Rotala macrandra. Royal red for creating an impressive aquarium

The gorgeous Rotala macrandra plant gives any aquarium a brilliant pop of red. This plant is a favorite among aquarists who wish to create an eye-catching underwater landscape because of its rich, royal red hues. It becomes the focal point of many aquascapes with its delicate, flowing leaves, which add a touch of elegance.

Rotala macrandra, although beautiful, needs some maintenance. Although it requires a little more work than other aquatic plants, the effort is totally worthwhile. This plant will reward you with lush, vibrant growth that can turn your aquarium into an eye-catching display given the correct conditions.

Whether you’re an experienced fish farmer or a novice, including Rotala macrandra in your

Characteristic Description
Scientific Name Rotala macrandra
Common Name Royal Red
Color Deep red, especially under strong lighting
Lighting High intensity light is needed
Growth Rate Moderate to fast
CO2 Requirement CO2 supplementation is recommended
Difficulty Level Challenging, suitable

Distribution

Southeast Asia is the origin of Rotala macrandra. The region of India is regarded as the plant’s homeland. Marshy areas and the banks of lakes and rivers are the plant’s natural habitats.

Rotala macrandra feels best when completely submerged in water and prefers a humid atmosphere. Because it grows in the tropics, the coastline frequently floods during the rainy seasons.

Growing and care

Red-leafed Rotala’s amazing appearance makes it a great addition to almost any tropical aquarium. However, this plant is only affordable to seasoned aquarium owners. The requirements for Rotala macrandra maintenance are very high.

It becomes ugly or dies at the smallest departure from the average. Of all the variations, it is thought to be the hardest to breed.

If Rotala macrostamen is floating and not anchored in the ground, it has the highest requirements for water quality. In comparison to the ground form, the floating form of the plant grows more slowly and is typically smaller in size.

    It is best to use Rotala makrandra to decorate a Dutch aquarium. Less often, it is used when creating a composition using the concept of "Nature Aquarium" by Takashi Amano. Partly due to the complexity of the very idea of ​​​​recreating a piece of nature in artificial conditions, since this requires a deep understanding of the principles of biological balance.
    You can grow Rotala macrandra both in an aquarium and in a humid greenhouse. It is suitable for decorating the foreground. Although it is often placed on the sides of the aquarium. The aesthetic value is determined not only by the purple color of the leaves, but also by their smooth upper layer, reminiscent of a varnish coating.

Water parameters for ideal maintenance

Rotala macrandra has high standards for water, particularly temperature. The ideal temperature range is between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius. Rotala slows down until it stops growing in colder climates, at which point it starts to deteriorate and eventually dies.

In water, the following suggested values ought to be kept:

    general hardness dH— 2-7º;
    carbonate hardness KH — 1-10º;
    acid-base balance — 5-7.

Rotala macrandra becomes uncomfortable in an alkaline environment and dies if the water hardness is more than 12º.

The aquarium’s water quality is another crucial requirement. Make sure to adjust one-third of the overall volume every two weeks.

Rotala macrandra grows more slowly and becomes unsightly when the liquid is hazy. Additionally undesirable is a strong water flow.

For example, weak roots suffer and leaves fall off in a flow created by a powerful filter.

Lighting requirements

The most crucial element for Rotala macrandra to grow well is lots of light. Every leaf should have adequate light. In order to prevent the leaves from blocking one another when a bush grows, it is extremely desirable to gradually thin out the foliage. If you don’t, the plant will start to stretch and wither.

Young foliage can be an aquarist’s guide, as it has a reddish-pink color under the right circumstances.

It is advised to plant rotala in an aquarium with the sprouts directly under the light sources.

A light intensity of 80–100 lm/l is ideal. It is recommended that lighting fixtures produce light beams that are primarily red in color. Using incandescent bulbs in conjunction with fluorescent lights or natural light is beneficial.

The latter ought to be restricted to two hours every day. There are about fourteen hours of daylight that are ideal.

Despite its high lighting requirements, rotala owners observe that it can survive in light shade if needed. It is important to remember that too much light can cause algae to grow, which degrades the aquarium ecosystem.

Requirements for soil, nutrient substrate

Rotala macrandra is a creeping plant with a very weak root system. Usually, the rhizome has leaf buds. Occasionally, the bush’s stems may develop new roots that spread out over the soil’s surface.

Even though silty soil is ideal for Rotala macrandra growth in the wild, too much silt will be detrimental to the plant in an aquarium. A 3 cm substrate thickness is advised. The soil’s structure ought to be similar to that of coarse sand. It should be sufficiently nourishing, if possible.

ADA Aqua Soil Africana is an appropriate substrate for Rotala among professional substrates. Compared to the less fertile Malaya and the more fertile Amazonia, this soil has an average level of nutrition. It does not, however, cause jumps in indicators and has less of an impact on the water’s hardness and acidity than Amazonia.

Its high iron content is another benefit of using it to grow Rotala macrandra, as iron is required to keep the leaves of the plant vibrant.

It would not be superfluous to purchase an additional nutrient substrate containing clay and peat for good Rotala macrandra growth.

Demandingness to fertilizers

Applying mineral fertilizers as a top dressing has benefits.

The sole drawback is that red-leaved rotala needs twice as few macro- and microelements as other plants.

It is best to apply the suggested amount of fertilizer gradually by dividing it into several parts.

Rotala can change color based on the concentration of nitrates. Specifically, the color turns orange when the nitrate content rises.

Phosphates, on the other hand, aid in preserving vivid red hues.

Because of this, care should be taken when determining the dosage of fertilizers containing macronutrients.

When table salt or soda are added, the coarse-grown coarse grow absolutely cannot stand the entry of sodium ions into the water.

Carbon dioxide must be added to the water at a concentration of 15-20 mg/l. It enables you to preserve the plant’s lovely aesthetic appearance. Iron is another element that is necessary. It can be found in sufficient amounts in certain liquid fertilizers, like:

  • Tetra Plant Florapride Red. This fertilizer was developed for plants with a large amount of red pigment. In addition to iron, it is rich in manganese and potassium. Helps the plant to develop faster, while preventing the growth of algae that are undesirable for any tropical aquarium.

  • Aquarium Leaf Zone. This fertilizer focuses on chelated iron and potassium-containing compounds, which are much better absorbed by plants.

  • Florastim Fe. This fertilizer with chelated microelements contains divalent iron, which many experienced aquarists prefer to use instead of trivalent. It is believed that the latter is strongly oxidized and absorbed worse.

Reproduction

You can cut the stem to get new shoots. Each cutting should be between 7 and 10 cm long; otherwise, the daughter plant will grow more slowly. Cuttings from the middle section of the stem require special care. It needs side branches.

Transplanting Rotala macrandra requires extreme caution. Minimal contact with the leaves is advised. They cannot stand being touched by fingers because they are too sensitive. The plant shouldn’t be left outside in the air for an extended period of time.

It is not advisable to plant young shoots close to one another. If not, they may undercut one another’s development. As a result, growing dense thickets of Rotala large-stamen is nearly impossible.

Rotala macrandra is a showstopper in any aquarium, adding brilliant color and a hint of elegance to your underwater scenery. It is renowned for its breathtaking royal red hues. This plant is a favorite of those who value both beauty and challenge in their aquascaping, as it not only improves the aesthetic appeal but also thrives in the right conditions, making it ideal for aquarists looking to create a striking and memorable visual effect.

Variations and forms of the plant

There are numerous subspecies of Rotala macrandra in addition to the main species. The three most well-known variations among these are:

    Rotala Macrandra "Green". Green Rotala has leaves of the corresponding color and a brown-brown stem. Unlike the main form, it is more unpretentious, so it is suitable for beginners. The leaves of Rotala macrandra green grow up to 2 cm in length and 1 cm in width. A feature of the plant is the ability to get a red-yellow color of the leaves with a nitrate concentration of less than 10 mg / l. In this case, the leaves should be at the surface of the water and receive enough light.

  • Rotala macrandra "Green Narrow Leaf". In terms of requirements for maintenance conditions and features, it is close to the form described above. The only difference is the width of the leaves. In this representative, it is no more than 5 mm.
  • Rotala macrandra "Narrow Leaf". Narrow-leaved variation, also found under the names "Magenta" and "Florida". Like the main plant, it has a red color. Despite its recent appearance, it has already been appreciated by aquascaping enthusiasts.

Rotala macrandra is an excellent option for any aquarium enthusiast wishing to create an eye-catching underwater scene because of its vivid red color. This plant not only gives your tank a regal look, but it also blends in well with fish and other aquatic plants, creating harmony and beauty throughout the ecosystem.

Even though it might need some attention to maintain proper lighting and water conditions, the work is well worth it. Once established, Rotala macrandra will reward you with rich color and lush growth, transforming your aquarium into an incredible work of art.

Adding this gorgeous plant to your tank can improve its overall appearance and give your aquatic pets a more lively and interesting environment, regardless of your level of experience.

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Elena Grishina

Ecologist and aquarist with a special interest in creating balanced ecosystems in aquariums. Main focus — ecosystems that require minimal human intervention. I support a natural approach to aquarium care, where each element plays its role, helping to maintain harmony in a closed ecosystem. I promote sustainable aquarium keeping and respect for nature.

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