Anubias vs. no Light

Phyroath

Phyroath

Senior knowledge seeker
Jan 30, 2008
351
0
0
55
Phnom Penh
Hi there! I finally got Anubias (likely petite), the plant most wanted by me and after a long negotiation with my lfs.I have been waiting until no one wants it for less.

I am now keeping it with my Java Fern in my 65g tank with a 20w light but I turn light on for viewing at night only. Would this be OK to have little light for Anubias? No light is a shame however money to pay for electricity bill is another issue.

In my previous thread on Java fern, my Java Fern was not doing well in my 29G with medium light and CO2 (developed black spots on its leaves) but when I moved it last 2 weeks to my 65G with no light, it shows some signs of growing. I am suspecting something wrong. Is temperature an issue? It is cooler in my 65G one. To my thought, Anubias is just like Java Fern. Appreciate your kind helps and comments.
 
as long as you provide atleast 6hrs of light a day it should be fine. Anubias are normally low light plants and do better in low light as opposed to high (green spot algae magnet at high light). Also try and leave the shades open in the room so it can get some sun light perhaps.

EDIT: But then again its only 20w over 65g.. Whats the K rating of the bulb?? thats below low light.. I would get atleast 1wpg and then you are safe with keeping light on only a few hrs a day..
 
Last edited:
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]I am using Toshiba 2w T-12 Fluorescent- 4000K. Thanks BK. I would try adding 2 more and it would make 60w which is about 1wpg.

[/SIZE][/FONT]
 
Yup try adding 2-3 more if you can. Also if you can get new bulbs, then upgrade the 4,000K to 6700k-10000K bulbs. You will see a light improvement and plants will like the light better as well.

Are you planning to buy new fixtures??
If so then save your money and just get a fixture from ahsupply. Even a 55w kit would do magic in your tank.
 
Perhaps I would add one Toshiba 40w-T2 (48") for salt & freshwater aquarium but I am not sure if I can fit it with my hood - 48" is the same length as my tank (very small margin left)
This would give me about 9000K more. I don't have any plan yet in terms of a fixture. Currently screw the bulb to my DIY wooden hood. Plants in my 29G are doing well and I would leave my anubias in it until after I upgraded my light.
 
Phyroath said:
Perhaps I would add one Toshiba 40w-T2 (48") for salt & freshwater aquarium but I am not sure if I can fit it with my hood - 48" is the same length as my tank (very small margin left)
This would give me about 9000K more. I don't have any plan yet in terms of a fixture. Currently screw the bulb to my DIY wooden hood. Plants in my 29G are doing well and I would leave my anubias in it until after I upgraded my light.
Click to expand...

When you add on more bulbs/light you dont really add up the K rating. Instead add up the wattage. If you do add the toshiba 40w-t12 then make sure that the K rating is good for plants (6,700-10000K)
 
BK, thanks for this. I see your point however can I ask one more question. If I have a ballast of 36W with a 20w T12 bulb - does the ballast drive more wattage or I just get the same? I am thinking of something like an ODNO. I am hesitated to try this system.
 
the wattage you get is what the bulb puts out. If for some reason something was wrong with the ballast and it put out more then the bulb would just go out. And Ive read and been told that thats what happens when you overdrive a ballast for the bulb to put out more watts.
They sell ballasts at homedepot for $15 which can handle 2-4 t8-t12 bulbs. So i would just get that than messing with somethings that can only do 36w max.
 
As far as worries about the electric bill, I dont think you have much to be concerned there as far as tank lights go. 1 kw equals 1000 watts. Therefore, it will take you running your 20 watt bulb for 50 hours to achieve using 1 kw of power. The light company, if im not mistaken, charges based on kw usage. you can check the charge for kw on your next bill. If I am mistaken on this, someone please correct me..:)

The light is going to pull whatever the rating for the bulb is, no matter what wattage is provided for it..

Your anubias should do fine under low light. If the leaves start to yellow, youll need to up the amt of time you leave the light on..
 
Hey Phyroath, how's the weather at your end of the world?
Anubias and Java Fern can usually withstand upwards of 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Not much warmer than that. I've never really tried to grow submersed Anubias in your conditions. I do however have an emersed Anubias sp. growing on a lava rock sitting on my mantel. With that info, I would try it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom