Red Plants

[spongy]

Hijack away, I'm very interested in this topic.

Although reading through what you're saying I don't think I will be able to grow red plants.

I only have a low tech tank, I'm not using co2, I did upgrade to t5 lighting a few months back, I run them from 3pm til 10pm and I currently do not have an algae problem at all, but my tank is out of direct sunlight.

I do occasionally put some ferts in but I have to remember to do so.

I only have a gravel substrate in, none of this peat or other layers a lot of you guys use so its doubtful any red plants I were to buy would last that long.

I have been considering co2 but I only live in a rented flat, when I have to move, which I will do in a few years it will be even worse having to break down a stunning tank rather than just a good tank if you understand???

I should maybe just concentrate on a different green rather than a different colour.

Thanks for the replies, it's interesting stuff

 

[SLIM]

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. 

personally I wouldnt bother with Seachem florish iron, I would just throw the neutro in the bin and buy some dry salts and go EI

 

[Zikofski]

@SLIM that is what i am doing but until my neutro+ runs out i shall use that as it dose work some of my red plants are growing and staying red some are turning green
 
@Songy well it is up to you you can try some buy a couple and see if they grow? if not then you know not to buy them it is totally up to you but if you go with some other green's they are some mainly crypt's you can still get the purple crypts i recommended as crypt beckettii that grew in my tank when i had low tech no ferts nothing just grew slowly but nice and bushy oh and breaking down a nice looking tank is not to much of a problem after a while you may get bored of the scape and want to redo it that would be a good time haha but well done on not getting algae yet keep up what your doing is a very nice looking tank 

 

[Livewire88]

Good point but the only thing is with EI is that your trace elements contain your Iron, so if you want more iron in your tank you will also have to add more of the other micronutrients contained within the trace elements.
 
If you are looking to just increase only your iron supplementation you are better off going with something like seachem flourish iron. Or you could try and sepperate the iron grains from your trace element powder but good luck with that.

 

[Zikofski]

im sure i could buy iron in its pure form no?


would this not work  http/mistralni.co.uk/products/iron-metal-powder-fine-98pct-min?gclid=CIr-irSh47YCFRLLtAodXhIAng

 

[Livewire88]

You sure can but would you know how much to safely add to your tank?
 
I wouldnt want to risk it so would go with tried and tested methods, even if it costs that little extra you know you arnt going to harm any of your tanks inhabatants.

 

[SLIM]

Does everyone who has red plants dose iron seperately? Normally the iron in trace mix (dry salts) is enough surely

Or add this..

http/www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/fertilisers/dry-chemicals/dry-salts/chelated-iron-13-2-50g.html

For added iron in your trace if using EI. So you wouldnt need to just add more trace.

 

[Zikofski]

i cant remember but i think its 4:1 with ca i saw it somewhere in a post il just dig around and do some research haha but ye im not going to just scoop it in haha nor will i add any yet