What light in this tank?

[Zappity]

What light would you suggest for my 5 gal NPT tank? my plants always die. I had just the light it came with forever, but then it blew out, and now I have some blue one the guy at the petstore suggested and they are still dying >_>

[Oldfishlady]

I would look for a 6500k bulb...

What kind of plants, what kind of soil and cap and how deep, what was your photoperiod, did you add trumpet snails or did you poke the soil, did you use a filter...how long has the tank been setup and tell us what the plants looked like as they declined

[Zappity]

What kind of plants; Amazon Swords, one small anubia (used to be wysteria), what kind of soil; flouresent blue gravel :P and cap;? and how deep about an inch.., what was your photoperiod; About 10-12 hours a day, did you add trumpet snails or did you poke the soil; oops, neither..., did you use a filter; yeah, don't know type or name though...how long has the tank been setup;since the middle of august and tell us what the plants looked like as they declined; Turned brown and died :P The amazon swords get yellow tips, then slowly turn brown, and they like, look like threads and then I take them out.
Thank you :)

[Oldfishlady]

Okay....I was confused....you posted NPT or natural planted tank and these are soil based with sand or gravel on top of the dirt/soil.....this makes a difference.....

Most plant failures are related to the wrong lights or too old of light bulb and the plants can't photosynthesis.....when its not related to non-aquatic plants or emersed-v-submersed growth or improper planting.....

When you planted the sword did you keep the crown above the substrate and the anubias rhizome was tied off to something and not buried-improper planting can cause them to decline, rot and die.....it is normal for some leaves of the sword to start to die off-they should be cut/pinch off the plants as needed....but until you get the correct color temp light (kelvin) you will continue to have problems.....

[Zappity]

Crap, sorry! I didn't know there was a difference :(

Where is the crown? I probably did..but they have pretty good roots right now. Anubia I left floating for awhile, till I realized it seemed burnt and moved it behind a cave in the shade ( I didn't plant, I just let it float lower ). Okay, I will get a new light asap :) Thank you so much!

[Oldfishlady]

The crown is the area at the base of the stem where it meets the root ball...with the rosette plants like sword, vals, sags...its better to plant too shallow than too deep....