red plants

[Patrice]

Hi, everytime I plant a red plant in my tanks, it turn to green after a little time. first I tought my light was the problem so I raise it to 4w/gallon and did not have succes. now I am running a non CO2 thank with 2w/gallon and it's the same.
Is there any thing else than light that help with the red coulour or something I should know?

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: red plants

Well, as you figured out and illustrated what I've said for many years, more light is not better nor does it grow redder plants.

In general, low NO3 will make some plants redder.
But.....if you provide lots of PO4/traces, the plants will generally redder up even with high NO3's.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Patrice]

Re: red plants

thx,
when you said low NO3, you are thinking about what concentration

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: red plants

2-5ppm or so, limiting levels.
and that's the rub when you use high light...faster uptake depelets this razor's edge and makes it very tough.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Patrice]

Re: red plants

ho crap! I never tought it could be that low! well I'll work on that.

Do u know if it's the same rule for those plants we grow in paludarium like echinodorus and others? Would you limit the N in the soil or is it different for plants that grow terestrian.

Thx for your info

Pat

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: red plants

Yes, most plants will redden if they already have a fair amount of red pigment, the deal is that since the red pig has no Nitrogen and Chl a is very rich in N, then redder color will show through, this is a sign of plant stress,not health.

Aquarist seem to think it's healthier, this is simply not true.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Patrice]

Re: red plants

ok it start to make sens to me.
now, I am thinking how to manage my fertilizer routine to get No3 close to 2-5 ppm without having to add a little of it everyday. It will be easy in my non-Co2 50g tank, beacause the No3 uptake is about 3 to 5 ppm per weak witch is low.
The problem now is with a tank I maintain for a friend that have CO2 and an uptake rate of about 30 ppm per weak and I can only go there once every 2 weak.
should I:
-add more Po4? if yes what level would be enough to get that red I am looking for.
-add more fish?

 

[reiverix]

Re: red plants

Ever tried red temple? Easy to grow even in lower light.

 

[Patrice]

Re: red plants

I'll have a look to this one. do you know his latin name?

 

[VaughnH]

Re: red plants

Alternathera Reineckii v. Roseafolia This is a relatively slow growing stem plant, with beautiful red color on the underside of the leaves. Check here:
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/...s.php?id=58&category=genus&spec=Alternanthera

 

[Patrice]

Re: red plants

Ho yeah I know that one. it's a nice one. I got it from aquariumplants.com last weak but unfortunatly the shipping have been to hard on it and it died