Amazon sword

[discusfishies]

Whats the minimum wattage i can have for a dwarf sword plant? Right now i have a 50 gallon aquarium with a Light 

Aqueon 48" single tube strip light with flourecent 40watt 8,000k full spectrum lamp. Is this ok if i do root tabs, flourine axis carbon simulator, and API liquid plant food every now and then?


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[ScottFish]

Watts per gal. is not an exact science (not all bulbs and fixtures are created equal), but you'll probably need between 1 1/2 to 2 watts per gal. for swords. If you can get more light on them to increase the watts, then you could add a iron root tab. Swords are nutrient hogs, but dwarfs aren't too needy.

[discusfishies]

Yea, I'm going to home depot To get another light fixture so now ill have 64watts.

[ScottFish]

Is this a T5 or a T8 bulb? (T5 is close to a half inch diameter; T8: about 1".) Most people feel a T5 bulb brings more light to your plants, thus the problem with the old watts-per-gallon rule. You should notice a big difference when you add the extra light. You might also get an algae explosion!

[ScottFish]

Also, another way to help your sword: perhaps you can develop the landscape in a way that the section where you are planting the sword will be raised higher in the tank (and closer to the light source). I have my sword grotto a good six inches about the bottom using stones and substrate.

[discusfishies]

Its a t8. Thanks for the tip! I just built up the subtrate and planted the sword so well so how it goes and I'm going to get some root tabs this weekend :) thanks for your help!