Foreground Plants

[Wes]

I'm trying to decide between pigmy chain sword ( micro tenellus) and dwarf Sag ( sagittaria subulata) as an additional forground plants. I already have a nice patch of Glosso spreading but would like to add a grass like plant. Does anyone have any preference between the two ( difficulty, looks etc)?

[Wes]

anyone?

[125gJoe]

Micro Sword looks good too...

[TwoTankAmin]

try dwarf hair grass :-)

[Panic]

I would lean towards either micro sword or lileopsis...Both in my experience spread better and more quickly than sag subulata...

[tfish]

I don't have experience with the microsword and the lileaopasis, but I do have experience with dwarf sag. (At least I think that is what it is.) Mine has developed nicely. I bought 5 clumps and put them in my 55 about 5 weeks ago. Check them out! They are the foreground plant in the middle section...

http://www.picturetrail.com/tmac96

[Samala]

Panic - dwarf sag didn't grow fast for you? I'm shocked. My sag chains put out at least three new plantlets a week in only medium light (2.0 wpg) with random doses of PMDD. I do a lot of water changes though, maybe that's an issue. My tank chem is also very soft, gH/kH 1 (maybe) and pH around 6.

To Wes, you could always order a few E. tenellus, a clump of microsword and a few Sag. subulata and see who takes off. Whoever wins the "battle of the foreground" will choke out the other two species. You can sell off which ever of the three don't do as well in your tank. Just an idea.

[Wes]

I decided to go with the dwarf sag. I already have glosso spreading otherwise I would try all of them. Thanks for the responses. I will try to take some pics soon.

[Starry]

I have some dwarf sag as well. I only bought 3 really tiny plants, but they took off like crazy and filled in the foreground. Not as dense as you would get with Lillaeopsis or E. tenellus though. My only problem now is that it has stunted for some reason. No new runners for the past few months. I've tried pulling some out and snipping off the leaves with algae to kind of invigorate it. All I get is more new leaves but no new runners. I've been considering replacing them, or at least adding something else. So there, that's my comment :)

[Panic]

Samala...My sag is perfectly healthy but after about 8 months I would say it has donel little...I have very similar tank specs to you, just over 2 watts per gallon with soft water, CO2 (DIY)...No problems with lileopsis though. Weird. I am about to rearrange my tank and get rid of a couple of overgrown swords. I have a feeling that the sag may have been overshadowed by the large swords and that would explain it...Who knows. That's what keeps this so interesting.

[Robert H]

Well Wes, I know you won't be buying from me, but the main difference is in size. Lileaopsis is the shortest, reaching a maximum height of 3". E. tenellus has 2 or three different versions... the most common is cultivated from Florida, is grown emersed and is usually about six inches tall. The micro tenellus is shorter, and is not an official specie...just a name coined by some internet users. There are only two suppliers on the net that sell "Micro tenellus", myself and Fishvet. None of your favorite vendors carry it. The micro variety gets 4 to 5" tall and has a thinner leaf than the florida stuff.

Dwarf Sag has a little wide leaf than tenellus, and grows 6 to 8" tall.

If you do not have at least 2 watts per gallon, (preferably higher) dwarf sag and tenellus will stay much shorter and thinner, spreading very slowly if at all. C02 will help in size. Lilaeopsis needs the highest amount of light of all of them and grows into the thickest lawn like appearance. I wouldn't even try this plant without bright light and C02.

Someone mentioned hairgrass. Eleocharis acicularis is the most common dwarf specie, (but it can grow up to 10" tall) it can be trimmed to any height. Eleocharis parvulus is the shortest dwarf hairgrass, reaching 3 or 4", but it is rarely found in this country. I get it occasionaly.

[Wes]

Robert, I haven't ordered online in a while. I have a LFS with a pretty good selection on plants. Of course If I was to order online I would order from AQUABOTANIC!!!! BTW you have a great web site with tons of information.

[Robert H]

I only meant that you would probably buy locally since you have mentioned it before!