Best red aquarium plant?

I'm doing my 1st dirt tank and want to try a few easier red plants.

I'm thinking I want to do a Amazon Sword in the middle and a few Red Swords on the side of it.
I was thinking of trying or Would one of these be better opinion then the other or is there one sold on the same site that maybe better then the both of these?

 

I really like the red crypts. Easy to grow and keep red in low light.

You need a stronger light to get/keep the swords red. What kind of lighting do you have?

 

There are some red lilies that grow like weeds, don't require much care, and look beautiful at the same time

Nymphaea maculata, stellata, and rubra are all fairly easy red lilies. Depending on tank size, they may even overgrow your tank.

 

Ludwigia Repens?

 

Light



It's a 40 gallon breeder.

I really like my sword and the one in my 55 with less light and no care has got to a very nice size. When I moved it from my 29 to my 55 its roots were almost as long as my torso.
So I was hopping maybe I'd get lucky with a red sword but if you think it would be better to get something different I well look in to the plants you list.

Atm I have 2 green swords, telanthera cardinalis (read it may be more green in low light), Cryptocoryne wendtiI "brown" and xmas moss.

I'm going to be putting java fern in one of my logs and I'm also really thinking of adding some pothos at the top of the tank.

I just want to try to get a nice number of plants and a few colors in it.

 

Here's a few pic just filled it so hard to see. Log in the 2nd picture on the right is what I'm going to put a java fern in.

 

Of course it's all up to you, but I personally think one of the lilies would look fantastic as an accent plant. Not many other plants look similar and it'll really pop, especially since your tank is large enough for it to really grow.

EDIT: also, I'm not sure your lighting is sufficient for really red-colored swords. I'm not familiar with Phillips lights, but I'm assuming it's fluorescent and 17 watts for a 40 gallon isn't a lot at all. On a general scale you may need to look more in the 2-3 wpg direction.

 

ok

If I were to try it what's the odds that the sword would dry vs just staying green?

I read that watts don't really work as well any more because lights are more efficient then they used to be but I don't really know much about it. I'm sure my light isn't the best tho. Said it was 6500k and my tank isn't overly deep. I normally have to try stuff to understand it so just kind of read a bit and jumped in lol.

If the pants just don't color up I'm willing to try them but if its more likely they will die I'll just find some others.

I tried looking for the lilies and can't seem to find any in stock atm. I'll keep a eye out tho. I did find one on ebay but it was about $10. Sword are about $4. They also have some red jungle val do you think that would work? if so thinking of doing some of that mixed with corkscrew val. or Echinodorus vesuvius.

 

The dwarf lilies ship easily because they grow from a bulb but I have that under very low lighting and it does quite well and stays red! Mine is Japanese Spatterdock or Nuphar stellata. It's supposed to get huge but I've managed to grow it in some very small tanks

 

ok

If I were to try it what's the odds that the sword would dry vs just staying green?

I read that watts don't really work as well any more because lights are more efficient then they used to be but I don't really know much about it. I'm sure my light isn't the best tho. Said it was 6500k and my tank isn't overly deep. I normally have to try stuff to understand it so just kind of read a bit and jumped in lol.

If the pants just don't color up I'm willing to try them but if its more likely they will die I'll just find some others.

I tried looking for the lilies and can't seem to find any in stock atm. I'll keep a eye out tho. I did find one on ebay but it was about $10. Sword are about $4. They also have some red jungle val do you think that would work? if so thinking of doing some of that mixed with corkscrew val. or Echinodorus vesuvius.

Personally I haven't tried swords or val, since my tank is too small for either. And yes, watts per gallon isn't that accurate, but you can still use it as a general rule of thumb.

The lily bulbs, as Aquaphobia mentioned, are pretty cheap. I think you can get them for like $2-3 each.

 

ok

If I were to try it what's the odds that the sword would dry vs just staying green?

I read that watts don't really work as well any more because lights are more efficient then they used to be but I don't really know much about it. I'm sure my light isn't the best tho. Said it was 6500k and my tank isn't overly deep. I normally have to try stuff to understand it so just kind of read a bit and jumped in lol.

If the pants just don't color up I'm willing to try them but if its more likely they will die I'll just find some others.

I tried looking for the lilies and can't seem to find any in stock atm. I'll keep a eye out tho. I did find one on ebay but it was about $10. Sword are about $4. They also have some red jungle val do you think that would work? if so thinking of doing some of that mixed with corkscrew val. or Echinodorus vesuvius.

I'd invest in another light. I'm a big fan of the Finnex fixtures, and a Planted Plus would likely let you grow red plants. That way you won't waste money on plants that will die.

 

The lily bulbs, as Aquaphobia mentioned, are pretty cheap. I think you can get them for like $2-3 each.

Where from? Would they be in pet stores?

This is the only one I can seem to find

I did also find this one but is it a red color one?

 

You could ask if they're red! I think I can see red sprouts though

 

I order to keep the red in plants you need good lighting as mentioned and in the right spectrum to make the reds more vibrant as well.

Some stem plants will develop more color as they get closer to the light such as Ludwigia Repens. Rotala Rotundifolia will get pinkish as it gets closer to the light.

Ozelot Sword is one of my favorites. They can grow up to 18" tall if well cared for. Leaves come in red and fade to green but keep the red pattern throughout the leaf.

There is also the Red Melon Sword.

 

ok thank you guys.
I'll see what I can do about lighting but don't have much money for it atm. So may just see how it goes with 2 of the lights I have for now and get the plants in a few weeks.
Atm I have $40 for the plants and or light. I need to save up for both to make it effective it seems.

 

That's true for most plants but if you're desperate to get some red in your tank that red Japanese Spatterdock I mentioned is red under the cheapest, weakest LEDs that money can buy! Redder with more of course but what really brings out the redness is an iron supplement