Red Plants

[spongy]

I was looking at my tank this evening and have decided that I need more plants, real ones of course, no fake ones are going near my tank, and I've decided that I'm getting a bit bored of green, so would like some red ones,

None of my local LFS, of which there are quite a few, sell red plants, is there a reason for that?

Here is my tank...

And I personally think it could do with a bit of red in there, can anyone suggest a red plant that we can get hold of in the UK? And preferably a background plant as well too,

Cheers

 

[Livewire88]

There are a variety of red aquatic plants on offer in the UK.
 
One thing you need to bear in mind is that most red plants require particular conditions in order to keep their red coloring, the right amount of lighting, injected Co2, and a regular fertilizer routine will be required if you want to get the best out of your red plants.
 
I have a soft spot for aponogeton crispus red at the moment, (not cheap but look great planted in groups IMO) but you may have a different taste in your plants so I would suggest going on to any well known supplier of aquatic plants website and have a good look at the pictures of their red plants, you will also be able to find info showing what type of water, light and Co2 conditions each plant prefer to live in, don't be put off if a plant you like is not suited to your water as plants will adapt to any water conditions within reason, but bear in mind a lot of red plants will turn green if not kept near to their preferred environment. 
 
Have a google search and look at the plants on offer at either aquaessentials, thegreenmachine or Ebay
 
Good luck
Dan

 

[Zikofski]

i would highly recommend aqua essentials, i have been told buy a few people including my LFS that red plants require ALOT of light more so than green, i am trying this theory out with my tank by having my lights on for around 11 to12 hours but i am having algae issues i love red plants as well i have a few in my tank you can get some nice crpyrs that go purple in colour ish, i have 2 amazon swords that are supposed to be red, but well there not altho the big on in my tank is producing leafs well its not green but its not red bit in between but looks nice
 
 

 
Alternanthera reineckii lilacina
Alternanthera rosaefolia
 
bought from AE are very pinky redy but ar estruggling in my tank  in the above picture i think that is it looking very greeny reddy haha not is original colour but different 
 
also Crypto beckettii is a very dark purply green that adds a bit of colour to the front there is supposedly a red version to my Hygrophila Guanensis that is thriving in my tank the version i have is green but i would LOVE the red version
 
good luck with the red plant hunt let us know what you get and post some pics

 

[Livewire88]

Zikofski, 
 
What you have heard about red plants needing more light is correct, but what was meant by more light is More Strength of light, not more hours of light, this could help explain why you are experiencing an outbreak of algae. 
 
I would cut your photo period back down to eight hours or less 

 

[Zikofski]

yes i have that strength or should but the longer you leave the lights on the stronger the lights becomes like burning your self in the sun when the sun gets weaker you will burn if your in it longer so to speak thats my theory and SO19firearms is the guy who told me this but since upping my light to 11 hours my growth has increased, and that is when the reddish leafs are appearing from my amazon sword so the longer lights must account for something and, my algae is not caused my the light but other reasons that i know about trying to solve them, the more lights just means the algae reacts quicker which is annoying yes but means i need to find the cause and solve it quickly my BBA is co2 and my diatoms is ammonia undetectable with the test kits so i just need to solve those

 

[Livewire88]

Honestly, if your lighting is sufficient with your Co2 levels along with dosing a decent fertilizer your red plants should stay red with even less than eight hours per day of light. 
 
Out of interest what lighting are you using on your tank? are you injecting Co2? and what ferts are you using and how much are you dosing? 

 

[Zikofski]

i am over dosing but my ferts are questionable when i do run out of these current neutro+ ferts i will be EI dosing, i am injecting co2 + liquid co2, to help quell the BBA and i am using 90w of LED lighting

 

[Livewire88]

i am over dosing but my ferts are questionable when i do run out of these current neutro+ ferts i will be EI dosing, i am injecting co2 + liquid co2, to help quell the BBA and i am using 90w of LED lighting

 
Not wanting to go off topic any more from the OP questions so I will shoot you a PM to try and help. 

 

[Zikofski]

cheers livewire sorry for the hijack spongy maybe it will help you tho

 

[KirkyArcher]

"Red Ludwigia"  Iron Ferts and/or plant tabs are essential, My T8 lights are on for just 7 hours a day, and they appreciate some Co2 dosing too!
 
 

 
​ Excessive lighting will always lead to Algae issues 

 

[Livewire88]

"Red Ludwigia"  Iron Ferts and/or plant tabs are essential, My T8 lights are on for just 7 hours a day, and they appreciate some Co2 dosing too!
 
 

 
​ Excessive lighting will always lead to Algae issues 

 
 
How long has the Ludwiga been in that tank? looks like a new bunch..

 

[KirkyArcher]

Robbed picture lifted after Google image search 

 

[Livewire88]

 
Red plants do love their Iron. 

 

[Zikofski]

i have Ludwigia Glandulosa
 
more green but pink on the underside of the leafs'
 
and the Ludwigia palustris don't seem to grow i think
 
 
so many species in my tank hard to keep track of what is what and where all the plants i have are in ma sig
 
@livewire, i think this may be another problem iron i have no clue what i am dosing in my tank neutro+ but whats in it is questionable

 

[Livewire88]

neutro+ will contain some trace elements which is where you will get your iron from, but what amount of iron it contains I do not know, you could look into dosing Seachem Flourish Iron or similar or like Kirky said add some decent root tabs under your red plants.