What carpet plant to use...

[13r0wn7]

I am thinking of re-scaping my tank and i want to add an easy fast carpet plant. I have already tried Eleocharis which was a fail 🙁 ended up dieing.
I want it to be grass like as well.
I have been reading the one that I think would be the best is Lilaeopsis brasiliensis?
I do pump in CO2 and ferts (EI)

Thanks

 

[tim]

Lillaeopsis is slower than hairgrass ime maybe look at echinodorus tennelus/ helanthium tellenum could be more appropriate.

 

[Vinkenoog1977]

What Eleocharis did you use, the Acicularis of Parvula/ sp. Mini? I've been having major problems with the Parvula, but none whatsoever with the Acicularis, growing great, very healthy, and spreading like mad!
Lilaeopsis is a good alternative, I have some NZ in another tank, and it seems to be doing great, no melt at all.
You could also have a look at Echinodorus Tenellus, another low-demand carpet plant, as long as it gets some decent light, it will thrive; I just did maintenance on that tank, and after four weeks, I already had around two dozen new shoots, so.

And I only use low to moderate amounts of (DIY Bio) CO2 and dose according to EI as well. For fast and easy, for me, it's a toss-up between Eleocharis Acicularis and Echinodorus Tenellus.

 

[13r0wn7]

I used Eleocharis acicularis and i tried a pot of 1-2 grow mini aswell both with no success!
I am going to look into Echinodorus Tenellus it seems more up my street! 🙂

Just went on Aqua Essentials and Echinodorus Tenellus picture does not look right? I have googled it and its more grass like then them leaves on the end

http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/echinodorus-tenellus-p-4988.html

 

[Vinkenoog1977]

It looks very nice, but keep in mind that it grows to about 10-15 cm. and it is a swordplant, so it would take some careful pruning to make a low carpet!

No, that does not look right. Neither does the price by the way!

http://www.aquaplantsonline.nl/p/131:c:23/voorgrondplanten/echinodorus-tenellus/?limit=100

 

[13r0wn7]

I was under the illusion you can cut it like grass...? I am from the UK so that website probably wouldn't be ideal for me!

 

[Vinkenoog1977]

No, I was just trying to illustrate the price-difference.

The opinions and experiences differ on that one. I'm currently using it as almost a midground plant, so for me the height is perfect, thus no experience in pruning. Some say you can indeed cut it as a grass, others say that it needs to be pruned as a swordplant, i.e., removing entire leaves, and that cutting will lead to the cut leaves turning brown and dying.

 

[Lewis G]

Saggitaria subulata is a nice carpet plant, but it grows slowly. Moss might be a nice choice too.

For helanthium tenellum (echinodorus tenellus) the leaf will simply die if you trim it.

 

[13r0wn7]

I don't really want the "leafs" i just want the grass effect.?

 

[tim]

Trim it down to the crown of the plant and you'll just get the new growth which will give you the low grass like lawn your after.

 

[Lewis G]

I believe that eleocharis parvula lives in low light/CO2, but spreads and grows really slowly. You could start it off emersed, then flood it when you have a nice carpet. Diana Walstad did this with HC in a low tech bowl.

 

[13r0wn7]

So if i trimmed the Tenellus low would it not kill it off? I have been looking at pictures and i cannot see any leafs?
I am also looking at the saggitaria they look very similer.

 

[tim]

One of my favourite tennelus carpet scapes http://www.ukaps.org/index.php?page=barb-island-by-iain-sutherland
If you have a quick read through the journal Iain had bba and other issues but turned the scape around to that beauty. When you cut the leaves the root crown as long as it's healthy will produce new ones.

 

[13r0wn7]

I will have a read 🙂 I am looking the the pictures and i don't notice leafs? Just the grass effect. I just want a easy maintenance grass that i can just trim like cutting grass!