Gangster Red not so gangsta

[Chickadee31 51]

Hygrophilia cordata ‘Red’ (in case you couldn’t recognize it). When I bought this it was so pretty. Gradually, it has lost all its leaves. New leaves are growing at the surface, but still pathetically bare stems below. Think it will fill in, or should I cut it back?

Also note my serious brown algae problem.

 

[fishorama46 21]

Stem plants, especially red/reddish 1s often need more light IME. That's why only the tips look to be growing well. I'd just let it grow some more, even across the top, before cut & replant. While I appreciate your diagonal layout, the lower stems may be shaded. Some hygrophila grow like weeds...which is why some are illegal in US. I don't think it's any red 1s that I know of. The way around that law is using named varieties rather than a genus/species only name.

I'm not very good at lighting...or ferts to help with them, so I'm no help.

Also your brown algae doesn't look all that "serious" to me. Is this a newly set up tank? It often goes away without treatment after a couple months.

 

[Chickadee31 51]

Yeah, this is a new tank, about 1 1/2 months old. I started out with not great lighting. Just put in the LED light, and all the plants are improving now. Just didn’t know if the leaves would fill in lower down. Some are shorter because the stems started to rot, so I snipped the rotted part off.

The brown algae is spreading. Started on just the anubias and now spreading to the other plants. Seems to be worse under the filter flow. I’m trying to be patient, but seems like it’s getting worse instead of better.

 

[GaryE11 9]

Time.
When we set up a new tank we want it to be like the aquascape photos, but when we set up a new garden, do we expect the botanical gardens? I do, and it drives me crazy. I haven't quite had things work out like that yet.
You're at the lots of weeds stage. Some plants will work, some attempts won't. You just have to be able to stick it out and look at the long game.