Why red plant can't grow in my tank???

[Nicholas Tay]

I am very disturbed by the fact that red plant just can't grow in my tank. However, my green plant doesn't seems to have any problem. Anyone has any suggestions please? Is it fertilizer? Lighting? or what?

Facts abt my tank: 3Ft x 1.8Ft x 2Ft; 150w Metalhalide turn on for around 7hrs daily; Chiller temp at 25 degree; CO2 with PH control at 6.5.

[juggler]

Your tank volume = 82 gallons.
150W implies you got about 1.8W/g only.

With your CO2 injection and fertilisation, there's not really enough lighting. Suggest pumping up to 3W/g and photo period extend to 10 hours.

Fertilisation also important. How are you dosing?
What are the red plants you have that are dying?
Any pics of your tank?

Cool that you have chiller...

[Nicholas Tay]

Thanks bro for your reply.

Just wandering whether 150W from a metalhalide and a PL has any difference?

I change my 20% of my water once a week and add seachem flourish water fertilizer each time I change my water. I also add Lushgro-Micro weekly as I do my water change.

I don't know the red plant name I added last week but I have attached some photos for you.

By the way bro, you know where can I get Lushgro fertilizer, I bought from Eco last time, but think they no longer operating at lavender.

Thanks
Nicholas

[PeterGwee]

Those plants with issues ain't aquatic plants from the looks of the pictures.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[juggler]

Sorry I can't confirm -- but those red plants don't look like aquatic plants to me. Probably the reason why they melt? Where did you get them from?

Some reddish plants you can try:
- Alternanthera reineckii
- Rotala macrandra
- Ludwigia repens
- Barclaya longifolia

For Lushgro products, you can call Dr Mallick at his phone. Contacts and details are all at http://www.singaporehydroponics.com

[Nicholas Tay]

Any LFS you recommend to get these red plants you mentioned. Any around Bukit Timah, Alexandra, Tiong Barhru, Yishun or Toa Payoh area? I got my red plant from Petmart at serangoon. I am shocked to learn that they don't look like aquatic plants to you.

Any idea on the difference between watts from metalhalide and FL or PL?

Thanks
Nicholas

[budak]

I second mr peter. The plants look like some Hemigraphis sp.. which is often mis-sold as an aquatic. Try getting some Rotala indica (probably the easiest red plant) or Ludwigia arcuata instead.

[andrewtyr]

i just got some rotalas sp 'Goias', but they came green. My friend says it was reddish initially but later turned green. Is it an irreversible process?

my lights are like 7W/gal but only the young shoots at the top are reddish. Beautiful enough to make me ask how to get the entire plant red.

I also got some polygonums whose top leaves are more reddish.

so is 7W/gal enough? it's like 36x2 + 55 on a 2 ft tank. Should I pump in some additional supplements?