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Forground ideas for low tech

Mattant1984

Mattant1984

Member
Joined
13 Jun 2022
Messages
477
Location
Canterbury Kent
Hi all, I am after some ideas for easy to keep foreground plants for a low tech tank.
I'm not fussed about a carpet I just want to fill in a few gaps with something that will stay fairly low.

Many thanks
 
Helanthium spec., Sagittaria subulata.
Yet even carpet plants can be kept successfully in low-tech conditions. My favourite is the smallest of them all - Elatine hydropiper. This one is not easy to establish, though.
 
_Maq_ said:
Helanthium spec., Sagittaria subulata.
Yet even carpet plants can be kept successfully in low-tech conditions. My favourite is the smallest of them all - Elatine hydropiper. This one is not easy to establish, though.
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Thanks @_Maq_ I'll take a look at those, with the sagittaria do you find they stay short and compact in low tech??
 
Mattant1984 said:
with the sagittaria do you find they stay short and compact in low tech??
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Generally - yes. But sometimes something gets wrong and they may reach 20 cm. I think nobody truly knows why.
You may browse various shops and choose some "super small" or so described.
Another possibility is Eleocharis sp. Some species remain short, max. 5-7 cm. But I don't like them very much. Once introduced, you never get rid of them.
 
_Maq_ said:
Generally - yes. But sometimes something gets wrong and they may reach 20 cm. I think nobody truly knows why.
You may browse various shops and choose some "super small" or so described.
Another possibility is Eleocharis sp. Some species remain short, max. 5-7 cm. But I don't like them very much. Once introduced, you never get rid of them.
Click to expand...
@_Maq_ thanks for the advise I will do a bit of research and see what I can find in lfs 👍🏼👍🏼
 
_Maq_ said:
Another idea: Marsilea sp. They take time before they start to grow, but then they are reliable. Max. 5 cm tall, may create a kind of dense "carpet".
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Go for the Marsilea crenata sp if you want to keep it really small (less than 1-2cm). Other sp like Marsilea hirsuta can grow taller and leaves will be bigger.

Marsilea hirsuta
IMG_4226.jpg

Marsilea crenate vs Marsilea hirsuta
IMG_3714.jpg
 
I've had great success with marsilea in low techs and found it a bit easier to control than sagittaria, which is also good. I would also add that lilaeopsis does very good, even in low light but it does take a while to get established and growing well for me.
 
I have found that Eleocharis montevidensis did OK low tech, whereas all other grasses died on me. I like the slightly wiry form.
 
mort said:
I've had great success with marsilea in low techs and found it a bit easier to control than sagittaria, which is also good. I would also add that lilaeopsis does very good, even in low light but it does take a while to get established and growing well for me.
Click to expand...
Going to have a look into this, thanks for sharing your experiences 😊
 
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