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i would like to know what species u use as ground cover i already have that mini hair grass stuff but it just doesnt seem to growing fast enough i realy havent seen too much growth at all, it also looks like it is turning a brown color, is it my lighting? it is the standard lighting for a 29 gallon hood, and my other plants seem alright, but im going to be moving the scape around, where should i plant it? i plant in 2 corners on oppisit sides of the tank , on 1 side it seems to be doing just fine, but on the other side, it is turning all brown whats going on, and what kinds of ground cover can i use? i want it to take over the tank bottom, so i will plant it after i get the other plants how i want them, i would like it to be very short, or somthing i can trim short, but takes over the tank very quickly, if that possible

To get anything that is short and grows fast, you will most likely need to up you lights to 2+ WPG maybe even more. I use E. tenellus, which grows fast, but isn't very very short. For these to grow well medium lighting is needed. Take a look at [link=Tropica]http://www.tropica.com [/link] for plants with pics and information on them.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 03-May-2005 21:17

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

If you are using the standard tank lighting you don't have a lot of options. Ground cover plants generally require higher lighting simply because they are so far from the light.

They sound like they are dying from a lack of light. Putting them in the corners is the wrong place. The corners are generally the darkest part of the tank. Better to plant in the middle and let them spread outwards.

Really the only thing that will grow in that light is crypts but these are too big for ground cover unless you can find C.Parva. Anubias Nana Petite can be used but this is definately not fast growing.

The carpet effect of ground cover plants can only be achieved with plenty of light and nutrition, neither of which can be supplied with your current set up

Last edited by bensaf at 03-May-2005 21:52

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

if u want ground cover fast...what else but java moss..its undemanding and will cover u ground the fastest.

where can i find a higher wattage light bulb? i know walmart doesnt have any that is higher, and for aquariums too, and also, the glass betwen the bulb and the water, is severly cracked (thats how it came) i am afariad to clean it because it is so bad, where can i get a new piece of glass to silicone into plac, i know u cant have nothing between the bulb and water, but, im having trouble finding what to use and could i use a regular floresant bulb to put in there? i can get a good high wattage if i do that

Here's a good place to start looking for lighting. To get the wattage necessary for carpet plants, compact flourescent lighting is your best bet. For a 29 gallon tank, which is on the tall side, you'll probably need closer to 3 WPG for the traditional carpet plants like glosso, etc.

Any fairly small plants grown in high lighting will stay short and almost carpet forming. Right now I have crypt wendtii covering the middle ground of my tank, with smaller leaves almost flat on the substrate. They're sending out more leaves and runners every day, and the result is a carpet effect - with plants that can reach 10+ inches tall no less Work with what you can

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Back in the saddle!

wattage is dependent on length of the bulb. To get more light you either need a longer fixture, more bulbs, or power compacts. Compact bulbs are bent in a U shape or for screw in bulbs they are wrapped around themselves making a long bulb that fits in a smaller space. You can't just add a higher watt bulb to your current fixture. Basically to get more light you need to buy a new light strip for your tank or a compact retrofit kit.

For a deep tank like a 29g, try multiple bulbs with different light temps. Like have one strip with an 18,000k bulb, one with a 6,700k bulb, and one with a 5,200k bulb. That way you can get different colors of the spectrum that reach to different depths, without depriving the plants of the proper color they need. 18,000k light will go very deep underwater...it's great for deep tanks...the only problem is that everything looks blanched because it's a weird color. 6,700k light goes to a reasonable depth, but it'll be dark on the bottom...most plants do best in 6,700k. Anything lower than 6,700k won't go very deep, but will provide floating/tall plants with the light they need.

Good luck

could u provide pictures? im having trouble picturing some of those bulbs, i know the one that is bent in half, then in half again, i have those in my lamp, but do they make those for the realy long fixtures?, its not like an incandesant where u can only have 2 bulbs (not 1 realy long one) its realy long. i will see if i can hunt up a pic of it

the bulb

the fixture

with the fixture, it has 1 bulb, and has the holder too (if u know what i mean)

Last edited by fishyhelper288 at 05-May-2005 08:43