HybridHerps 75 Gallon Tank (High Tech Planted Tank, with an assortment of fish)

[authmal]

I dose EI, with some added iron, but it's iron doesn't make plants red, it's strictly lights and good nutrients.


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I was advised that red plants need iron supplementation in most cases, to keep the red color. This isn't true?

I guess it's also possible that I'm misremembering what my LFS told me. It was literally years ago.

 

[jpappy789]

I've heard iron, but I've gotten some good red colors (mostly Ludwigia and Rotala spp.) from just higher light. Others though I don't know if lighting is enough.

 

[dani_starr]

Just wanted to say, I absolutely LOVE your tank!!! It looks very natural but at the same time well 'scaped in my opinion. Your albino senegal bichir is adorable and that is an awesome close up of your beautiful farowella cat!

 

[HybridHerp]

Well, I hear from the experts such as Tom Barr that extra iron does not make more reds. Plants need iron but it is a trace element, it's nothing when compared to good co2 and proper lighting.


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[authmal]

I wasn't trying to say extra iron creates more red. I was more saying that insufficient iron could allow the red fade, in spite of sufficient carbon/lighting. But, like I said earlier, I could be misremembering the details of that conversation I had.

 

[HybridHerp]

I wasn't trying to say extra iron creates more red. I was more saying that insufficient iron could allow the red fade, in spite of sufficient carbon/lighting. But, like I said earlier, I could be misremembering the details of that conversation I had.

Oh, okay that makes sense. I think though that most people add more iron than really needed....once everything has grown in more I will experiment with that.


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[authmal]

It's just a possibility, and, to reiterate, I may have misunderstood what the folks at my LFS were trying to tell me. I wasn't ready to dedicate to ferts, so I had already decided to stay away from the pretty red plants, and didn't give my full attention. And since I didn't try to put anything I was told to use, I may well be misremembering.

 

[jpappy789]

I do think that you are both right though. Iron, while needed, isn't going to automatically produce red colors (especially if light/CO2 are still limiting)...but it's still a micro that should be added in trace amounts.

 

[HybridHerp]

Just wanted to say, I absolutely LOVE your tank!!! It looks very natural but at the same time well 'scaped in my opinion. Your albino senegal bichir is adorable and that is an awesome close up of your beautiful farowella cat!

Thanks

I've had that sen for at least 5 years now, really like having the little guy around.


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[HybridHerp]

New update later today/tonight. More plants and all that jazz


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