Yup, no CO2... Part of it is choosing red plants that grow well in low tech; in this case Ludwigia sp. red and AR mini. High lighting/good nutrient mix helps. For low tech tanks, I find that dirt mixture does better than aquarium substrates. The organic decomposition and bacteria action in dirt releases quite a bit of CO2 and organic carbons (similar to in nature). Aquarium plants also root better in dirt. Finding a dirt mixture that works may take a bit of experimentation. Too much organics/ammonia and algae issues abound, too little and the benefits of using dirt diminish.
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