Re: Does LUX Matter?

I hope that our comments on low light approach to planting a tank
would encourage some people that might be put off by the various hi
tech and hi light methods.  Low light planting offer a more care free
option.   I shop only online as I have no LFS.  It is too bad that
there is not a category of "Low Light Plants."  I go to one site that
does show the desirable lighting, but only after selecting one
species.  A couple of on line stores do offer a package of low light
plants.  

I did go to one LFS on my way home that had a plant book and he did
look up the plant lighting and I was able to get some starter plants
for my first tank.



On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 11:08:44 -0500, Greg
G.<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 04:37:46 -0600, Dick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>wrote:
>
>>Greg, I wonder if everyone wants the same plants you do.  I have 5
>>tanks with  low light and a variety of plants.  I know I can't have
>>the majority of the many varieties, but the plants, including Anubias,
>>are doing their biological thing and providing nooks and crannies the
>>fish seem to enjoy.  
>
>I don't have a problem with low light plants - I have quite a few.
>I never stated that I didn't like them, I was simply warning the
>original poster that his "futile attempts to grow plants in my fish
>tank" were probably based upon improper plant and lighting selection,
>and that throwing money at some vendor based upon murky claims of
>higher light output were wasted dollars.
>
>>I am not much of a gardener outside or inside, but when I finally
>>bought low light plants I was pleasantly surprised with the growth,
>>color, and variety I was successfully growing.
>
>Again, I pointed out that he could grow anubias, crypts, java ferns,
>and others.  But most of these are hard, if not impossible to find at
>the local fish store.  They generally carry medium to high light
>plants - banana plants, hornwarts, cabomba sp., bacopa sp., etc.
>
>>I admire the beautifully planted tanks I have seen, but have seen one
>>30 gallon tank that I had to look carefully to see the plants were
>>made of silk.  Beauty and variety are important, but I am quite
>>satisfied to have a tank that functions well even if the varieties
>>available to me are limited.
>
>Perhaps you have me confused with the O.P.  Again, I simply pointed
>out that if he wants to grow many species of plants, more light is
>necessary than is available from 2 20-watt N.O. tubes - of any type.
>
>But with that in mind, look here for some selection criteria on
>selecting low light plants for use with minimal lighting:
>
>http://www.tropica.com/default.asp
>
>Greg