I grow these plants under that bulb. I could give the tank some direct sunlight too. If these plants need higher light can you suggest some that could grow under this light. I can post pictures if you need them

thanks a lot!

Easton

 

It should be good as long as the lightis full spectrum (6700k or so)

 

Spectrum matters more than wattage. 6500K to 8000K is your target range, should be easy to find a CFL bulb in that range.

 

 

I could place another table lamp without a shade right on the other side

 

Not necessary, that is enough coverage for most low light plants.

Honestly... if you want a carpet... invest in a higher output LED and ditch the chunky blue gravel. Can't grow carpets in gravel.

 

here is a video

 

May I ask your budget? A 16" Finnex Stingray would be perfectly fine on that tank and would grow most of what you want, carpet excluded (again, higher lighting, finer nutrient rich substrate).

 

Not necessary, that is enough coverage for most low light plants.

Honestly... if you want a carpet... invest in a higher output LED and ditch the chunky blue gravel. Can't grow carpets in gravel.

I have a total plan for this tank, it is going to be dirted with miracle grow organic and have a cap of some kind of substrate, I am going to insert clay into the dirt to give it nutrients btw do you have any suggestions for a cap for the miracle grow

 

May I ask your budget? A 16" Finnex Stingray would be perfectly fine on that tank and would grow most of what you want, carpet excluded (again, higher lighting, finer nutrient rich substrate).

Sure! I am planning on using some coupons that I have so all and all I think that I will end up spending about $30.00 USD on the plants and substrate, it is only a 5.5 gallon

 

It should be good as long as the lightis full spectrum (6700k or so)

Thanks Discus-tang!

 

I have a total plan for this tank, it is going to be dirted with miracle grow organic and have a cap of some kind of substrate, I am going to insert clay into the dirt to give it nutrients btw do you have any suggestions for a cap for the miracle grow

OK, good. As a cap I recommend either sand (1.5") or very fine gravel, as in 2-3mm.

 

OK, good. As a cap I recommend either sand (1.5") or very fine gravel, as in 2-3mm.

Thank you! The plants I want to plant would all do okay in the sand right?

 

Btw, I had no intention of trying to plant plants in the chunky gravel, that is on the way out

 

I have a soil tank. It grows well without any added nutrients. The only problem is that if the sand is disrupted too much the soil leeks like water out of a tank into the water. Sand works way better then gravel had a cap. Definitely upgrade your light. Try dwarf sag for a carpet that’s pretty low maintenance. If your looking for low light plants pm me I got some if you want to buy online.

 

@ MDplants could I use any kind of sand? Most of the sand that I have found is super expensive

 

I use 50 pounds of play sand I get at Home Depot for 8 dollars. Just get the cheapest one. The plants roots dig throuh the sand and into the soil. It’s really about coloration. Make sure you clean your sand before putting it in your tank.