Lighting And Fertilizer For Anacharis Plant?

So I’m starting up a new freshwater tank and I’m probably gonna ask a lot of questions over the next few weeks because I haven’t done well with attempting planted tanks in the past. I want to do it right this time but there’s such conflicting information out there. Today’s question concerns anacharis plants, as that is the one plant I plan to have in this tank. I don’t want to put a lot of different plant species because I think it will be easier to just focus on the needs of one type. Anyway, my lighting I’m sure was a problem before. I’ve read that for anacharis you need at least 2 watts per gallon. With my five gallon tank, that means I need at least 10 watts. The problem is, the best affordable light I’ve found that would fit my tank is 8 watts. Can I get by with 8 watts, or should I aI'm for more than 10? The next size up for that particular light is 15 watts and may be slightly too big for my tank, but it can still probably be laid across the top idk. Btw the light has white and blue LEDs. My other question is about fertilizer. I’ve read stuff about NPKs but I’m SO confused about all of it. Is there an afforadable and effective plant fertilizer that provides all the nutrients the plants will need? Also keep in mind I’m not gonna put any fish in this tank until I’m sure the plants are thriving, so it needs to be a fertilizer that provides all the nutrients the plants need whether there’s fish in there or not. I hope this made sense. I really have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to plants. I think my failure to have a thriving planted tank is what caused my last fish to die. RIP Fancyson. Help me make conditions for my next betta better.

 

TBH I'm not that great with watts and lumens or whatever the heck you are supposed to know about lights, but I've had anacharis under a low light and it did ok, but not amazing. I'd just do the 8 watt, and you can always fill the tank with anubias and Java fern. Water wisteria and dwarf water lettuce grow great in my low light tank, so you could try that. Bettas love floating plants for cover. I don't think it will make a nice tank if you only have one plant species! Just get a nice piece of wood and attach anubias and Java fern, then fill in with some wisteria or something. I like Easy Green for an all in one fertilizer.

 

First thing tho, the watt per gallon thing is outdated, especially now that we got LED lights that can give off way more light using far fewer watts. Nowadays, folks use PAR and stuff... tbh it's not that important to know unless you're gonna be growing something more picky than anacharis.

Most affordable fertilizer is soil. An inch of soil under 2 inches of gravel grows anacharis like no one's business. Aside from that, I guess there's always nilocg thrive or easy green. Both are all-in-one fertilizers. Relatively cheap, easy to use.

As for the light, they aren't picky. My mom once got them to grow like crazy just by keeping some dinky LED desklamp on them 24/7. Finnex Stingrays give mine enough light that they pearl regularly- they're in photosynthetic overdrive. They'll go absolutely nuts if kept in a bin outside in full sunlight. Nicrew or Beamswork lights should be able to grow anacharis just fine.

 

Anacharis is one of the easy plants, it should not require any more fertalizer then the normal waste in the tank, and the lights you already have should be fine, I am a plant killepartlt because I opt for lightbulbs that are less bright then the normal floresxent lights that come with the hood lights. And I have kept an anacharis alive on a peice of driftwood for years.

 

On my opinion ,5 gallon tank is too small for plants,fish and decoration.I think: first you may try to thrill plants then drop the fish in, but you may think you may need more than that when plant is grown good and the betta need a girl friend, and Where is the room for other fishes and other thing you add in?
To me ,10-20 gallons is match for my lowest start tank,before regret to buy 5 first then get 20 gallons later.
So! Let say you have 20 gallons tank for future plants,fish and decoration.( you will learn and go far more than that later,may be 50 gallons tank. and the fish is betta and the first start plant is Anachris
Substrates:This plant is mid light plant ,did not need the expense substrates,it grown well with even organic potting soil (but you must cap it with sand or gravel to keep it in place) and intert substrates.Read this and pick one you like but do not spend too much
A Guide to the Best Soil & intert Substrate for a freshwater Planted tank
Light:Which Kind Of Light Should I Pick? | Lighting 423322
Read my start threat .I do not think you need expense light for that easy grow plant and Nicrew is good and lowest price in all good brand for many low to mid light plant.Buy the one that fit for 20 gallon by size of the tank length.
Fertilizer:It has few kind of fertilizer,one for substrates ,another for water in tank, you can feed your plants through these 2 way.Feed through water ,liquid fertilizer is best or you can buy dry fert ,mix it and add in to water.This kind of fertilizer good for plant have air root ( your plant ) or floating plant like water lettuce which betta love to have.All in one liquid is what you might need.
Seachem Flourish Or Thrive C 500 ml
Feed through substrates, root tap or capsule is best but you may need this for the plant has root grown to substrates. .Read this thread
Best Fertilizer To Use In Gelatin Caps? | Plant Fertilizers 421407
Beside these thing,you might need chemical for water treatment during water change ,heater,water filter to circulate water for plants.
Good luck on your tank set up!

 

TBH I'm not that great with watts and lumens or whatever the heck you are supposed to know about lights, but I've had anacharis under a low light and it did ok, but not amazing. I'd just do the 8 watt, and you can always fill the tank with anubias and Java fern. Water wisteria and dwarf water lettuce grow great in my low light tank, so you could try that. Bettas love floating plants for cover. I don't think it will make a nice tank if you only have one plant species! Just get a nice piece of wood and attach anubias and Java fern, then fill in with some wisteria or something. I like Easy Green for an all in one fertilizer.

This was actually very helpful! I will probably go with the 8 watt light then. Another plant I was considering was Anubias nana so maybe what I might do is put Anubias nana in the substrate and float anacharis at the top? Idk decisions decisions. Also Easy Green looks like a good affordable fertilizer so that may be the one.

First thing tho, the watt per gallon thing is outdated, especially now that we got LED lights that can give off way more light using far fewer watts. Nowadays, folks use PAR and stuff... tbh it's not that important to know unless you're gonna be growing something more picky than anacharis.

Most affordable fertilizer is soil. An inch of soil under 2 inches of gravel grows anacharis like no one's business. Aside from that, I guess there's always nilocg thrive or easy green. Both are all-in-one fertilizers. Relatively cheap, easy to use.

As for the light, they aren't picky. My mom once got them to grow like crazy just by keeping some dinky LED desklamp on them 24/7. Finnex Stingrays give mine enough light that they pearl regularly- they're in photosynthetic overdrive. They'll go absolutely nuts if kept in a bin outside in full sunlight. Nicrew or Beamswork lights should be able to grow anacharis just fine.

Thank you for your response! I will for sure look into the fertilizers you mentioned. And I have choices to make with substrate as well.

On my opinion ,5 gallon tank is too small for plants,fish and decoration.I think: first you may try to thrill plants then drop the fish in, but you may think you may need more than that when plant is grown good and the betta need a girl friend, and Where is the room for other fishes and other thing you add in?
To me ,10-20 gallons is match for my lowest start tank,before regret to buy 5 first then get 20 gallons later.
So! Let say you have 20 gallons tank for future plants,fish and decoration.( you will learn and go far more than that later,may be 50 gallons tank. and the fish is betta and the first start plant is Anachris
Substrates:This plant is mid light plant ,did not need the expense substrates,it grown well with even organic potting soil (but you must cap it with sand or gravel to keep it in place) and intert substrates.Read this and pick one you like but do not spend too much
A Guide to the Best Soil & intert Substrate for a freshwater Planted tank
Light:Which Kind Of Light Should I Pick? | Lighting 423322
Read my start threat .I do not think you need expense light for that easy grow plant and Nicrew is good and lowest price in all good brand for many low to mid light plant.Buy the one that fit for 20 gallon by size of the tank length.
Fertilizer:It has few kind of fertilizer,one for substrates ,another for water in tank, you can feed your plants through these 2 way.Feed through water ,liquid fertilizer is best or you can buy dry fert ,mix it and add in to water.This kind of fertilizer good for plant have air root ( your plant ) or floating plant like water lettuce which betta love to have.All in one liquid is what you might need.
Seachem Flourish Or Thrive C 500 ml
Feed through substrates, root tap or capsule is best but you may need this for the plant has root grown to substrates. .Read this thread
Best Fertilizer To Use In Gelatin Caps? | Plant Fertilizers 421407
Beside these thing,you might need chemical for water treatment during water change ,heater,water filter to circulate water for plants.
Good luck on your tank set up!

Unfortunately I’m stuck with the five gallon as that’s what I already have and I don’t have room on my countertop for bigger. As for the rest, you’ve provided several helpful links that I will be looking into. I have a lot of research to do in the coming weeks.

 

As your wish.Go with 5 gallons tank.Good luck!

 

1 agree that a larger tank is easier and more rewarding.
But you can have live plants in a 5 gallon. You need some decoration for your fish to hide behind or in.
If you are still wondering, all I did was ties an anacharis to a piece of driftwood, the roots have become a large mass, and the plant is doing well considering the fairly low lights and no added fertilizer other then the fish and fish food waste. I also have about 10 moss balls that have tripled in size over a year. You might look into those, they require no care at all.