Anyone Had Luck with Red Plants?

[DeepVista]

I've been trying to grow some Alternanthera Reineckii in my 20 gallon tank, but the leaves keep turning green. Running a Finnex Planted+ 24/7, dosing Thrive twice a week, and CO2 at 2 bps. Anyone got tips to keep the red vibrant?

[sharpfin12]

Red plants can be tricky. What's your nitrate level? I've found keeping nitrates low, around 5 ppm, helps bring out the red. Also, iron dosing is key. I use Seachem Iron and my Ludwigia Super Red pops.

[zenitora]

Lighting might be the issue. The 24/7 mode is cool but maybe not intense enough for reds. Try cranking it to 100% for 6 hours. My Rotala H'ra went from pink to fire engine red after I switched.

[lynG]

Red plants can be tricky. What's your nitrate level? I've found keeping nitrates low, around 5 ppm, helps bring out the red. Also, iron dosing is key. I use Seachem Iron and my Ludwigia Super Red pops.

Yep, low nitrates and iron are game changers. I also noticed my reds get brighter when I cut back on phosphates. Maybe try that?

[DeepVista]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll test my nitrates and phosphates tonight and adjust the light schedule. Gonna grab some Seachem Iron too. Appreciate the help!

[angelus]

Don't sleep on potassium either. My AR Mini was struggling till I started dosing K. Now it's redder than my cherry shrimp. Also, how old is your light? LEDs lose intensity over time.

[coralix1]

My red plants always die. Idk what I'm doing wrong. Maybe I should just stick to Anubias.

[dunesage]

Patience is key. Reds often take weeks to adjust and show color. Keep tweaking one thing at a time and don't give up. You'll get there.

[limew]

Lighting might be the issue. The 24/7 mode is cool but maybe not intense enough for reds. Try cranking it to 100% for 6 hours. My Rotala H'ra went from pink to fire engine red after I switched.

This. I switched to a 6-hour photoperiod at max intensity and my reds exploded. Also, make sure your CO2 is consistent. Fluctuations can mess with color.

[daisie]

Has anyone tried using tannins to enhance reds? I heard it can help but haven't tested it myself.