Water Lillies in tanks

Hi all. It just occurred to me that growing lily pads in a tank would be a great way to keep ammonia levels down. Since the surface of the leaf comes in contact with atmospheric CO2, the plant could probably use up a lot more ammonia than a submerged plant.

I went to Home Depot Sunday and bought two Water Lillies, one for the 55 and one for the 65. The one in the 65 is under a 65 watt compact fluorescent tube, and it's growing like gang busters. It's sent three new shoots up already, and it's only been a few days. None of the shoots have reached the water line yet.

What a fun experiment! I'm not very familiar with CF tubes. How would it compare to regular fluorescent tubes? Woudl it be about the same amount of light as 2 40-watt T12 bulbs? If so, I really don't think it will be enough light. Water lillies generally need a lot of light. When I was studying their distribution, I never really found them in areas where they didn't get full sun all day long.

The other thing that may be of concern is that (at least our native N. odorata), they are really huge, too large for a 55-gallon I'd guess. But there are a lot of smaller varieties sold at the home stores, especially exotic ones that might fit the bill better.

For ammonia control, I don't think you need to worry about getting atmospheric CO2. A well planted tank will keep the nitrates (as well as ammonia and nitrite) exceedingly low. For example, for a couple years I had a well planted tank with a long-ear sunfish and many shiners. Never did water changes. Still have the sunfish, but in a different tank.

Just had a thought - if the water lilly doesn't work out, a floater like frogbit will extract nutrients well, and is easily harvested.

Thanks. Compact fluorescents are really bright, so they may match sunlight in intensity. I have floating plants in my other tanks. This one has a lot of current, so they'd likely end up squashed in a corner.

This tank has a big rock pile in it, so there isn't as much room for plants as there are in my other tanks.

The other neat trick for keeping tanks clean is to grow plants that don't mind having their roots submerged, like pothos or philodendron. I have some pothos growing out of a 29 high, and it really seems to be keeping the tank clean.

I'll watch to see how big the water lilly gets. If I have success with it under the compact, then I may look for a plant with smaller leaves.

Thanks.

What a fun experiment? I'm not very familiar with CF tubes. How would it compare to regular fluorescent tubes? Woudl it be about the same amount of light as 2 40-watt T12 bulbs? If so, I really don't think it will be enough light. Water lillies generally need a lot of light. When I was studying their distribution, I never really found them in areas where they didn't get full sun all day long.

The other thing that may be of concern is that (at least our native N. odorata), they are really huge, too large for a 55-gallon I'd guess. But there are a lot of smaller varieties sold at the home stores, especially exotic ones that might fit the bill better.

For ammonia control, I don't think you need to worry about getting atmospheric CO2. A well planted tank will keep the nitrates (as well as ammonia and nitrite) exceedingly low. For example, for a couple years I had a well planted tank with a long-ear sunfish and many shiners. Never did water changes. Still have the sunfish, but in a different tank.

Just had a thought - if the water lilly doesn't work out, a floater like frogbit will extract nutrients well, and is easily harvested.

If by compact flourescent you mean the screw-in incandescent-replacements, they are actually slightly less efficient than traditional straight-tube flourescents. You get fewer lumens/watt.

Good luck with your lilies!

It will be interesting to see how the lillies do with the current. In nature, they live in areas with very slow to no current, since the leaves need a still surface and the seeds need to be able to settle and germinate. But tank current is different from regular current - it doesn't necessariliy make the surface rough, and we don't have to wait for seed germination. As time goes on, please do keep us posted on the growth of this plant. I am very curious.

this was an idea I had the other day while out fishing as well. I want to try to grab some lillies, but haven't gotten to it yet.

No, these are straight, high intensity lights sold for the purpose of growing plants in aquariums. They're usually used in conjunction with injected CO2.

If by compact flourescent you mean the screw-in incandescent-replacements, they are actually slightly less efficient than traditional straight-tube flourescents. You get fewer lumens/watt.

Good luck with your lilies!

Are they the high-output T5s?

Yeah, something like that.

Are they the high-output T5s?

Compact fluorescent bulbs have the same tube size as a T5 but there are two side by side tubes that I believe are connected. I have attached a pic of a compact fluorescent bulb.

I bought 4 HD lilies once. They all died. Yours will too.

I bought 4 HD lilies once. They all died. Yours will too.

Mine seem to have come back. Are they zombies?

Compact fluorescent bulbs have the same tube size as a T5 but there are two side by side tubes that I believe are connected. I have attached a pic of a compact fluorescent bulb.

Is that what's called a 'power compact'? Lighting terminology is confusing to me.

Is that what's called a 'power compact'? Lighting terminology is confusing to me.

I think the bulbs in Compact Fluorescent fixture are usually referred to as "power compacts"

I think the bulbs in Compact Fluorescent fixture are usually referred to as "power compacts"

Yep. they're all the same. If you're not doing halides, I'd recommend T5's as opposed to CF's. CF's need to be replaced at least every 9 months, while T5's have a longer effective life and are usually cheaper. You need more of them though. It may all even out in the end.

T5's should be more efficient than cf. Due to restrike from the dual tubes some light would be wasted. T5's with a good parabolic reflector are very efficient

Yes! This is it! The water lilly sent a single bright red leaf to the surface last night.

Compact fluorescent bulbs have the same tube size as a T5 but there are two side by side tubes that I believe are connected. I have attached a pic of a compact fluorescent bulb.

Me want photos...

I put water lillies in my tanks all the time
arrowhead plants do about the same and well grow ALOT faster
 PICT3325.JPG   361.55KB   2 downloads

Robert,
Do you know what species that is? I'd like to label the photo.