How to get Hygrophila polysperma to turn pink?

[bttay]

According to Tropica website, to obtain deep pinkish leaves of Hygrophila polysperma, intensive light is necessary.

I believe I have intensive light (4w/gallon) but they still turn green. Does anybody know why?

Thanks.

[15 Sierra]

is your Hygrophila polysperma 'rosanervig'? or just Hygrophila polysperma? rosanervig will have reddish leaves with white viens. The normal one, i don't see it turning reddish....

[theodore]

New leaves for the regular H. polysperma can acquire a pink/reddish tinge but you need to have (1) strong lights and (2) the new growth has to be close to the water surface (~5cm for my tank setup). However, the colour doesn't seem stable and will soon revert back to green when the leaves mature.

If you want to switch to a more colourful plant that looks a bit like H. polysperma, try Ammannia gracilis.

[bclee]

Tay do you measure PO4 and NO3? If you do, maybe you can share the values.

BC

[bttay]

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On 9/15/2003 8:41:45 AM

Tay do you measure PO4 and NO3? If you do, maybe you can share the values.

BC
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PO4 = 1 to 2ppm
NO3 = 10 to 20ppm

I am not sure if my test kits are accurate.

[vinz]

They turned (I've removed them a while ago) pinkish/reddish in my 6ft tank which is high NO3, low PO4. Recent hobbyists findings (from various forums) point towards maintaining low NO3... enough to make the plants red, but high enough to keep them healthy enough to keep the algae at bay. I think around 5ppm or possibly lower.

[niko]

I beleive high light and low nitrates make the Hygro polysperma turn pink.

I have 3 tanks in which the nitrates are below 5 and in all of them the Hygro gets very pinkish when about 3 inches (about 8 cm) below the surface.

This is a picture taken in one of my tanks, nitrates in it read 0 and the tank had 2.6 wpg of light. As you may notice - only the top leaves are really pink, probably because they are closer to the light:

http://www.deepforestaquatics.com/aq...DSCN3423_1.jpg

--Nikolay