I don't see RED

[LATSPRIME]

What are the attributes to plants losing their redness when they are suppose to be red plants? If lightings is confirmed to be adequate, what other possibilties can we look at?

[PeterGwee]

Low nitrate would help red plants recover their redness but do be careful as too low of the nitrate would stunt the plants...rather than green plants than stunt plants. Oh..one more thing, some plants grow slower with very low nitrates and this would invite algae growth once the plants slow down.

What kinda of fert dosing regime are you doing currently? Any PO4 added? Nitrate uptake slows to a crawl if PO4 is too low..

[danny]

How about addition of Fe supplement assuming that you are using normal gravel. Seems to even make the green plant greener.

[PeterGwee]

You want redness, you would have to keep the CO2, traces (inclusive of Fe), phosphate, GH and potassium in good range while leaving the nitrate to drop to below 5ppm or so.

As plants green up, it usually indicates either you have a high bioload (build up of nitrate faster than the plants can uptake) or a lack of a particular nutrient or multiple nutrient deficiencies thus a buildup of nitrate as it is not uptaken as fast. Fe indirectly affects plants redness..not directly like nitrate.

[LATSPRIME]

to further disgrace myself, i am following the Idiot's guide to Ferilisation using Dennerle's A1, V30, E15 and Gold7.......and thought that it is fool proof.......[:]

[PeterGwee]

Nah..its no disgrace..I had been down the line with just a bottle of JBL traces and expect it to work wonders. You definitely have better stuff..or should I say very expensive stuff.

[LATSPRIME]

SO PeterGwee, can u tell me the tricks to lower the nitrate?

[PeterGwee]

You need to provide me with your tank particulars before I can try to help you. Basically, its just dosing of potassium, phosphate and traces 1-3X a week(dependent on lighting/bioload/plant load) while maintaining good CO2. The nitrate should drop if the plant load is heavy w/moderate to light fish load(its a good point to plant heavy) and provided the plants are in good shape.