What are the grass-like plants that are..

[OhNo123]

lowlight? I want a moderately planted tank with some grass-like plants to carpet the bottom. And suggestions? They have to be lowlight too!

[rich311k]

Clover makes the best low light ground cover. It is not grass like but it can be very pretty.

[ZSandmann]

There's always dwarf hair grass but I find it can be kind of touchy. Browns out real easy even though it is supposed to be low light.

[Temo]

dwarf hairgrass is the best

[trevor30]

This may sound crazy to some people but here is what I did for my carpet. I took some sunset hygro and laid it down sideways in the substrate and secured it with plant weights. It will root at every node and eventually grow up towrds the light. When people see my tank that is the first thing they comment on.

[geofied]

This may sound crazy to some people but here is what I did for my carpet. I took some sunset hygro and laid it down sideways in the substrate and secured it with plant weights. It will root at every node and eventually grow up towrds the light. When people see my tank that is the first thing they comment on.

Useless without pictures.

Seriously, this doesn't sound crazy, but I do want to see it 'cause it's a great idea. How often do you have to trim it? Or do you?

[OhNo123]

dwarf hairgrass and clover... How tall do these plants usually get?

[geofied]

Clover is perfectly fine, but it isn't a "grass" and it takes forever to grow in as a ground cover.

The low-light "grass" that many folks talk about is Dwarf Sag, (Sagittarius Subulata).
http://www.starlingtech.com/aquaria/dwarfsag.JPG
http://www.hydropolis-llc.com/pd_dwarf.cfm

-Dwarf Hairgrass in my tanks can average 2 inches, but many sprout up to 4-5 inches.
-Dwarf Sag seems to average 1 1/2-2 1/2 inches in my tanks
-Clover ranges from a 1/2-inch (or less when it first pokes out) to 1 1/2-inches.

[bpimm]

My dwarf hairgrass gets 3-4" tall. you can mow it also. I have a nice carpet in a 10 Gal. with 23 watts over it.

[rich311k]

The clover stays very low. The fact that it grows slow is a plus once it fills in. Very easy to maintain compared to glosso and other traditional ground cover plants.

The hairgrass is another greeat choice, in lower light tank it will tend to grow taller.

[Temo]

i would love to see your tank trevor,
and yeah i agree with bpimm

[OhNo123]

I see, I'll look into Dwarf Hairgrass. I would like a layer for my 10 gallon. Clover seems okay too, but 1 inch in kinda sort.

[vampie]

Speaking of clovers, anyone know a good online store (US) to buy some?

The LFS around here only seems to sell potted messes.

[Miyavism]

That Aquadise guy from eBay sells the emerged form of them: 4-leaf clover (http://cgi.ebay.com/LIVE-AQUARIUM-FISH-AQUATIC-PLANTS-4-LEAF-CLOVER-P113_W0QQitemZ110155160524QQihZ001QQcategoryZ66794 QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem)

A word of advice though, don't be cheap; put in the extra five dollars for priority shipping.

[vampie]

The only reason you'd go with Aquadise in the first place is if you were cheap. Either way, I'm looking for more reputable vendors.

[Miyavism]

Ahah! I knew I had a link saved somewhere. Here's the one from Florida Driftwood: Marsilea quadrifolia (http://www.floridadriftwood.com/product.asp?3=246)

[trevor30]

Useless without pictures.

Seriously, this doesn't sound crazy, but I do want to see it 'cause it's a great idea. How often do you have to trim it? Or do you?

I usually try to trim it once a week. You could do it less depending on how high you wanted it. My yo yo's and apistos love it. It slightly slopes from short in the front to a little bit taller in the back. I just use my index finger and thumb and pinch it to how high or low I want it. What is the easiest way to upload pictures and I will give it a shot?

[Temo]

use url from photobucket or up load it from your computer

[OhNo123]

I see. I think I'll get some dwarf hairgrass and some clovers.

[magakitty]

micro swords

[kimmisc]

micro swords

You beat me to it. :) I just bought micro swords, which require 2-3 wpg according to drs foster/smith's site. However, when I received them, the plant tags in their pots said "high light." Hmm. Guess I'll see soon enough.

With that said, the micro swords are very pretty. They remind me of the really green grass in cow pastures that never turns brown. Sorry if that sounds too countrified or ignorant. hehe

[Plecosterone]

Dwarf Hairgrass looks good (see sig)but what is your low light? I find that it needs a fair amount of light (at least 2wpg) to really get established. Once it takes hold the light is not quite as critical.

[James0816]

ever get that pic? gotta get it up here for all to see. ;o)

[trevor30]

I did get the pics up in another thread. Here it is.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122122&highlight=finally

[SQUEAK]

I did get the pics up in another thread. Here it is.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122122&highlight=finally

That looks extremely neat, I like it. I should try that one sometime...

[GirlieGirl8521]

Dwarf Hairgrass? depends on how low your light is. If its under 2wpg....good luck getting it to grow. Mine won't grow well with 27w over a 3g....must be doing something wrong. ;) I would guess it will not thrive in less than 2wpg unless you have nutrient rich soil, fertilize, and inject co2.

Microsword is a medium-high light plant. Good luck getting it to flourish in under 2.5wpg or so unless your other conditions (nutrients, co2) are up to par.

Dwarf sag is probably your best bet for a grassy low light plant. It isn't picky and grows in around 1wpg or more.

[IceH2O]

Dwarf sag is the best, its what I use in the front of my 75 gallon. It grows so well I have to pull it out and thin it every few months.

I bet the sunset would look awesome, its just a lot of work.