Red Plants Without Added Carbon Dioxide ?

Hello All,

I am thinking about adding some further plants to my "low tech" 125L, and would prefer a different colour to green, preferably red. I don't add CO2, but occasionally add liquid ferts when I see a need. I am aware that a lot of red plants need added CO2. My lighting is 2 watts /gallon.

I already have Echinodorus Ozelot Red, which produces new red leaves, but which eventually turn green. However, it doesn't really thrive. Interestingly, neither does the "basic" Amazon Sword E. Bleheri. (I have read that these prefer nutritious substrates).

So, I am wondering if anyone out there can advise of their "red" successes in similar tanks?

                                                            Skittler

Red plants often require quite high light to stay red.

Some worth considering:

ludwigia repens


Crypt cordata blassii


Nymphaea lotus 'Red (Red tiger lotus)

Be careful about snail free plants. They have often been treated with chemicals to kill snails - chemicals which will kill nerite snails and shrimps.

Whenever I buy plants they go into my quarantine tank with a filter full of carbon for a week to get rid of any snail-killer before going into their final tank.