Plant ideas, any suggestions?

[OH10fiero]

I have just picked up a 65 gallon bow frunt tank and instead of just doing a new set up I decided to do something I have wanted for a while. I have finally gotten plants to grow in my 75 gallon tank, local water quality had me stuggeling on this, and it has become my favorite tank now. I decided to remove eveything that will eat plants in my 200 gallon tank so that I my add plants to this tank as well. What I need are suggestions on what I can put in this tank that will survive and thrive, now that I got the water quality issue workd out.
Here is what I have. 200 gallon tank that is 2'-6" deep with a homemade canopy that has two(2) double 24" 20w bulbs for a total of 80w. The lights are approx 8 inches from the top of the glass that keeps the fish from jumping out and the water is filled to approx 2 inches to the top glass.
Now for the reason I posted this tread here is because I have 3 Gars sizes 15in, 14in and 12in, as well as a Oscar that I have in my 55 gallon awaiting to be large enough to be placed in the 200 gallon without becomeing a meal, a second Oscar will soon follow. What I would like is suggestions on if I should change the lighinging because of deapth, and what can handle 3 ( will be 5 later on ) large fish that may get a little rough with them. Thanks in advance.

 

[WyldFya]

I'm going to put this in the planted section.

With the lighting given, there are VERY few plants that you can have. I would do no more than Java ferns, anubias and java moss in that tank. Now if you were to upgrade lighting, you could start looking at some better plants.

 

[demjor19]

you have 3 gar that are over 12 inches in a 55 gal. i think they are ready for the 200.

 

[OH10fiero]

I'm going to put this in the planted section.

With the lighting given, there are VERY few plants that you can have. I would do no more than Java ferns, anubias and java moss in that tank. Now if you were to upgrade lighting, you could start looking at some better plants.

What would you suggest? How much more lighting should I add given the depth of the tank? The canopy I made is homemade from wood so upgrading the light fixtures is no issue, what ever will get the job done. But most books I have read only cover tanks that are your typical 75 gallon, my tank is much taller than that and I also know from my readings that the light intensity will be lost due to that depth. So with plant suggestions I am also looking for what else needs to be upgraded (if needed) to accomidate the plants to be healthy.

 

[WyldFya]

Read the stickies in this section, they will help quite a bit. I'd personally recommend that you use HO T5 bulbs, or MH bulbs, considering your depth.