Red Root Floaters are tiny and won't grow

[Maximus]

I have some red root floaters that I put in a tank that has a couple of sponge filters. They have spread all over as expected, but they are super tiny, only a few millimeters across. They don't seem to want to grow into a larger size, even if I transfer some to a tank with basically no surface agitation. Anyone encounter this before and have any tips?

[JoeQ]

What's your fertilization routine? 

[Maximus]

I dose Easy Green twice a week with one pump per 10 gallons, in addition to a dose of Easy Iron once a week with 1 pump per 10 gallons.

[JoeQ]

You probably want to increase your fertilization, usually a lack of growth is nutrient related. 

[jwcarlson]

Got a picture?  Because that sounds like duckweed.

[Odd Duck]

Yep, need pics to confirm if it’s red root floaters.  Lots of people have been sent other plants that were mislabeled.

Edited November 18, 2023 by Odd Duck
Typo

[Kurt Brutting]

What is your lighting, red root floaters like high lighting. Also I watched an interesting video from Dustin’s Fish Tanks on YouTube about red root floaters and nitrates. 

 

[Natalie is new]

I just ordered some red root floaters from Dustin's Fish Tanks. My problem with his solution is how it will affect the rest of my plants. Does anyone have experience with this plant have advice on this?

[Odd Duck]

You don’t have to completely starve them to get red growth.  You will get better color with lower nitrates, but you don’t have to completely starve them of nitrates.  The definitely get more red with high light, but moderate to low nitrates.  This pic wasn’t absent of nitrates.  The tank was running about 10-ish most of the time between liquid ferts dosing.  I had mostly root feeders so I used mostly root tabs in the tank at that point when I was getting the best color.