Red Plants For Low Tech Setup

[minnnt]

Just wondering if there are any red plants for a low tech setup? Everything i have is green apart from 3 wendtii brown crypts, so wanting a different colour.

Any options?

Thanks.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Cabomba has a red variety, also Ludwigia can have red undersides, Alternanthera is green/pink, Some vallis has red tips

 

[minnnt]

Brill, thanks. May look for Cabomba then.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Its on eBay, seen it earlier

 

[Wigster]

Personally just bought my first ever plants for my new aquarium (as I think you saw as you commented on my thread ), so a bit of a newby.
But from what I can tell, one of the plants I purchased is labelled a "Alternanthera Cardinalis", which has nice pinky/red leaves, may be worth considering .

 

[minnnt]

Personally just bought my first ever plants for my new aquarium, so a bit of a newby.
But from what I can tell, one of the plants I purchased is labelled a "Alternanthera Cardinalis", which has nice pinky/red leaves, may be worth considering .

Thanks, will look into it then.

 

[coldcazzie]

TThe problem is that many if not all red plants require high light to stay red, otherwise they fade.

 

[minnnt]

Oh dear...

What would you suggest then for this setup:

 

[coldcazzie]

hmm... what about doing different textures instead of colours? Wisteria is quite different, as is cabomba (ps, I'm not sure if the Orange cabomba needs high light or not, so you should check that out...). Or different greens, so crypt Tropica has quite dark green leaves, and anubias barteri var nana golden has lovely yellow-green leaves, so they'd be contrasty? Also, a larger patch of brown crypts would provide a bigger contrast - you know, a huge clump all together!

Ps, moss is good for low tech too... there's several different kinds you could choose from.

 

[minnnt]

I have java moss and the weeping stuff, just waiting for it to take off really. Need to get some more \java for the new wood i have added. I have 3 wendtii brown, should i have them together?

 

[coldcazzie]

plants generally look better when in clumps, that's how they would occur naturally. Do you have the ability to get a few more? Crypts particularly can be really crammed in together, I've got about 17 in a space that's about 15 inches long, but only 3 inch wide, and they're quite spread out for crypts... I could easily double the numbers and they'd be fine and would look much better.

I know KittyKat has lots of brown crypts, but I don't know if she wants to just donate them as shes looking for swaps. Another 10 would be fab...

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Yeah I researched it after I said, the Red Cabomba needs high light, shame really... I just put some sagittaria subulata in my tank and I love the grassy look

 

[coldcazzie]

I had another closer look at your tank before I.went to bed, the crypts are quite spread out... you could do 2.patches, one on the left where your single crypt is, and another on the right. In which case, another 12-15 would be good, about 6 on the left side and the rest on the right with the other two

 

[minnnt]

Thaks guys. When i was speaking to the bloke at my usual LFS he advised me that Crypts shouldn't be planted too near other plants due to them not liking the competition for nutrients and light... Typical eh? lol.

Will source some more brown then from the lfs and go from there. Would love some anubias nana golden but i have never seen it for sale in the shops so may have to look on fleabay etc.

Will get the three Crypts together tonight and see if it makes any impression.

 

[coldcazzie]

You can buy the golden online - planted tanks have them for about £3-5, but obviously you have to pay postage...

As for crypts not liking competition for nutrients and light (edited: I mean, more so than other plants), I've never heard that before! You best ask Liz or Ian about that, but my gut says that's codswallop lol. I'll happily eat my words if I'm wrong...!