Bright red plants in the aquarium? Many aquarists have this dream. It doesn't have to remain a dream. In fact, there are aquatic plants that present themselves in the most magnificent shades of red. You can find out details about this in this article.
Which red aquatic plants are there for the aquarium?
Red aquatic plants such as red tiger lotus, Rotala rotundifolia, ruby red Ludwigia and Hygrophila pinnatifida bring bright accents to the aquarium. The color is caused by anthocyanins, which serve as protection against UV radiation.
How do aquatic plants turn red?
So-called anthocyanins are responsible for the red color. These are red dyes that are created to protect the respective plant from strong UV radiation. They absorb the short-wave UV rays of light and thus prevent damage to the inside of the leaf by these dangerous rays.
Note: This special “effect” can be compared very well with the brown coloring of human skin. The browner your skin, the longer you can sit in the sun without additional UV protection (sunscreen).
Which aquatic plants bring red accents to your aquarium
Here are examples of easy-care red aquatic plants at a glance:
- Red Tiger Lotus
- Rotala rotundifolia
- Ruby Red Ludwigia
- Hygrophila pinnatifida
General note: Some red plants react more sensitively than others - so they are more likely to produce anthocyanins. “Sensitive” refers solely to the effect of light on the color. The more sensitive they are, the less light it takes to make them glow.
