What light spectrum brings out reds?

**Karackle** · 10-03-2008, 11:50 PM

So I was in my LFS and they had a gorgeous red crypt, it was so red and with "waffly" (for lack of a better word) leaves, i thought it was maybe a becketti (it was in a display tank so there was no label) when I got it home and put it in my tank, it doesn't look as red! How do I bring out the red color!? What spectrum (k rating) bulb should I get?

Thanks!

**eyebeatbadgers** · 10-04-2008, 01:06 AM

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...ifference.html

9325K will. 8000k might too, and be less pink overall.

gheitman · 10-04-2008, 02:09 PM

I am using some 5000K Flora Sun bulbs from Zoo Med that have really been bringing out the red in my smaller tanks (those with the standard fluorescent fixtures). They are not 8500K despite what some web sites label them as (that was an early labeling mistake). You may already know this but don't forget to dose your tank with iron as well. IME red crypts do better with iron supplementation.

**Karackle** · 10-04-2008, 05:42 PM

EBB - thanks for the info, are you talking about SEEing the reds or growing in red? I was meaning what color allows me to SEE the reds, which I think is what you meant too

Gheitman - thanks, I think you might have mistaken my meaning though, i don't mean what makes the new growth red, I'm looking for what spectrum SHOWS the reds best, the plants was a really deep red in the tank at the fish store and when I plopped it into my tank the same day, the red is much more muted and the green in the leaves is more apparent. I don't think Iron is a problem, I don't dose it, but crypts grow extremely well for me for some reason, they grow faster than some of my stems!

gheitman · 10-04-2008, 05:46 PM

The Flora Sun bulbs really do bring out the red in plants. I noticed it immediately when I started using them.

**Karackle** · 10-04-2008, 06:07 PM

gheitman - thanks! are those flourescents? I forgot to mention that my light fixture is just the standard flourescent fixture that came with the tank.

EBB - i just read the APC and I answered my own question, yes, you were talking about seeing the reds

thanks!

gheitman · 10-04-2008, 06:18 PM

The Flora Sun bulbs are for standard fluorescent light fixtures. You can find them on sale at http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...79&pcatid=4479.

**Karackle** · 10-04-2008, 06:38 PM

awesome! thanks!

10-03-2008, 11:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Karackle Tankaholic (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,123	What light spectrum brings out reds? So I was in my LFS and they had a gorgeous red crypt, it was so red and with "waffly" (for lack of a better word) leaves, i thought it was maybe a becketti (it was in a display tank so there was no label) when I got it home and put it in my tank, it doesn't look as red! How do I bring out the red color!? What spectrum (k rating) bulb should I get? Thanks! __________________ 5g Planted tank with 1 male Betta and 3 Otos 20gH Planted tank 2 Female Bettas, 7 neons, 5 glolights, 3 Otos, 1 Clown pleco, 1 female guppy and a few female endlers 30g Planted tank with 15 B. brigittae, 15 Ember Tetras, 6 pygmy cories, 4 male Endlers, 3 zebra danios, 1 male guppy, 1 sparkling gourami, a few RCS and 1 Bamboo shrimp 1 Crested gecko 2 Dogs, Leo an 11 year old Bichon/poodle mix, and Cody, a 3 year old Poodle. I enjoy having a zoo to care for!

10-04-2008, 01:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
eyebeatbadgers Moderately Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Madison, TN Posts: 1,696	http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...ifference.html 9325K will. 8000k might too, and be less pink overall. __________________ 10 29 NAAGC

10-04-2008, 02:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
gheitman Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 32	I am using some 5000K Flora Sun bulbs from Zoo Med that have really been bringing out the red in my smaller tanks (those with the standard fluorescent fixtures). They are not 8500K despite what some web sites label them as (that was an early labeling mistake). You may already know this but don't forget to dose your tank with iron as well. IME red crypts do better with iron supplementation. __________________ Gene Heitman 10 tanks, 178 gallons, 20+ species of fish/shrimp/snails, 52+ species of plants ... 8 years ago I just wanted 1 tank with some fish - what was I thinking :-)

10-04-2008, 05:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Karackle Tankaholic (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,123	EBB - thanks for the info, are you talking about SEEing the reds or growing in red? I was meaning what color allows me to SEE the reds, which I think is what you meant too Gheitman - thanks, I think you might have mistaken my meaning though, i don't mean what makes the new growth red, I'm looking for what spectrum SHOWS the reds best, the plants was a really deep red in the tank at the fish store and when I plopped it into my tank the same day, the red is much more muted and the green in the leaves is more apparent. I don't think Iron is a problem, I don't dose it, but crypts grow extremely well for me for some reason, they grow faster than some of my stems! __________________ 5g Planted tank with 1 male Betta and 3 Otos 20gH Planted tank 2 Female Bettas, 7 neons, 5 glolights, 3 Otos, 1 Clown pleco, 1 female guppy and a few female endlers 30g Planted tank with 15 B. brigittae, 15 Ember Tetras, 6 pygmy cories, 4 male Endlers, 3 zebra danios, 1 male guppy, 1 sparkling gourami, a few RCS and 1 Bamboo shrimp 1 Crested gecko 2 Dogs, Leo an 11 year old Bichon/poodle mix, and Cody, a 3 year old Poodle. I enjoy having a zoo to care for!

10-04-2008, 05:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
gheitman Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 32	The Flora Sun bulbs really do bring out the red in plants. I noticed it immediately when I started using them. __________________ Gene Heitman 10 tanks, 178 gallons, 20+ species of fish/shrimp/snails, 52+ species of plants ... 8 years ago I just wanted 1 tank with some fish - what was I thinking :-)

10-04-2008, 06:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Karackle Tankaholic (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,123	gheitman - thanks! are those flourescents? I forgot to mention that my light fixture is just the standard flourescent fixture that came with the tank. EBB - i just read the APC and I answered my own question, yes, you were talking about seeing the reds thanks! __________________ 5g Planted tank with 1 male Betta and 3 Otos 20gH Planted tank 2 Female Bettas, 7 neons, 5 glolights, 3 Otos, 1 Clown pleco, 1 female guppy and a few female endlers 30g Planted tank with 15 B. brigittae, 15 Ember Tetras, 6 pygmy cories, 4 male Endlers, 3 zebra danios, 1 male guppy, 1 sparkling gourami, a few RCS and 1 Bamboo shrimp 1 Crested gecko 2 Dogs, Leo an 11 year old Bichon/poodle mix, and Cody, a 3 year old Poodle. I enjoy having a zoo to care for!

10-04-2008, 06:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
gheitman Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 32	The Flora Sun bulbs are for standard fluorescent light fixtures. You can find them on sale at http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...79&pcatid=4479. __________________ Gene Heitman 10 tanks, 178 gallons, 20+ species of fish/shrimp/snails, 52+ species of plants ... 8 years ago I just wanted 1 tank with some fish - what was I thinking :-)

10-04-2008, 06:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Karackle Tankaholic (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,123	awesome! thanks! __________________ 5g Planted tank with 1 male Betta and 3 Otos 20gH Planted tank 2 Female Bettas, 7 neons, 5 glolights, 3 Otos, 1 Clown pleco, 1 female guppy and a few female endlers 30g Planted tank with 15 B. brigittae, 15 Ember Tetras, 6 pygmy cories, 4 male Endlers, 3 zebra danios, 1 male guppy, 1 sparkling gourami, a few RCS and 1 Bamboo shrimp 1 Crested gecko 2 Dogs, Leo an 11 year old Bichon/poodle mix, and Cody, a 3 year old Poodle. I enjoy having a zoo to care for!

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