Non CO2 red plants?

[email protected]

Prolific Poster
Apr 24, 2005
72
0
6
63
Vermont
I have switched over to non CO2, 2 wpg, EI, and I was wondering what suggestions people have for plants with reddish colors? Most of the guides suggest that they need CO2 and "high" light.

Thanks, Bill
 

matpat

Prolific Poster
Mar 29, 2005
74
0
6
58
Dayton, Ohio
Re: Non CO2 red plants?

Alternanthera reineckii and Nymphea lotus 'Zenkeri' have done well for me at 1.5-2wpg without CO2. I even grew the A. reineckii at 70w in a 55g. They grow much more slowly but that can be a blessing.

I would suggest you try any red plant you want and see how it does. You may be suprised at how well they do with lower light and CO2 as long as they get the nutrients they need!
 

fosteder

Guru Class Expert
Feb 3, 2005
123
0
16
Rochester, NH
Re: Non CO2 red plants?

I read that Rotala indica needed "high to very high" light. I grew this in less that 2 watts per gallon of normal flourescent light. It grew like a weed too...

Read the article about light levels (I forget which month is in). It is very Illuminating......haha ;)

I would just buy what you think looks nice and give it a shot. I'm betting you have plenty of light, despite what common opinion might be.......
 

[email protected]

Prolific Poster
Apr 24, 2005
72
0
6
63
Vermont
Re: Non CO2 red plants?

fosteder said:
I read that Rotala indica needed "high to very high" light. I grew this in less that 2 watts per gallon of normal flourescent light. It grew like a weed too...

I would just buy what you think looks nice and give it a shot. I'm betting you have plenty of light, despite what common opinion might be.......

Did you get color in the Rotala Indica? Mine grew fine but only green. Same issue with my Ludwigia - it grows fine but doesn't turn red except for the top couple leaves. Ludwigia leaves also about tripled in size from how I bought them - not very attractive. I have some Limnophila Aromatica which gets nice light purple under the leaves. I'm really into the EI, non CO2 but this seems to be it's only downside so far.
Thanks, Bill
 

fosteder

Guru Class Expert
Feb 3, 2005
123
0
16
Rochester, NH
Re: Non CO2 red plants?

the rotala I had was sp. green even when I moved on to high light, co2 it stayed green.

I don't have a ton of experience with different plants in low light tanks (when I had one, it was mostly greens, and I was only worried about keeping things alive at the time), but I had a dwarf lily that grew very well, that was a nice reddish brown.
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,702
792
113
Re: Non CO2 red plants?

It's not "EI non CO2", it's simply dosing a little extra on top of fish waste(it use to be dosing merely the traces).

EI is just a rough guide for dosing that makes sure folks have enough nutrients when combined with water changes.

Non CO2 methods do not use water changes............

A reinkeckii does exceedingly well in my non CO2 tank


Regards,
Tom Barr