Java ferns and java moss and anubias

[WyldFya]

java fern and anubias don't like alot of direct light. Not to say they won't do well but they are low light plants. They should only get about 10 hr per day or they will brown or get covered in algae. If you want to use the natural light which you really shouldn't do I would supplement with about 7 hrs of artificial light. Both java and anubias don't need much for ferts but they would like a general all purpose fert once or twice a week.

While anubia and java fern are low light plants, that does not mean they have to stay in low light situations. They actually grow much better in direct lighing, and high lighting. Mine are under direct light, at 4.8 wpg primarily 10,000K bulbs, at 12 hours a day, and they send up a new leaf every couple of days. They are vibrant and grow 10 times faster than when they were in partial lighting.

 

[justin]

Like I said not impossible just a control issue and able to know what your enviroment does. Also most likley with different seasons the sun is in different locations and unless you want to move your tank every 2-3 months or have it in a glass house it is more hastle than it is worth. The earth moves and changes angle dramatically depending on where you are. I live and florida and am still not close enough to the equator for the sun to be a constant month after month to be utilized through a stationary window. I could put a tank in front of a window that gets 12 hrs direct light in summer but in winter it might get1.

 

[WyldFya]

You can't do planted natural light tanks in a window. They need to be in an open space, such as a green house.

 

[justin]

Exactly

 

[WyldFya]

I stated from the start that they need full lighting all day long.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

HugeGhost, I believe WyldFya has answered your questions in his first couple of posts very well and comprehensively. That should bring you back on track with your planted tank .

Since this thread turned nasty , I am going to close it now. Please feel free to start a new one or send PMs if further questions arise or if you want to update us on your progress.

Just a few comments to set the record straight.

Good luck with your plants,
HarleyK

java fern and anubias [...] should only get about 10 hr per day or they will brown or get covered in algae.

That statement is pretty vague, since it does not consider wattage nor spectrum. A generalization is thus not possible. My anubias and ferns did pretty well with 14 h/day.

with natural light most of the time it is not intense enough for plants through windows and such. Most of the time they are just bright enough for algae to grow.

The most common problem with algae in tanks with direct sunlight are green algae/algae bloom. A sign of too much light. Algae and macrophytes use the same chlorophyll complex. If these algae can use that light, so can plants. It's just a matter of response time in biomass, but definitely not Lux.

with sunlight going through window glass some of which is meant to restrict uv rays which is not what you want to do for plants and then go through the aquarium glass and penetrate the water column sufficiently is a waste of time for most.

All glass absorbs UV. Have you ever gotten a sunburn by sitting near a window? The same hold true for your tank's glass canopy. Although its glass is thinner than window glass, it still absorbs most of the UV emitted. Matter of fact, UV is for the most part not needed for plants. A leading European company for aquatic plant care (Dennerle) actually wraps their fluorescent light bulbs with a UV filter...

Also if the sunlight is too intense the window and aquarium glass can intensify the heat and change the temp in the tank significantly.

Definitely right. But who says that is bad? In the wild, sections of water warm up and cool off throughout the day. It's a natural cycle, even often required to induce spawning in species that would otherwise not reproduce in captivity. But it has to be monitored.