Variegated Anubias like pinto or broad white

[*Ci*]

I’ve recently removed all the moss from the top of the driftwood in my 84g, 24” deep tank. I have relatively low lighting for most of the plants lower down (including large leafed anubias) with pars at approximately 44 at substrate level, 70 at mid level and 160 at the surface.
I’m thinking about what to replace the moss with that would be a low growing, non-demanding plant that appreciates high light. The moss grew very well but needed too much trimming and accumulated a bit of hair algae.

I’ve read that the variegated anubias actually need more intense light to keep the white colouring, but how does that work for algae considering that they are so slow growing?

Do they really prefer higher par for colouring? Does anybody have experience with the pinto variety in high light settings?
I would be investing a fair bit of money - it is a quite expensive variety in Canada - to purchase enough plants to look good, so I would like to know more what to expect.

On that note, are there any other plants that might fit my criteria better?

 

[Art]

It's a good question. I don't have any experience with the pinto so can't offer any advice there, unfortunately.

IME, it is always a bit of a challenge placing slowing growing plants in a zone with high light. The chances of ending up with algae on the leaves are high.

To be honest, the only time that has worked for me has been when I kept moss in that location. At the time, I had shrimp that did a pretty good job of keeping the hair algae away from the moss. A weekly toothbrushing would be all that was needed.

Looking forward to seeing what others think here.

Good luck!

Art

 

[Dennis Wong]

Around 190 umols of PAR for these Anubias white; they do grow whiter with more light. I think around 80-100 should be fine. towards 200 umols, you need a very clean tank with dominant plant mass. Leaner water column strategy also works

 

[*Ci*]

Thanks for your replies, Art and Dennis.
I just recently remembered that at least a year ago, more like two, I did purchase a tiny white anubias which I attached on the highest point of driftwood in my other tank.
The driftwood got shifted during a rescape and I completely forgot about the little plant. All of it’s new leaves came in green, but it did get a lot bigger. I have a bunch of other small leaved anubias in that tank, but I was able to figure out which one it is (one tiny older leaf still has a hint of variegation) and put it in the newer tank. If it comes up with white on any of the new leaves, then I will consider buying more : )

 

[*Ci*]

An update, 6 months later. The little pinto, moved from my other tank, started growing variegated leaves, so I decided to drop the big bucks on a few more pinto anubias. They are doing fantastic under the bright lights! They are growing nicely and outcompeting any algae. They started out with, maybe, 3 tiny leaves per portion, and I bought 5 of them @ $30 ea.
I’m very happy that I took the chance : )

 

[BigWave]

There are larger varieties comming into the hobby. They look really good. Nice update!!