accellerating plant growth in a 20 long

[ozymandias]

Hello,

I have a 20 long, with flourite covered by small, natural gravel.

I am currently lighting it with 40 watts, at about 1675 lumens total -- or 25.38 using the measurement in the 'end of WPG' post.

I know that this is a fairly low light level, but I don't see an easy way to increase it from here.

I do not want to add a CO2 injector.

I am adding a little liquid CO2 (Flourish Excell).

I currently have java fern, some form of anubias, and water onions.

This is eventually going to be part of the sump to a mbuna tank, so the water will be fairly hard.

I would like to know a good way to get the plants to propagate more quickly and fill the tank a little better. I am willing to purchase other lower-light plants that will enjoy lower CO2 and hard water, and looks are not terribly important -- I just want to get it done fairly cheaply and with little maintenance.

Any suggestions?

I am open to putting extra light on it in the form of a desk-lamp for the short term to help establish the plants and get them growing if need be.

 

[mgamer20o0]

java ferns and anubias are well known slow growers. adding more light is really the only way to do it. also buying some of the faster low light plants would help too.

 

[ozymandias]

Any suggestion on low-light fast growers that would fit the conditions?

 

[t0p_sh0tta]

Wisteria, water sprite, many (most) floating plants, several hygrophila species, hornwort.