Tag: Freshwater

Cryptocoryne wendtii is one of the plants I keep coming back to in my planted tanks, and for good reason. it’s tough, beautiful, and works across a wide range of conditions. I’ve grown it in low-tech tanks with no CO2 and in high-tech setups, and it adapts well either way. The varied leaf colors depending on conditions make it one of the more interesting crypts to experiment with.

Cryptocoryne wendtii is one of the best low-maintenance aquarium plants in the aquarium hobby. But what are proper Cryptocoryne Wendtii Care routines. This blog post is all about keeping them healthy and happy!

They are a hardy and adaptable species that come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. These crypts do well under a range of lighting and with or without CO2, making them a great choice for both beginners and more advanced aquarists. Read on to learn more about growing and caring for these popular aquatic plants.

A Brief Overview

Origins And Habitat

Cryptocoryne wendtii is an aquatic plant that is native to the northern, western, and central parts of Sri Lanka in Asia. This species has also become established in Florida in the United States. In nature, they grow along shady streams and rivers, either fully submerged or on the banks.

What Does It Look Like?

This aquarium plant has an attractive, rosette growth form. They are pretty variable in size and shape depending on location, variety, and lighting.

The texture of the leaves varies from flattened to undulating margins and there are many different color variations. The leaves can be anything from deep green, through olive to brown. Some varieties even have white, golden yellow, pink, or red hues as well.

These aquarium plants can grow from 4 inches to over a foot tall. The leaves are often held pretty flat over the substrate or the plants can develop a more upright shape.

Cryptocoryne wendtii develops a large system of roots but they are not visible above the substrate.

Placement And Lighting

Cryptocoryne wendtii looks great in the aquascape, and how you place it will depend on which type you have and the dimensions of your aquarium. In a small tank, this species can take the place of stem plants and be used as a background plant. In a large setup, the smaller green varieties look great in the foreground.

These crypts look great when planted in groups and some of the more interesting forms such as Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Gecko’ make a wonderful focal point in the midground.

They are a popular choice for Dutch-style planted tanks as well as nature aquariums and are especially well suited to tropical Asian and Sri Lanka biotopes.

Crypt Wendtii is an adaptable aquarium plant that grows well under low light and even high light. LED lights or fluorescent bulbs are both suitable. Just be sure to use a fluorescent bulb of the correct spectrum for healthy plant growth.

Under stronger light, these aquarium plants will tend to take a more compact growth form and display better color.

What Are Good Tank Mates?

Cryptocoryne wendtii can be kept with most peaceful and non-vegetarian freshwater fish species and invertebrates. Just make sure that all the plant and animal species you add to your tank do well in the same parameters before bringing them home.

Good Tank Mates

Some good tank mates for Cryptocoryne wendtii include:

• Betta Fish
• Tetras – Like the black skirt tetra or neons
• Small peaceful cichlids like ram cichlids
• Dwarf gouramis
• Loaches

Fish Species To Avoid

Once planted, crypts do not like being uprooted and disturbed so avoid keeping large cichlid types like Oscars that shift the substrate as this may dislodge and damage the plants.

These aquarium plants have been kept successfully with goldfish. Even though they are considered one of the better plants to keep with these fish, goldfish are notorious for damaging plants.

Every new crypt owner panics when the leaves melt. That is normal. Crypt melt is not death. It is the plant adjusting. The ones who pull the plant out and throw it away are the ones who fail.

Feeding (Fertilization)

Crypts are root feeders, which means they will get most of the nutrients they need from a good-quality aquarium substrate. If you grow them in an inert medium like sand or washed gravel, however, you will need to feed these plants with root tabs.

How Much And How Often To Feed

Root tabs are capsules of slow-release aquarium fertilizers that are buried in the substrate at the root zone. Crypts are generally slow-growers that don’t need a huge amount of nutrients and therefore your root tabs will probably last a few months before you need to replace them. It is always best to follow the instructions of the specific product you’re using for best results though.

Apart from supplying nutrients directly to the roots, these plants will also benefit from liquid water column fertilizers like APT Complete from time to time. A great time to dose these supplements is after your weekly water change.

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CO2 Injection

Co2 injection is not required for growing this hardy plant species. However, if you already run a planted aquarium with CO2, you can grow this plant in the same system and they will definitely benefit from it.

A useful alternative to CO2 injection that could benefit these aquarium plants is a regular dose of a liquid carbon supplement like Seachem Excel.

Types

There are many great varieties of this popular plant with different color variations, leaf size, and texture of the leaves.

• Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Green’ – This small variety reaches a very manageable size making it a great choice for smaller tanks. The green leaves often grow outwards, virtually flat on the ground, although the plant may reach about 6 inches tall and wide.
• Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Brown’ – This popular form reaches about the same size as ‘green’ but features brown or mottled brown foliage with attractive wavy edges.
• Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Pink’- This striking form produces bold pink foliage and makes a very interesting specimen. This type will show better color under good light and with added CO2.
• Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Gecko’ – This very attractive form has bright foliage with wavy margins and red-brown markings.
• Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Florida Sunset’ – This colorful crypt features highly variable foliage that can be marked in pink, white or golden hues. Grow this form under stronger light to bring out its best colors.

Care

This crypt is a low-maintenance plant that is easy to grow and care for. The most important key to success is maintaining a stable environment. Let’s take a brief look at how to achieve this in the planted aquarium.

Planted Tank Parameters

This plant is adaptable to quite a wide variety of parameters. Like other crypts, they do very well in hard water, but can also be grown in soft water.

This species prefers neutral water pH but will grow fine in weakly acidic to alkaline parameters. They can be grown in water temperatures between 68 and 82°F, making them ideal plants for both cool water and tropical freshwater fish tanks.

Water Quality

This plant prefers good water quality, with stable parameters. Regular partial water changes are one of the most effective and important ways to maintain good water quality. Source water is also a consideration. Hard water can be problematic for plants like crypt wendtii. If you have have really hard source water, you may want to consider an RO system.

The frequency and volume of your water changes will vary depending on the size and on how heavily stocked your aquarium is. In lightly stocked aquariums with good filtration, a 15-20% water change every week is recommended. Planted tanks with aquascapes tend to lean on changes of up to 50% due to keep their tanks purposely overdosed with fertilizers.

Filtration 

Adequate filtration is another vital part of maintaining good water quality in planted aquariums. Contrary to popular belief, filters not only clean the water of physical particles but are also essential for the process of biological filtration.

During this process, beneficial bacteria convert harmful chemicals from fish waste and food into less harmful compounds. Take care to keep your bacteria colonies safe by not cleaning your filter media with anything other than tank water and never completely replacing all your filter media at the same time.

In a planted tank setup, plants like cypts will produce more ammonia then fish due to leaf droppings. It is essential to invest in a high quality filtration unit like a canister filter too keep your aquarium from having algae outbreaks.

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Flow

Since this plant is most adapted to slow-flowing rivers and streams, they will do best in aquariums with low to moderate flow. In the aquarium setting the aquarist can use hardscape features like rocks, driftwood, or ornaments to break up the water flow if needed.

Aquarium Maintenance

Aquarium maintenance is a vital part of the hobby and something all aquarists need to keep up with to keep their tanks looking their best and their plants and animals in great health.

Testing Water Conditions

Regular testing of your water conditions is an important part of monitoring the health of your aquarium. Fortunately, this is pretty easy with a liquid or strip test kit. 

Use your test kit to keep an eye on values like ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, as well as pH and hardness. A thermometer is also essential to monitor the performance of your heater.

How To Set Up Your Aquarium

These popular aquarium plants are hardy and adaptable, which means they will do well in most freshwater aquarium setups. Depending on the variety, these crypts can even be kept in small aquariums of just a few gallons.

Keep in mind that the smaller your setup, the more difficult it is to maintain stable water conditions as parameters can shift pretty quickly.

The key is to provide enough open space and substrate at the bottom of the tank to allow them to develop a strong set of roots. It is best to provide 2-3 inches of aquarium soil, sand, or gravel.

How To Propagate

Cryptocoryne wendtii is quite easy to propagate, although they are a fairly slow-growing plant. Healthy, mature specimens will send out runners that can be removed and replanted. Here is a great video from Otter Creek Aquatics that shows how to propagate Cryptocoryne Wendtii.

Crypts don’t particularly enjoy being moved though so it is best to wait until the plantlets have grown a few leaves and roots before replanting as this gives them the best chance at surviving the move.

Health And Disease

Signs Of Good Health

The foliage of healthy Cryptocoryne wendtii plants will vary in color and texture depending on the variety but a fairly dull color is quite normal. The leaves should be firm in texture and the plant should have a robust and healthy root system.

Signs Of Poor Health

Look out for plants that have melting or decaying foliage. In the early stages, this will appear as discolored growth that may become somewhat translucent before beginning to decay.

Leaves that have holes or look like they have been partially eaten might be suffering from a nutrient deficiency.  

Common Health Issues And Treatment

One of the most common problems seen in this plant is the dreaded crypt melt. In reality, this is nothing to be too concerned about and happens after planting many different aquatic plant species and common when a new plant is introduced.

Melt usually happens when plants are grown in new environments. The conditions in the home aquarium are usually very different from the farms where these plants are grown and they need to go through a period of adjustment in order to adapt to the new environment.

During this time, crypts often lose leaves. Go ahead and remove any dead or dying leaves before they decay in your aquarium because this can affect water quality.

If the conditions in your aquarium are suitable, they will recover and you should see new growth being produced. They are pretty slow-growing plants of course, but your patience should be rewarded.

Plant Pests

Pests like snails and parasites are often accidentally introduced to home aquariums when adding new plants. Quarantining or sterilizing new plants with a very mild solution of bleach is one useful technique to avoid this.

Dipping new plants in a solution of 1 part bleach to 20 parts water can be very effective, just be sure to limit the exposure to 2 minutes or less and then rinse off the plant thoroughly in clean water treated with a dechlorinator.

An easier way to avoid introducing pests is to start off with tissue culture specimens that are farmed under special, pest-free lab conditions.

Where To Buy

This very popular aquarium plant is not difficult to find at pet stores and online fish stores. Trusted online retailers like Buceplant stock a range of different varieties as well as pest-free tissue culture specimens at great prices.

Low Tech Plant!

Cryptocoryne Wendtii

A great low tech plant for multiple aquascape types and setups. Forgiving and hardy, the Cyrptocoryne Wendtii is a great introduction to rooted plants!

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Closing Thoughts

Cryptocoryne wendtii is one plant that all aquarists should consider growing. This undemanding and low-maintenance species has many different aquascaping uses and will thrive under most lighting conditions. Have you ever tried it in your aquarium? If not, leave us a comment below to tell us how this plant looks with your setup!

🌿 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Planted Tank & Aquascaping Guide. your ultimate resource for aquarium plants, aquascaping styles, substrates, and more.

This plant will grow in almost anything. But if you want it to actually look good, you need to understand what it wants. The gap between alive and thriving is lighting, nutrients, and consistency.

Any plant stays alive. Making it look good takes understanding.

Java moss is a hardy, low-maintenance plant that is grown in just about any type of aquatic environment. If you’re looking to add some diversity to your tank, or you have a new tank and want to fill it with plants from the start, this article has everything you need! Read on for an informative guide on Java Moss care. We will cover everything from proper environment, conditions, trimming, and more! Check it out!

Species Overview

Origins And Habitat

Java moss is native to Southeast Asia where it grows in a variety of moist habitats, both above and below the water. This aquatic plant grows on river banks, attached to rocks, wood, and tree trunks.

What Does It Look Like?

 Java moss is an all-green creeping moss that forms a tangled mass of delicate stems. The stems hold branches that reach nearly an inch in length. You can see videos and clips from it from our YouTube video above.

The branches are covered in tiny, hollow leaves. Interestingly, Java moss that is grown emersed develops much larger leaves than those grown submerged. The shade of green and the density of the plant varies depending on the strength of the lighting where the plant is growing.

Java moss does not have true roots and gathers all its nutrients through its leaves and stems in the water column. They do, however, have fine red-brown structures known as rhizoids that work like roots to attach the plant to solid structures.

Java Moss Care Guide

Java moss works really well in a variety of aquascapes. This moss adds amazing textures and accents to nature aquariums, especially if grown on hardscape features like driftwood.

Java moss is one of the most versatile plants in the hobby. The secret to its versatility? Rhizoids.

These ‘roots’ don’t absorb nutrients but have the function of anchoring the plant. Java moss does not grow from the substrate will anchor itself to just about any solid object with a bit of texture.

That being said, these plants don’t need to be attached to anything to grow well, and can simply be left to float in the tank. Let’s take a closer look at some of the uses for Java moss in the aquarium.

Attached To Hardscape

One of the most popular placements in the planted tank is on hardscape features like driftwood, rocks, or even aquarium decor. Attaching the moss to your hardscape takes a little effort, but it’s really not that difficult.

Simply tie a clump of Java moss to the object using thread or fishing line. After some time, the moss will attach itself to the object with its roots/rhizoids and the fishing line is removed carefully.

Moss Tree

As strange as it may sound, Java moss makes for a fantastic underwater tree for aquarists. Clumps of moss attached to the ends of an upright branching piece of aquarium driftwood with fishing line can look truly incredible.

Take your time in selecting a great piece of driftwood because this will make all the difference to the finishing java moss trees. You can find great pieces at aquarium shops or from online stores.

It is best to use a clear, fine fishing line or a neutral colored thread for a more natural look. The thread or fishing line is carefully removed once the roots of the moss have attached themselves firmly to the driftwood.

Carpet Or Wall

Another innovative and interesting way to use this plant is to create a Java moss carpet or moss wall. Java moss is probably your most realistic option for growing carpets in a low-light tank. How to attach the moss to the wall or bottom of the tank takes a little planning, however.

The secret is to sandwich the moss between two pieces of mesh. Stainless steel or plastic mesh works fine, and if you find that the ‘sandwich’ isn’t staying put on the substrate at the bottom of the tank, put a few stones or aquarium weights between the mesh but under the Java moss to weigh it down.

The mesh is cut to a shape of your choice to keep the Java moss carpet contained in the area you want it.

A Java moss wall is made in much the same way as a carpet, except you can use suction cups to attach it to the glass. This technique works really well for creating a natural backdrop in the tank, and that way, you can’t see the suction cups.

Floating

The easiest way to use Java moss is simply to toss it in your aquarium and let it grow. Java moss as a floating plant has some pros and cons though.

On the one hand, floating Java moss is great for providing structure to bare breeding tanks without substrate and creates a safe haven for small fish, fry, and shrimps.

Java moss can look a little untidy though and if left to drift, there’s a chance it’ll find its way up to the intake of your aquarium filter and cause you some problems.

Floating Moss Ball

A more complicated, but very interesting way to grow java moss is to create floating moss ball. You can do this by attaching the moss to a floating object like a wine bottle cork with thread.

If you attach some clear fishing line to the floating moss ball and anchor it to the bottom of the tank, you can keep your moss ball in place in the midwater.

Lighting

Java moss isn’t very particular about lighting. It really doesn’t need much of it, but then, all aquarium plants need light to grow.

Providing good light will result in brighter, more compact but faster-growing Java moss, but there is a catch. Strong light that isn’t perfectly balanced with nutrients and CO2 could easily result in a clump of algae-covered Java moss in your aquarium.

What Are Good Tank Mates?

Java moss is one of the best plants for breeder tanks because it creates a safe environment for small invertebrates and fish eggs and fry. For a very simple set-up, a big bunch of java moss grown as a floating plant in a bare tank works great.

It’s not only baby fish that enjoy Java moss though. Any small or shy species will enjoy sheltering in a clump of moss.

The massive surface area of this plant also provides a great area for livestock to forage on biofilm and micro-organisms. Java moss also oxygenates the water in your tank, which is great for your livestock.

Good Tank Mates

Just about any tropical or cool water freshwater fish that is not vegetarian is kept with Java moss. Just be sure that the fish enjoys the same parameters as the Java moss.

Fortunately for aquarists, it is possible to grow Java moss under such a wide range of parameters that compatibility isn’t a problem.

Some great fish to keep with Java moss include:

• Betta fish
• Cherry Barbs
• Tetras
• Corydoras
• Rasboras
• Danios

Fish Species To Avoid

Goldfish and cichlids will have no problem eating your Java moss, or just tearing it up and spreading tiny pieces off this plant all over your tank in the process. If they do not eat your java moss, they can also uproot with their foraging and digging habits.

Java Moss grows in almost any condition. That is exactly why it takes over tanks when you stop trimming it. Easy does not mean zero maintenance.

To be on the safe side, avoid keeping any plant-eating fish like silver dollars or plecos as well. Siamese algae eaters are also reported to eat Java moss on occasion, especially the new growth.

Feeding (Fertilization)

 Java moss is not a very heavy feeder. Speaking, Java moss will not require additional fertilizers, especially if you keep fish in the tank.

In low light tanks, in particular, the moss will not be able to use excess nutrients and feeding is likely to result in a hair algae problem. In tanks with medium to strong lighting, however, a light application of liquid fertilizer is helpful. If you are planning a mass planted aquascape that included Java Moss, you should consider investing in a quality liquid fertilizer like APT Complete.

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CO2 Injection

The Java moss plant does not need injected CO2 to thrive and grows very well in low-tech aquariums. The amount of carbon dioxide naturally available to plants in the aquarium is sufficient to keep this plant healthy.

That being said, all plants require CO2 to live and photosynthesize, and added CO2 will improve the growth of Java moss if used correctly.

How Much CO2 Do You Need?

If you do run CO2 in your tank, and you keep fish or other aquatic animals, it is important to ensure that your levels never exceed 30 ppm. Above this level, CO2 causes suffocation in your livestock and will result in losses.

How long Should You Run CO2?

When you start up your CO2 injection, it takes about 2 hours for the gas to reach optimum levels in the aquarium. Therefore, it is best to start adding CO2 before your lights start up.

Since plants can’t use carbon dioxide in the absence of light, It is best to shut off your CO2 at the same time as your lights go off, or a little before.

, you should run your lights for about 8-10 hours per day, which means you should run carbon dioxide for 10-12 hours per day for the best result.

Types

Java moss (Taxiphyllum barbieri) is pretty variable in appearance, depending on the water condition in the aquarium. There are a few similar species of moss in the hobby, however. Although they are different species, with different care requirements, they are very similar-looking plants.

Similar Species

• Christmas moss – Vesicularia montagnei
• Singapore moss – Vesicularia dubyana
• Weeping moss – Vesicularia ferriei
• Taiwan moss – Taxiphyllum alternans
• Peacock moss – Taxiphyllum sp. ‘Peacock’
• Stringy moss – Leptodictyum riparium
• Phoenix moss – Fissidens fontanus

Care

Java moss care is very easy, provided you grow it in suitable conditions. This plant is trimmed heavily using a pair of aquascaping scissors, but this is quite a messy business.

The trimmings tend to drift around and look pretty unsightly. Sometimes trimmings will settle somewhere and begin to grow there, making this plant quite difficult to contain if you’re not careful.

One way to avoid this problem is to ask a friend to vacuum up the Java moss trimmings as you cut them so that they cant drift around. If you can’t find someone willing to stick their hands into your fish tank, you can try multi-tasking. Some people even get creative and attach their aquascaping scissors to the end of the vacuum intake. Here is a great video on java moss trimming by AlanScaping.

It is wise to switch off your filter while trimming to prevent leaves and branches from getting sucked up. Filters with pre-filter sponges over their intakes are also very handy for planted tanks.

Vacuuming your Java moss as part of your normal cleaning and maintenance routine is a good idea to remove any detritus that could settle in the moss and result in changes to water quality.

Java moss carpets made with mesh or moss attached to driftwood can also be removed from the tank and rinsed off using water removed during a water change.

Planted Tank Parameters

Java moss isn’t very picky about water parameters. When it comes to pH, Java moss grows fine from 5 through 8 and does well in hard or soft water.

It is grown over a pretty wide range of temperatures, from 64 right up to 86°F. They do show a preference for slightly cooler conditions, however, and tend to grow best in aquariums from 70-75 °F.

Water Quality

Java moss actually helps to improve water quality by soaking up excess nutrients from fish food and waste. This doesn’t mean you don’t have to stay on top of your water quality, however, because nutrient-rich conditions tend to favor algae growth.

One of the most effective ways for aquarists to maintain good water quality is to perform regular partial water changes. This is important because often your filter alone can’t keep the water safe and harmful chemicals can build up over time.

Get into the routine of doing a water change regularly every week or two, and always remember to use a water conditioner to make tap water safe for your moss and livestock.

Filtration

One of the downsides of Java moss is the tiny leaves and branches getting sucked up into aquarium filters and clogging up the filter media. This is especially likely after trimming your Java moss, or if your plants grow unattached in your tank. Lots of filter maintenance should be done and broken pieces of moss should be removed immediately to prevent excess ammonia production and algae growth. Consider a quality power filter for smaller aquarium or a canister filter for larger setups.

Flow

 Java moss grows best in tanks with good flow. Not too powerful, but enough to keep water circulating through the plants to provide fresh water to the inner stems and prevent waste from settling on the plants.

Aquarium Maintenance

Aquarium maintenance is an essential part of the hobby and is also an important part of growing vibrant and healthy Java moss. Let’s take a closer look at how to maintain your aquarium.

Testing Water Conditions

Even though Java moss can grow in a pretty wide range of conditions, it’s always a good idea to test your water regularly. This is pretty quick and easy to do using a simple test kit from your local aquarium store and will help you keep an eye on the health of your aquarium.

The best time to test is before adding any plants to your aquarium, and then just before each water change. In this way, you’ll know the parameters of your local water, and whether you’re performing water changes often enough.

How To Set Up Your Tank

 Java moss has no specific tank requirements really. It is such a versatile plant that it can grow in most aquariums, provided your parameters are compatible with its needs. Your choice of substrate is not really important at all.

If you don’t have any sort of prefilter over the intake of the filter in the tank, consider buying a model that does or you can rig your own if you’re handy. Just be sure that whatever you use does not restrict the flow too much because this will put some strain on the motor and reduce the effectiveness of your filter.

Java moss is great for just about any tank size, from nano tanks of just a few gallons and up. This moss will spread to dominate a very small tank though so you’ll need to stay on top of trimming.

How To Propagate

The Java moss plant is one of the easiest live aquatic plants to propagate. Simply divide the plant by cutting or tearing a few stems off a clump and attach them to the hardscape or allow them to float.

Health And Disease

Signs Of Good Health

Healthy Java moss plants should have a vibrant green coloration and be soft but not fall apart too easily. Out of the water, this plant will be very limp but should have great texture underwater.

Signs Of Poor Health

Avoid Java moss that is turning yellow or brown. Adding unhealthy Java moss to your tank that is already brown and falling apart is a bad idea and will probably just result in a mess.

Common Health Issues And Treatment

Algae

One of the most common health issues with Java moss is your carpet getting covered in algae. One way to treat this problem is to dose the affected plant with a weak solution of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide works wonders for killing algae, but it can also kill your fish, inverts if not used carefully.

A rule to live by when it comes to using chemicals in your fish tank is: use as little as possible to get the job done. Remember, if you haven’t used enough, you can always try again next week, but if you use too much, the results is devastating.

As with all algae growth issues, it is far more effective to focus on the cause of the problem rather than treating it with chemicals. The most common causes are:

• Light that is too powerful and/or on for too long each day
• An imbalance of light, nutrients, and carbon dioxide in the system

Algae eating animals is very helpful for algae control in general as well. It must be noted that not all algae eaters will feed on every variety of algae. Some examples of algae eaters include:

• Amano Shrimp
• Nerite Snails
• Otocinclus Catfish
• Plecostomus Catfish

Of course, before adding any algae eater to your tank, make sure your tank is big enough and set up correctly for that species.

Melt

It is very common for aquatic plants to ‘melt’ when first introduced to your tank. This happens because the conditions in your tank are different from what the plant has been used to, and it needs to go through an adjustment period.

While adjusting, Parts of the plant will change color, eventually dying and rotting away. It is better to cut away any dying foliage and remove them from your tank, rather than leaving them to rot and affect your water quality.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Java moss does not need much in the way of nutrients, but if you do find your plants are losing color, you may want to try dosing a fertilizer with iron and macronutrients.

Use fertilizers in moderation though, too much can cause algae problems.

Plant Pests

Because of the dense and tangled nature of Java moss, it’s very easy for unwanted pests and parasites to hitch a ride from the farm where they were grown, or your local aquarium store, and into your tank.  

To prevent this, rinse the plant out with water from your fish tank when you get it home. Never use straight tap water for this because it can contain harmful chemicals that will damage your moss.

A very weak solution of 20 parts water to one part bleach makes a great pest-killing dip. Dip your moss in the solution for about a minute and then rinse it out carefully and thoroughly in water with a dechlorinator before adding the moss to your aquarium.

Where To Buy

Java moss is a very popular in the aquarium trade is widely available. You can pick up this plant pretty cheaply from your local aquarium store. Apart from physically visiting pet stores, a more convenient option is to order your aquarium plants online. The link in the box below will take you to retailers who sell quality Java moss. Check it out!

Java Moss

One of the easiest mosses to grow in an aquarium. Great for small fish and shrimp

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Closing Thoughts

Java moss is a really fun and versatile plant that is great for all planted tank enthusiasts, from beginners all the way to professional aquarists.

Making Java moss grow is as simple as dropping some in the aquarium or as interesting as making moss trees and walls with suction cups. This is definitely one plant that everyone should consider growing.

🌿 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Planted Tank & Aquascaping Guide. Your ultimate resource for aquarium plants, aquascaping styles, substrates, and more.

This plant will grow in almost anything. But if you want it to actually look good, you need to understand what it wants. The gap between alive and thriving is lighting, nutrients, and consistency.

Any plant stays alive. Making it look good takes understanding.

The Amazon sword is one of the best-known and most popular aquarium plants in the hobby. Amazon Sword Care is great stepping stone for beginners to more advanced plants and looks good in any tank. One of the Amazon sword’s best selling points is its ease of care. These plants thrive in low-tech setups and ask very little of the aquarist in terms of maintenance.

Most planted tank owners who have an Amazon Sword plant know that they need to be trimmed and shaped. But what else should you do for them? This blog post will tell you all about how to care for your Amazon Swords, from trimming to fertilizing. Don’t worry! It’s a lot easier than it sounds 😁

A Brief Overview Of The Amazon Sword

Origins And Habitat

The Amazon sword plant originates from the Amazon basin in the tropical South American rainforests of Brazil. There they grow in slow-flowing or still waters to a depth of 2-3 feet.

What Does This Plant Look Like?

 The Amazon sword is a medium to large freshwater aquarium plant. They have an upright growth form with many leaves growing from a very short stem. The large leaves are held singly on upright leaf stalks. It is classified as a rosette plant¹.

Each leaf has a prominent mid-vein and secondary veins that run more or less parallel with the margin.

When grown emersed, these plants tend to grow shorter, with smaller and wider leaf blades. Submerged plants in the aquarium have leaves that can measure as much as 16 inches long and 4-8 inches across.

The leaves are thin but firm and have a deep and dark green color with pointed tips. Amazon swords grow from a well-developed root system. The roots grow by spreading widely in the substrate

Placement And Lighting

 It is best to plant your Amazon sword plant in the midground or background of a freshwater aquarium. These aquatic plants will grow pretty large so keep this in mind when planning your aquascape.

In nature, the Amazon sword plant grows in environments with fluctuating water depth so light intensity does vary with seasons and weather conditions. This makes them pretty adaptable to a range of light intensities.

Amazon swords don’t necessarily need powerful plant lighting but will grow well under a variety of light conditions. Ideally, you want to aim for about 2-3 watts per gallon.

If you do plan on growing this plant in low light, make sure it is planted in an open area of the tank with good exposure.

Amazon swords work great in nature aquariums and can also be used as an accent or specimen plant. They are perfect for amazon biotopes.

What Are Good Tank Mates?

The Amazon sword plant is a great addition to most nature aquariums and works well with the majority of smaller community fish species.

When considering new livestock for your aquarium, remember that every species needs to be adapted to the same conditions and parameters.

Most tropical freshwater aquarium fish that enjoy the same water parameters as the amazon sword will make great tank mates.

Good Tank Mates

These plants are often used in South American cichlid and discus tanks. Being a tropical South American plant, they are an obvious choice for Amazon biotopes. Ideal freshwater fish for this style of nature aquarium include:

• Corydoras catfish
• Otocinclus catfish
• Pencilfish
• Most tetras
• Cherry Barbs

Some aquarists keep Amazon sword plants successfully in their goldfish tanks. While this is possible, the temperature preferences of both the goldfish and the plant should be considered.

Amazon Swords grow enormous. A plant that fits in your hand at the store will dominate a 55 gallon tank within months. Buy one knowing it will take over.

Goldfish will also feed on the plants to an extent, but fortunately, Amazon swords are robust and produce new leaves quite regularly.

Fish Species To Avoid

It is no surprise that freshwater fish like plecos, goldfish, and silver dollars will be very quick to feed on your amazon swords.

Large fish like Oscars that tend to disturb plants while they feed or for territorial reasons should also be avoided, particularly if the plant is rooted in a loose substrate like sand. African cichlids are also problematic as they will dig out the plant.

The Amazon sword plant will also be on the menu for ramshorn and bladder snails, but these inverts will only eat leaves that are already unhealthy or decaying.

Feeding (Fertilization)

 In smaller aquariums, you probably want to avoid growing Amazon swords in a nutrient-rich substrate. By growing them in a low nutrient environment, it will be much easier to keep them to a manageable size.

For optimum growth, however, regular feeding will definitely be appreciated.

How Much And How Often To Feed

Amazon swords are root feeders first and foremost, so provided they are grown in good aquarium soil, feeding will not be strictly needed. If grown in an inert substrate like sand or gravel though, you’ll want to use aquarium fertilizers suited for rooted plants like root tabs.

Root tabs offer a long-lasting output but their performance does vary so follow the instructions on the product you have and keep an eye on your plant’s performance.

Even well-balanced aquarium soils will eventually leach out and then supplementing with root tabs is a great option.

Root-feeding aquatic plants can also benefit from column fertilizers since there are a few important nutrients that root tabs often lack. These are the macro-nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Tropica Root Tabs are the best in the business when it comes to a complete and reasonably priced root tab product.

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Providing macro supplements after each weekly water change is recommended for the most vigorous growth and Amazon swords will also benefit from a regular iron supplement.

CO2 Injection

The amazon sword plant grows just fine without CO2 injection. Maintaining a healthy aquatic plant is all about balance though, so in some cases, CO2 will be helpful.

A plant that is grown under strong lighting, for example, may well develop problems with algae growth on the leaf surfaces if not provided with extra carbon dioxide. A CO2 system is a good investment if you are planning a mass planted tank or amazon biotope setup.

Types

There are plenty of different Echinodorus plants available in the aquarium trade. Things often get a little confused in the hobby and the true identity of your plant isn’t always that certain.

There are 3 plant species that are often called Amazon swords. Some say they are all the same, while others argue that each deserves its own name.

These species are:

• Echinodorus amazonicus
• Echinodorus bleheri
• Echinodorus grisebachii  

Care

The Amazon sword plant is pretty easy to care for and needs little maintenance once it is established in the home aquarium. Amazon swords do not need much in the way of trimming or pruning.

You might want to trim some shoots if the plant is taking up too much room in your fish tank, but it is better to make sure your tank is large enough to accommodate this plant before you bring it home.

If you do trim them, be sure to remove the leaf and stalk completely. Leaves that are cut in half will not survive.

Like all plants, Amazon swords do have their preferences, so let’s take a closer look at their needs.

Planted Tank Parameters

Amazon swords are ideal aquatic plants for tropical aquariums but they can also be grown in slightly cooler water. Their ideal water temperature is anywhere between 72-82 degrees Fahrenheit. You will want to plan a heater if you are keeping fish that like warmer water like Betta Fish or Discus Fish.

Amazon swords do best in a pretty narrow pH level range and will grow best in water of Ph 6.5-7.5. Water hardness in the range of 8-12°dGH is recommended.

Water Quality

Amazon swords are not particularly sensitive to water quality and like most aquarium plants, will improve water quality to an extent by taking up excess nutrients in the system.

The most important factors for maintaining good water quality in the planted aquarium are:

• Performing regular partial water changes 
• Using a water conditioner when adding new water
• Cycling your tank before introducing fish
• Stocking your fish tank with appropriate numbers and sizes of livestock
• Not overfeeding your fish
• Using adequate filtration
• Protecting the beneficial bacteria in your filter media

Filter

A quality filter is one of the most important pieces of hardware in the aquarium. This is especially true in planted tanks.

Amazon swords certainly do their bit in improving water quality in the aquarium, but cannot be considered a substitute for a good filter. Amazon swords have large leaves that can get sucked up against the intake of your filter so bear this in mind when choosing where to plant one. These large leaves can potentially be an ammonia producing factory if they break off and are left unattended. Filtration with lot of biological filtration is recommended. For large scapes, consider a quality canister filter.

Flow

The Amazon sword plant does not mind a bit of flow in the water. They are most suited to freshwater tanks with a low to moderate current, however.

Although this plant is able to survive the stronger currents it experiences in nature during the rainy season, the Amazon sword is not adapted to grow in powerful rivers and will not thrive in those conditions.  

Aquarium Maintenance

Maintenance isn’t the most fun side of our hobby, but it is probably the most important. Your Amazon sword plant, like all your other plants and livestock, will look and live far better in a well-maintained tank.

Testing Water Conditions

Testing water conditions is an essential part of your regular maintenance routine. This is done quite easily with a test kit from your local pet shop.

It is best to test your water before bringing an Amazon sword plant home to be sure your water parameters meet their needs.

Concentrations of nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia can increase in time, especially in heavily stocked or uncycled aquariums. Be sure to test your water just before and just after a water change to get a feel for how stable your water conditions are.

How To Set Up Your Aquarium Tank

One very important factor to success when growing the Amazon sword is providing enough substrate depth for the extensive plant roots to develop fully. Aim to provide 2 or 3 inches of substrate for this plant.

They are naturally adapted to grow in the fertile soils of the Amazon river basin and will therefore appreciate a rich aquarium soil.

That being said, aquarists with smaller aquariums can also grow this plant in a sand substrate or fine aquarium gravel as this will result in slower growth and a more manageable plant at the end of the day.

Considering the size that Amazon swords can reach in good conditions, 20 gallon tanks are the minimum recommended size. They can, however, be grown in smaller aquariums but they are likely to dominate something like a 10 gallon aquarium and limit the swimming space for your fish.

How To Propagate

Propagating new Amazon swords is very easy if you have a strong, established plant. The secret is to provide the parent plant with a healthy environment and a little time.

The Amazon sword plant will produce a runner from its crown that extends along the surface of the substrate for a few inches to produce plantlets or daughter plants.

This happens quite naturally and the plantlets will grow out in their position or they is moved. Wait for the plantlet to develop strong plant roots of its own and some healthy leaves before severing it from the parent plant.

The plantlets can then be moved and replanted in the substrate as you wish, but be advised that these new plantlets will be more sensitive than mature Amazon swords.

Health And Disease

Signs Of Good Health

Healthy Amazon sword plants will be all green in color and produce new leaves regularly. The plant will have an upright growth form and have leaves that are not dull or see-through.

The leaves will grow to full size and be free of algae growth. Mature established plants will send out runners that produce daughter plants.

Signs Of Poor Health

Amazon sword leaves that are translucent or turn yellow or brown are occasionally noticed. This is often a sign of a mineral deficiency in the water.

If you notice this problem, try supplementing your plants with iron and macros like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous. Any discolored or dying leaves should be removed to prevent ammonia production.

This problem should not be confused with melt that often happens soon after planting. Here an article from the University of Florida that goes over common fungal issues.

Common Health Issues And Treatment

Melt

Often, many leaves will die off after first planting a new aquarium plant in your tank. This is a common problem that is known as melting.

It happens for a few reasons but it can happen to even the healthiest Amazon swords, even in ideal water parameters. Melt happens as a result of shock from being set in different conditions to what the plant has been grown or kept in.

Aquarium plants are often farmed emersed. Once submerged under the water, the existing leaves may not survive this radical change, but this doesn’t mean the entire plant is in trouble., the plant will produce new growth that is adapted to the new conditions.

It is important to remove melting leaves from your aquarium before they decay and break up in the water. Rotting leaves are not only unsightly, but they can also affect your water quality.

Even in healthy, established specimens, diseased or unhealthy leaves should be removed. By doing this you can limit the spread of infections to other leaves.

Algae Growth

Algae growth on the leaves of your plants is a common but frustrating problem. The most common causes for this issue are:

• Lighting that is too strong
• The lighting period is too long
• The water nutrient levels are too high
• The nutrient levels and CO2 are too low for the lighting provided

Unfortunately, removing the algae growth will not solve the problem until the root cause is found and fixed.

Plant Pests

Some keepers report that the Amazon sword plant is susceptible to damage by some pests such as ramshorn and bladder snails. It is more likely that these snails are feeding on unhealthy, decaying leaves rather than healthy plants, however.

Snails love aquarium plants because they offer great places to hide and forage. Often, when bringing a new aquarium plant home, you may have a few snails hiding between the leaves that you weren’t aware of.

If you don’t already have snails in your tank and don’t want to introduce them now, it’s worth carefully inspecting and washing off new Amazon swords before adding them to your aquarium.

Another, more extreme, but very effective method is to dip your Amazon swords in bleach. This is a risky procedure though because bleach is a harmful chemical for both plants and animals.

To do this safely, it’s important to use a very mild mixture of bleach and water. 1 part bleach to 20 parts water is a good strength for killing pests without damaging plants.

Even at this weak level though, prolonged exposure to the bleach will harm your plants so dip them for no longer than 2 minutes and then rinse them off carefully before planting out in your tank.

Where To Buy These Plants

Amazon sword plants are one of the most popular aquatic plants in the hobby and not difficult to find at most outlets that sell fish and aquarium plants. If you prefer the convenience of online shopping, Buceplant offers quality tissue culture amazon swords as well as regular farmed plants. This plant is widely cultivated so it should be regularly available.

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Closing Thoughts

Whether you’re just starting out with a new aquarium, or you feel like you have space for just one more species in your planted tank, the Amazon sword definitely deserves your attention. The combination of low-tech needs, low maintenance, and really great looks makes this one plant we definitely recommend.

Have you tried planting an amazon sword? What other plants do you like? Leave us a comment below!

🌿 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Planted Tank & Aquascaping Guide. Your ultimate resource for aquarium plants, aquascaping styles, substrates, and more.

This plant will grow in almost anything. But if you want it to actually look good, you need to understand what it wants. The gap between alive and thriving is lighting, nutrients, and consistency.

Any plant stays alive. Making it look good takes understanding.

Dwarf hairgrass, Eleocharis pusilla (parvula), is very popular with aquarists who want a bright and vibrant carpeting plant. In this article, I’ll be explaining the basics Dwarf Hairgrass care. This is a type of grass that’s commonly found in planted aquariums and can create a beautiful underwater landscape for your fish. It’s important to know how to properly maintain the plant so you’re able to enjoy it for longer!

These aquarium plants are great for beginners, provided they start out with decent lighting, carbon dioxide injection, and the right substrate. Read on to learn how to grow and care for this aquarium grass!

Species Overview

Origins And Habitat

Dwarf hairgrass is an aquarium plant with a confusing heritage. Although this freshwater plant is sold and known as Eleocharis parvula, experts have determined that the popular plant we grow in our home aquariums is, in fact, correctly known as Eleocharis pusilla.

E. Parvula is a species from North America, Europe, Asia, and South America that prefers brackish conditions in habitats like estuaries and coastal mudflats.

The dwarf hairgrass that is commonly sold in the aquarium trade is actually a plant from Australia and New Zealand. Dwarf hairgrass natural habitat consists of shallow freshwater environments like wetlands, marshes, and along slow-flowing rivers.

These aquatic plants are adapted to the fluctuating water levels that result from dry seasons and rainy periods so they can survive underwater or emersed.

Dwarf Hairgrass Appearance

Dwarf hairgrass (picture source) is a vibrant bright green carpeting plant with fine, slightly curled leaf blades. It creates a very soft, lush green texture on the bottom of the tank.

Dwarf hairgrass grows very densely in good growing conditions and produces fine white roots. The roots are not visible above the substrate surface but look very interesting if the plant is grown up to the glass of the tank.

In appearance, the dwarf hairgrass plant is one of the closest matches for the kind of grass we see out on dry land. It is a small species, not growing taller than about 3 inches, and it creates a very dense lawn.

Placement And Lighting

Dwarf hair grass is essentially a carpeting plant that can work anywhere on the bottom of the aquarium. In larger tanks, this species also makes a great foreground plant.

This plant provides a beautiful green look to the aquascape and looks amazing in Iwagumi and minimalist aquascapes. Its grass-like texture makes it an ideal choice for complimenting driftwood bonsais.

Dwarf hairgrass is mixed with other carpet plant species for nature aquariums but they can outcompete other smaller groundcovers if allowed to.

Once planted, these aquatic plants will spread widely by runners so keep that in mind when laying out your aquascape.

In nature, hairgrass is not found growing in the shade, and that is the first clue in how to keep your dwarf hairgrass growing well in your aquarium. It does not need powerful lighting, but it will not do well in low light.

Use decent lights if you want a dense, vibrant, and healthy carpet, particularly because this is a low-growing carpeting plant, and light intensity diminishes quickly with depth. If you want a lush carpet, you will want to invest in a stronger planted tank light. A good light to look into would be a Chihiros WRGB II or a Twinstar E series.

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What Are Good Tank Mates?

Hairgrass has some real benefits for the fish in your aquarium. It oxygenates the water well and creates ideal micro-habitats for fish tank inhabitants.

As a spreading plant that grows at a healthy rate, dwarf hairgrass is also great for soaking up excess nutrients in the system.

Good Tank Mates

Small freshwater fish and shrimp species enjoy foraging and sheltering between the blades of grass. Shrimp are ideal tank mates for this plant because they can really get to work cleaning up around the roots and helping to keep your aquarium clean.

Most freshwater tropical fish and shrimp species kept in tropical fish tanks make ideal tank mates for dwarf hairgrass. Small fish that forage in the lower levels and on the bottom of the aquarium will enjoy the habitat this plant creates. Great fish to look into would be fish that are nano fish or schooling such as:

• Black Shirt Tetras
• Neon Tetras
• Cherry Barbs
• Danios
• Livebearers

Fish Species To Avoid

Large cichlids like Oscars should be avoided because they will damage this plant when shifting the substrate and rearranging the bottom of the aquarium.

Dwarf Hairgrass requires CO2 to carpet properly. Without it, you get thin, patchy growth that never fills in. That is not a maybe. That is how the plant works.

Other small community fish like corydoras can cause some frustration when first establishing dwarf hairgrass because while foraging, they tend to disturb and dislodge the roots from the substrate. Fortunately, root establishment happens pretty quickly and this is just a temporary problem.

Feeding (Fertilization)

Since Dwarf hairgrass is primarily a root feeder, a nutrient-rich medium is necessary for a healthy carpet. There are a few options here and the easiest is probably to use a suitable aquarium plant soil.

You can also plant dwarf hairgrass in inert substrates like sand or fine gravel, but you will need to feed the roots from time to time with root tabs.

Hair grass will also benefit from column feeding, although this on its own will not be a great substitute for providing nutrients directly to the roots.  Your substrate should be in an aquatic plant soil that absorbs nutrients from aquarium fertilize and the water. Brands like ADA and Tropica are designed for top notch aquascapes.

For a fertilizer, I would recommend using an all-in-one fertilizer like APT Complete and supplement with root tabs over time.

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How Much And How Often To Feed

Root tabs are capsules of a slow-release fertilizer that are pushed into the substrate at the root zone. These substrate fertilizers provide nutrients for a few months, but it is best to follow the instructions on the specific product that you have to get a rough idea.

Of course, the rate of nutrient uptake by your hairgrass is going to vary from tank to tank, depending on a couple of different factors. Plant size, species, planting density, carbon dioxide availability, light quality, and aquarium water temperature all play a role in how often you’ll need to add new root tabs.

CO2 Injection

It is important for aquarists to remember the 3 basic growing requirements for photosynthesis in plants. These requirements are light, nutrients, and carbon dioxide, and all three are needed in a balanced ratio for optimum plant growth. CO2 and a proper CO2 system are at the heart of lush growth. After all, 50% of our plant’s dry mass is carbon!

Since dwarf hairgrass grows best under moderate lighting, and with good access to nutrients in the substrate, it will need access to carbon dioxide as well to grow at its best.

How Much CO2 Do You Need?

In tanks where fish are kept, carbon dioxide levels must always be kept within a safe range of below 30 ppm. Carbon dioxide levels above this range cause suffocation and is deadly to fish.

To get your levels right, you’ll need to use a combination of a bubble counter and a drop checker. It takes a little fine-tuning, so start out on the conservative side for the safety of your fish. You should need 1 bubble per second for every 100 liters or 25 gallons of water volume.

Just be sure you measure your levels well away from where the CO2 enters your tank for accuracy. It also takes a few hours (depending on the volume of your aquarium) for the available CO2 levels in the water to rise.

How Long Should You Run CO2?

Hairgrass cannot use CO2 without light so there is no use in running CO2 after your lights have been shut off for the day.

That being said, when you start up your carbon dioxide for the day, it takes about 2 hours for the water column to accumulate the gas.

For this reason, your CO2 injection system should run on its own timer that starts up about 2 hours before the lights go on, and then shuts off at the same time as the lights. If you are in the market for a CO2 system, CO2art systems are top notch!

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Types

There are a few other species of hairgrass available in the aquarium hobby and unfortunately, there is often a lot of confusion over which one is which. Mislabeling of Eleocharis pusillis as Eleocharis parvula is the norm, and confusion with other species like Eleocharis acicularis does happen from time to time.

Other hairgrass species:

• Eleocharis ‘belem’ is a shorter growing form that has more curled leaf blades than typical dwarf hairgrass. There is some confusion around the accurate identification of this hairgrass to species level.
• E. Acicularis- This species has a slightly thicker leaf blade that grows straighter than E. Pusillis. It grows to about 6 inches tall.
• E. Acicularis ‘Mini’- This dwarf cultivar is excellent for nano aquariums because it is even smaller than E. Pusillis.
• E. Montevidensis– Giant hairgrass
• E. Vivipara– Tall hairgrass

Care

Dwarf hairgrass care is really about providing your plant with a decent substrate and enough lighting and CO2.

While your carpet is becoming established, trimming with a pair of curved or double-curved aquascaping scissors will help to stimulate runners and lateral growth. Trimmed dwarf hairgrass, especially when planted in a grid pattern, looks pretty artificial and unattractive, but hang in there, this plant will close up the gaps.

Once established, you’ll still want to give it a trim from time to time. A popular technique is to trim shortest in the front, increasing in height towards the back to create depth.

Varying the heights also creates a more natural and varied look, but you should experiment and find the pattern that best suits your aquascape.

Being a dense carpet plant, organic material and waste collect around the root zone and can lead to a build-up of organic material that can potentially result in some nasty swings in water quality.

Situations like this tend to happen in over-stocked, and overfed tanks in particular. Disturbing the carpet to free up debris and vacuuming around the root zone is very helpful, especially after trimming. Fortunately, the cut leaf blades float well after trimming, but being such a fine plant, there will be hundreds if not thousands to collect. A little patience and a fine mesh aquarium net are all that is needed.

Planted Tank Parameters

Growing a dwarf hairgrass carpet is most successful in neutral water conditions with a pH of between about 6.5 and 7.5.

As far as temperature is concerned, this plant grows well in any cool water or tropical freshwater aquarium between 50 and 85°F.

Carbonate hardness of between 0. 14°dKH, and general hardness of 0. 30°dGH are recommended.

Dwarf hairgrass is a versatile plant that is used in a variety of different tank setups. Being a small plant that is trimmed, it makes a great choice even for nano tanks.

It is probably best suited for a tank size of 10 gallons or more because it will spread in time to dominate small tanks. If you like the idea of a full carpet of dwarf hairgrass, it can also be grown in smaller aquariums as well.

Water Quality

Dwarf hairgrass is not known to be particularly fussy about water quality. Of course, you should always strive to maintain the best possible water quality for the sake of other plants and fish.

Be sure to keep the spaces between leaf blades and around the root zone clean by vacuuming when necessary to avoid water quality issues that could affect other species and livestock in your aquarium.

Filtration

A healthy carpet doesn’t tend to break up a whole lot, but being such a fine-leaved grass, trimmings is an issue with your filter. Plants that are left to melt and decay can also cause these problems.

You can simply turn off your filter temporarily when trimming this plant and carefully remove all the trimmings, or consider using a filter with a prefilter sponge fixed to its intake to keep solid debris out. Because an aquarium covered with ground cover like an iwagumi scape will produce a lot of plant waste, this will create a lot of ammonia production. To fight ammonia, you need to have a top notch aquarium filter with lots of biologicial filters. For serious planted tanks, a quality canister filter is highly recommended!

Flow

Dwarf hairgrass has no obvious preference when it comes to flow rate. They grow in still water like marshes as well as alongside rivers and are therefore able to grow in still or flowing water.  

A decent flow will help to distribute dissolved CO2 in your aquarium and for that reason, some current is a good thing. A full aquascape should get 5-10 times turnover. Another reason why I push for high quality canister filters in planted aquariums.

Aquarium Maintenance

Regular maintenance is an unavoidable part of keeping a healthy, thriving ecosystem in your aquarium. A dwarf hairgrass carpet does require some focused maintenance in the form of trimming and vacuuming.

Further than that, standard maintenance is all that is needed.

Testing Water Conditions

Test your water parameters regularly using a liquid test kit or strips.

Nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia levels are the most important levels to test on a regular basis but when first filling your tank, you should take note of your pH and hardness levels as well.

How To Set Up Your Aquarium Tank

The most important part of your tank setup for dwarf hairgrass is a good layer of substrate. The Dwarf hairgrass is a root feeder and will grow best in a nutrient-rich substrate.

Sand or fine gravel also works well as a medium to grow dwarf hairgrass, but because they are inert, you will need to use root tabs.

Dwarf hairgrass is sold in pots or bare root clumps, and before planting, you should split the bunch up into as many small sections with roots as possible. Take care to not damage the plants and plant out in a grid pattern.

Planting dwarf hairgrass is easiest with a pair of aquascaping pincettes or tweezers. An offset pair works well to avoid pulling these tiny plugs back out when lifting out the tweezers.

How To Propagate

Dwarf hairgrass is a very easy plant to propagate. If your tank conditions are good, the plants will soon send out runners and spread to close the gaps and create a full carpet.

If you wish to create more plants for planting out in other tanks, simply remove a runner with leaves and roots and replant.

Health And Disease

Signs Of Good Health

Healthy dwarf hairgrass has a really vibrant bright green coloration and firm, wiry foliage.

The leaves of the plant should be able to support themselves when held out of the water. Healthy plants should also have a healthy set of fine white roots.

Signs Of Poor Health

Unhealthy dwarf hairgrass plants will turn yellow and then light brown as they melt. The leaf blades become soft and are unable to support their own weight.

Look for bright green hairgrass with firm, upright leaves and have a strong, healthy root system.

Common Health Issues And Treatment

Even the healthiest plants can melt back pretty badly when first planted and this is often because they were farmed emersed.

Plants that have been grown emersed will need to adjust to growing completely underwater and grow new foliage.

In this case, stay on top of removing melting leaves from your tank to avoid them from spoiling in your tank or being taken up in your filter.

This melting can begin at your local aquarium store but avoid purchasing any plants that are clearly showing signs of stress or yellow or brown leaf blades and tips.

Flowing strands of hair algae flowing on the blades of hairgrass is a frustrating problem. Algae growth is the result of lighting that is too strong or an imbalance of light, nutrients, and carbon dioxide.

Plants with discolored leaves showing yellow or brown patches are often the result of a lack of macronutrients. Consider fertilizing your substrate if you notice this problem or try dosing with a suitable liquid fertilizer.

Plant Pests

When adding a new plant to your aquarium, there is always the chance of accidentally introducing pest animals and even plants.

As exciting as it is to get started with a new species in your fish tank, resist the urge to plant it right away!

At the very least, you should take care in inspecting the plant and give it a good rinse. Take this time to remove any dead or dying plant parts while you’re at it.

Before planting out a hairgrass carpet, the aquarist will separate the plant’s roots into as many little complete plants as possible, taking care not to damage them.

Splitting the plants up like this gives you the ideal chance to wash off each section and remove any eggs or snails you might find.

Fortunately, dwarf hairgrass is available as a tissue culture.

These selections are grown under controlled laboratory conditions and are completely pest-free so you have very little to worry about when planting them in your tank.

Where To Buy

Dwarf hairgrass is easy to find at your local fish store, but it’s is difficult to know exactly which Eleocharis species you’re getting sometimes. It also difficult to find a tissue culture variant locally. For this reason, many hobbyist will look to an online fish store to get quality plants.

A good option is to buy them online from a trusted source like Buceplant.com. That way you know exactly what you’re getting. They have both cuttings and tissue culture available. I recommend going tissue culture.

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Closing Thoughts

Dwarf hairgrass are pretty undemanding but really attractive aquarium plants. Melt is a frustration at first but provided your parameters are in order, you will enjoy a vibrant green element in the tank with great movement and texture. These carpeting plants are recommended for any planted tank enthusiast.

🌿 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Planted Tank & Aquascaping Guide. Your ultimate resource for aquarium plants, aquascaping styles, substrates, and more.