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Aquarist Forums => Freshwater General Discussions => Plants => Topic started by: Jason on June 12, 2006, 11:50:57 AM

Title: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: Jason on June 12, 2006, 11:50:57 AM
Hey everybody,

I was looking for some red plants to add in to my 33 gallon. What would be your suggestions and do you have any avail?

Thanks,

Jason
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: PaleoFishGirl on June 12, 2006, 11:55:04 AM
Red tiger lotus - very red and a very dramatic look for your tank!
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: Jason on June 12, 2006, 12:44:11 PM
I actually just pick up a little one from Toss. It's really nice in the new set up but now I want something that grows a little taller.
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: PaleoFishGirl on June 12, 2006, 12:52:52 PM
That's funny - they grow all the way to the surface in my tank
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: BigDaddy on June 12, 2006, 12:57:00 PM
What kind of lighting do you have over that tank Jason?  Most red plants require better lighting and demand better fert regiments.

A tall stem plant you could use would be A. reinickii... aka Red Temple

or

R. rotundifolia takes on reddish hues in high light, yet provides a more delicate looking backdrop

or

Red cabomba is a hardy, fast growing plant that has a more "featherlike" leaf structure.

All are available in the local stores or through members here in the club
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: Jason on June 12, 2006, 01:12:27 PM
PaleoFishGirl: Thats good to know, How long did it take for yours to grow to that size? Like I said I just got it from Toss and the leaves are only about 1" in size right now.

BD: I have 6 avail slots but only using 4 x 25w 6500K lights (aprox. 3 WPG). I could add two more 25 watts or change to 40w and put out a total of 240Watts (7.3 WPG) but figured that would be overkill. I haven't used any CO2 on the tank yet as I wanted to see how it would do with simply High light and ferts. So far everything I put in there THRIVES, so I thought I'd try my hand at some more difficult "red" plants. I'm going to google your suggestions but do you know of anyone in particular that may have some of there on this board?

Thanks
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: artw on June 12, 2006, 01:24:07 PM
High light and ferts without Co2 could be an issue.   you really need to have all 3 parts of that equation from everything I've seen about plant tanks.   even just adding co2 will work wonders.  I installed a 2 liter bottle of co2 on my tank on Friday and today the java moss and najas grass is twice as big
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: Jason on June 12, 2006, 01:29:11 PM
I have the C02 ready and avail but since I'm new to planted tanks I wanted to know that I have experienced both sides of the coin before I turn the C02 on. I really want to notice the difference. I will most likely wait until my renovation are done and set up the 108g planted built-in before I turn up the C02. I'm just kind of experimenting with different plants for now to see what my likes/dislikes are.

I'll say one thing for sure. Since I've tried planted it makes it very hard to want anything else. It adds so much life.
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: BigDaddy on June 12, 2006, 01:40:01 PM
I have r.rotundifolia... as do many others on the forums

I have a. reinickii... but not enough to part out yet...

Cabomba... I don't have... but it is at the auction regularly
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: apistome on June 12, 2006, 01:54:17 PM
Quote from: Jason on June 12, 2006, 01:12:27 PM
PaleoFishGirl: Thats good to know, How long did it take for yours to grow to that size? Like I said I just got it from Toss and the leaves are only about 1" in size right now.

The first time i planted Lotus, they stayed at the same height for about a month, then exploded with growth. sometimes plants need time to come out of shock from being transplanted.

Like Art said, be careful of the High Light/Fert combo without the CO2, you will end up with an algae problem.
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: PaleoFishGirl on June 12, 2006, 02:14:12 PM
Quote from: Jason on June 12, 2006, 01:12:27 PM
PaleoFishGirl: Thats good to know, How long did it take for yours to grow to that size? Like I said I just got it from Toss and the leaves are only about 1" in size right now.

I'm not even sure - a couple of months.  Like apistome said, once they recover from the shock of transplant, they just take off.  The leaves are starting to fill out and become much larger now, plus I have a couple of floating lily-pad type leaves too.

Quote from: Jason on June 12, 2006, 01:12:27 PM
I'll say one thing for sure. Since I've tried planted it makes it very hard to want anything else. It adds so much life.

I'll second that! :D
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: artw on June 12, 2006, 02:26:42 PM
me three. I will never go back to Africans.
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: Jason on June 12, 2006, 02:48:32 PM
I'm drawn because I have a nice developing colony of Africans which I find fascinating but there is something so peaceful about a planted community tank. In comes MTS  ;D
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: BigDaddy on June 12, 2006, 02:58:48 PM
Quote from: artw on June 12, 2006, 02:26:42 PM
me three. I will never go back to Africans.


Closest I ever came to Africans was keeping a pair of Jewels    ;D
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: artw on June 12, 2006, 03:13:12 PM
I turned down charlie's Ram because I do not want cichlids in my tank.  Any cichlids.   I will be picking up my 30 cherry barbs tonight.  My dream of having a planted barb tank is almost complete, muhaha
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: darkdep on June 12, 2006, 03:28:46 PM
Quote from: BigDaddy on June 12, 2006, 02:58:48 PM
Closest I ever came to Africans was keeping a pair of Jewels    ;D

That doesn't count :)
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: artw on June 12, 2006, 03:34:02 PM
ahah I just got BD's joke now, LOL
Hey APW do you hate plants too?
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: darkdep on June 12, 2006, 03:36:57 PM
Nope, love plants actually.
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: succinctfish on June 12, 2006, 09:44:17 PM
Jason,   we have some red cabomba, if you're interested.
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: gonzobluefuzz on June 13, 2006, 07:20:48 AM
Quote from: Jason on June 12, 2006, 01:29:11 PM
I have the C02 ready and avail but since I'm new to planted tanks I wanted to know that I have experienced both sides of the coin before I turn the C02 on. I really want to notice the difference. I will most likely wait until my renovation are done and set up the 108g planted built-in before I turn up the C02. I'm just kind of experimenting with different plants for now to see what my likes/dislikes are.

Have you thought about using dosing Flourish Excel?  Gets carbon into the water column in another way.  Kinda pricy but does the job.    Just a thought
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: Jason on June 13, 2006, 10:17:08 AM
succinctfish: I would be interested can you send me a PM with asking price and contact info?

Quote from: gonzobluefuzz on June 13, 2006, 07:20:48 AM
Have you thought about using dosing Flourish Excel?  Gets carbon into the water column in another way.  Kinda pricy but does the job.    Just a thought

Have you used Flourish Excel? Is it worth the extra $$
Were your overall results that good?
Title: Re: Red Plant suggestions?
Post by: BigDaddy on June 13, 2006, 11:13:10 AM
Excel does work.  It is essentially a complex carbohydrate that the plants can use.

However, on all but the smallest tanks, it quickly becomes a less and less cost effective solution compared to DIY

A bottle is about 15 bucks I believe...  if you wanna get the high light going without the CO2 at first, its a viable option