Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've had anubias do amazingly well under filtered natural light for about a year. And marimos too. For stem plants though, lighting is pretty much a necessity unless you've got really strong natural light coming in.

I run my tank without a light hood and it's doing alright, it's all about the amount of natural light your tank receives.

I've had my fair share of failed plant experiments over the years, to the tune of hundreds of pounds. But I've learned from those mistakes and now have tanks that are thriving, thanks to careful consideration of the plants and their needs.

My tanks all have different water and lighting conditions, and I've found that certain plants work better in each one. The stem plants can be a bit tricky, but the rest are doing great. I recently invested in a Chihiros Vivid 2 light with multi-spectrum control, and it's made all the difference.

My advice would be to hold off on buying plants until you've got a good light to support them. It's like choosing fish without a proper setup - it's not fair to the plants. They're living organisms that deserve respect and care. Take the time to research and choose a light with a decent spectrum, auto on/off, and dimming. You can even buy separate dimmers to use with most lights. It's worth the investment.

Trust me, it's better to wait and get it right than to waste money on plants that won't thrive. Save up for a proper light, and then you can enjoy a beautiful, healthy tank.

I think we aquarists often act on impulse. I made a conscious decision years ago to set up multiple aquariums, but I had to do it on a budget. For me, a tank isn't complete without plants. My approach has been to focus on low-light plants, just as I would in a shaded garden. This has led to beautifully planted tanks that bring me joy, even if they might not impress a tech-savvy aquarist. I've had great success with Anubias, Bolbitis, Java ferns, mosses, and Cryptocoryne wendtii. While the initial cost of these plants is higher, they're more likely to thrive.

I also have Vallisneria americana, two types of Elodea, and guppy grass. Some plants require specific water conditions that my tap water can't provide, so I've had to experiment. It's taken me a long time to get my tanks to where I want them, and after my recent move, it'll take even longer to get them back on track. My advice is to take your time. If it takes a while to get everything set up, don't rush. Consider using a room lamp on a timer for low-light plants like Java ferns. They need light, but it doesn't have to be from a specialized hood light. I've even used desk lamps with LED bulbs to grow some great plants, as long as I've chosen them carefully.