Not sure what category this belongs in so I thought I'd try this one.

Does anyone know of an aquarium plant that will grow reasonably well under fairly low light levels? (Fresh water.)

I've got a rather unusual aquarium (long story) But conditions are such that I can't provide adequate light for common plants.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Ask someone at the Pet store. All my plants die in about 4 months even though the Aquarium is next to an window and I have grow lights installed. My only other choice is to add a small metal halide or mercury lamp for more UV light - like they use in commercial Aquariums.

I was thinking to add a germicidal lamp but that may be too much UV and blind the fish.

http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Freshwater-Aquarium-Plants

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_freshwater_aquarium_plant_species

My brother in law in an insane...aquariumist??
Anyways, he says christmas moss
http://thm-a04.yimg.com/image/d2278cb1d162ae30
, java moss
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p254/pyramid_album/Java-Moss-Closeup-Leaves-02-s.jpg
and java fern.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/bigstick120/Java-fern-Tri-1.jpg

He says duck weed is good too, but DON'T DO IT!!! Its hell to get rid of.

But conditions are such that I can't provide adequate light for common plants.

Put the tank by a window to get natural sunlight.

Put the tank by a window to get natural sunlight.

Did you even read the text you quoted? :bugeye:

Did you even read the text you quoted? :bugeye:

maybe he is talking about artificial light.

maybe he is talking about artificial light.

Nope, all light sources. There's only one room in the house for the unit (it's LARGE) and the single window there faces south. The yard is also *heavily* wooded so not much light at all comes through that window. And I've tried all kinds of different light - incandescent, fluorescent, grow-lights (several types and intensities). The aquarium is just too large to light properly for ordinary-type plants.

Plus, even with *heavy* feeding, the fish gobble up everything - even duckweed (which floats). And I don't want to reduce the population because it's exactly where I want it to be. They breed just enough to keep the numbers stable.

As I said, try a metal halide lamp to solve your big aquarium problem

http://www.aquariumguys.com/halide-fixtures.html

As I said, try a metal halide lamp to solve your big aquarium problem

http://www.aquariumguys.com/halide-fixtures.html

I dont care for metal halide.

RO, of course any extra lighting will just make the algae grow more. There are some low light plants. Orleander told you some but i dont know much about freshwater plants. Some plants may aid in nutrient reduction so maybe look into that.

Nope, all light sources. There's only one room in the house for the unit (it's LARGE) and the single window there faces south. The yard is also *heavily* wooded so not much light at all comes through that window. And I've tried all kinds of different light - incandescent, fluorescent, grow-lights (several types and intensities). The aquarium is just too large to light properly for ordinary-type plants.

Plus, even with *heavy* feeding, the fish gobble up everything - even duckweed (which floats). And I don't want to reduce the population because it's exactly where I want it to be. They breed just enough to keep the numbers stable.

divide the aquarium up amoung several smaller ones, cut trees down, or make a custom cabinet with extra lighting.

Does anyone know of an aquarium plant that will grow reasonably well under fairly low light levels? (Fresh water.)

Try common hornwort - it is usually a floating plant, but it does very well being wrapped loosely around driftwood, rocks, etc. You can sort of "sculpt" it, so to speak. This would be my first suggestion, it is very prolific and grows in almost any light condition.

Also try cryptocorynes, anachris and some Sword plants (sorry, but I forget exactly which ones do best in low light, it's been a long time)

I had these in a very deep pond type arrangement when I had my pet shop - they all did well, except for the fish eating them. :bugeye:

This is one of the reasons that I recommend hornwort - the fish don't seem to munch on it as much.

divide the aquarium up amoung several smaller ones, cut trees down, or make a custom cabinet with extra lighting.

Not really what I want to do, Orley, I paid $3,800 for this thing and I like it. Removing the trees wouldn't really help much since the window faces north (did I say south before? wish it did!).

There's got to be *SOME* plant out there that tolerates low-level light.

Do you have to have plants? Can't you just put castles and boats in it?

Read, how about Anubias? I don't pretend to know anything about aquarium plants but these seem to actually prefer low-light conditions.

Some links:
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_lowlight.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anubias
http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Plant,%20Anubias.htm

Read, how about Anubias?

You know Enmos, I thought about those, but they used to be very hard to get and then they weren't all that easy to maintain. The "maintain" part could be put off to keeping them in "display" tanks, where the light may have been too high. It was also quite sometime ago, maybe they are more easily available now.

If you run across any, definitely give them a try. I remember something about them being particular about the soil they were planted in, meaning you have to put them in small clay flower pots filled with actual soil, as opposed to the common practice of rooting them directly in the "gravel" usually found at the bottom of fish tanks...

...Plus, even with *heavy* feeding, the fish gobble up everything - even duckweed (which floats). And I don't want to reduce the population because it's exactly where I want it to be. They breed just enough to keep the numbers stable.

have you tried frogbit? It floats like duckweed.

Thanks for all the *great* tips, folks! :) I'll do some research later tonight. ;)