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How important are low nitrates to making red plants redder?


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Is it more important with some species than others?

Do people dosing EI end up with red plants that are greener?  Do you have to switch to lean dosing for competition 

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It depends on the plant in some respects. Higher light can make some plants show those colors. As you mentioned nitrate levels have been known to cause it as well.

Knee had some incredible red plant tanks, but I don't recall the method used.

Edited by nabokovfan87
autocorrect
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I have increased the light intensity and photoperiod and my Scarlet Temple is responding to that with nitrates between 10-20 per API liquid test kit.

 

my Pink Flamingo is more dusky olive hued than I would prefer.  I have increased lighting intensity and period there as well and new growth is a rosier pink.

 

I am guessing old leaves wont respond as much as new…

 

my Tiger Lotus is always nicely red and not at all particular about much of anything.

 

I just received some Ammania Gracilis that I planted yesterday..

 

and my Ludwigia Repens develops nice orange highlits on the tips.  Moreso the uppermost leaves closest to the light…

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On 6/25/2023 at 3:22 PM, Pepere said:

Yes.  Easy iron, and Equilibrium has potassium, magnesium and Calcium.

Yeah, I'm doing the same thing.  I don't know which species of Hygro Pinnatifida I have but it's got good coloration. from what I can see and isn't jet green.

Planning to add more red plants to my tank, so we'll see how they do.  We're using the same chemicals though.

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I've read that George Farmer uses nitrate restriction to grow redder plants. I haven't really looked into it tho, come summer I'm usually just trying to prevent my plants from melting in the heat so that I have something to grow come cooler weather.

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