Plants dying while waiting for new lighting fixture to come in.

[presto]

My 75G heavily planted tank has been scraping by on just 40W of light from the usual 170W for 2 weeks now.
My 2X55W CF replacement bulbs came in from the states(not paying $60 each at Big Als) but my ballast is now toast!  so I am ordering a 2X55 kits from ahsupply which means another 2 weeks of waiting.

I already am seeing my Ozzlot swords wilting away and other plants are starting to break at the roots and float up.

Has anyone neglected lighting for over a month and got their plants to recover?
Any tips to keep them alive during the wait?

Thanks.

[ottawa_fry22]

Don't think there is much you can do without the proper amount of light.  Most you could probably do if you havn't already is fertilize and hope for the best.  I use powered ferts.  Sorry if this isn't any help and that your plants are not doing so well.

[JetJumper]

Just out of curiosity.. Won't too much fertilizer for a plant that cannot use it efficiently actually burn the plant?  I know thats more or less true for non-aquatic plants.. but what about aquatic?

[ottawa_fry22]

It shouldn't burn the plants.  But it won't make them grow much either.  I'm thinking it would help stabilize them in the meanwhile.

[presto]

I've added some fertilizer and an old 10 Gallon light fixture angled to fit on my 75G.
Hopefully it will help a little.

[magnosis]

Not the most politically correct suggestion... but I'd go to CT, buy a 48" ballast & CFL's (they do sell some that are labelled as 'good for interior plants') and use that in the meantime.  Return it less than 30 days after purchase.

[Laura]

if you have old incandescent fixtures - add some regular energy saver bulbs to increase the light level.

[presto]

New lights have been installed and running for a couple weeks now and I am impressed.
I lost 20% of my planys for the almost month without proper lighting and got some beard algea on some decorations but now the plants are recovering and the algea is slowing getting back under control.