dwarf hair grass

[twig]

I don't know. I just know that Dwarf Hairgrass == two different plants and one is for low and one is for high light.

I'm not sure of the name of the low light as i've never seen it but uhhh ...

Eleocharis acicularis seems to be the high light one. http://www.aquariumplants.com/Dwarf_Hairgrass_Eleocharis_acicularis_pot_p/po110.htm

 

[Aquabum]

Can dwarf hairgrass be grown in low light?

I've never heard of low light and high light dwarf hairgrass.

But I do know that a few people have grown it in 2 wpg, which is low/med light. As a matter of fact, I think Tom Barr grows some in that light range.


Lissette

 

[gagaliya]

Eleocharis Parvula(shortest form of dwarf hairgrass) requires 2wpg min and co2 injection to spread into a nice carpet. They are rooted plant that prefers small sized rich substrate such as eco complete or aquasoil.

There is no low light vs high light dwarf hairgrass, they all have the same requirement as listed above. There are two forms of common hairgrass, Eleocharis acicularis + parvula. Parvula is the shorter of the two and more rarer. If you do not have co2 injection, this plant is not for you. Even if it survives, it will not spread into a carpet.

It is very painful to do the initial planting, the best method is to lower the water to just 1inch above substrate. Then plant the hairgrass in small clamps using a pincettes by shoving the root into the substrate in a chessboard pattern.

Key to keep this plant healthy is co2 injection, it will spread rapidly into a nice carpet if good conditions are met. Most sold are emersed which means the initial grass will turn brown and rot away, then submerged version will grow out and begin to spread. So dont throw the hairgrass away thinking they died.

One last note is be sure to keep with the correct fish. I am feeling the pain every week since i keep the hairgrass with 3 SAEs, every week i am throwing away a handful of hairgrass pulled up by the SAEs. Make sure you do not keep with bottom scavanger type fish. Rasboras, neon/card tetras are good choices. SAEs ARE NOT!!!

Echinodorus tenellus (pygme chain sword) is another beautiful bright green carpet plant with a different style. They are MUCH MUCH easier to keep than hairgrass, requiring just the 2wpg (or even lower) lighting. Of course co2/macro+micro will help it spread faster, but is not required like the hairgrass.

Here's a very recent pic of both the hairgrass + chain sword side by side in my tank.

And finally for the truely low tech tank with regular fluorescent lighting etc, your only option is java moss. They make pretty good carpets too if planted correctly by separate them out into a thin layer and secure it with a hair net. Otherwise they will look very messy as a big clamp of crap if just dumped in the tank.

hope this answered some questions,
gaga

 

[gagaliya]

i used to have a bed of hairgrass and ive never vaccumed the substrate
gravel is fine but flora base and aquasoils are btter from my experience as the latter has nutrients already dosed.
i was just thinking about getthing hairgrass so went to the lfs and they told me that they just got the shippment so they cant sell it, what is that??

forgot to post a pic

hey miso, any idea where online i can buy the amano rocks? you seem to be very knowledgable about the ada stuff so thought i ask. I live in nyc, so going around the neigborhood looking for rock isnt really an option

 

[misopeenut]

gagaliya-
its just that i used to live in japan where ADA products were everywhere like how hagen is in US.
the only place i know is Aquarium Design Group( i just found out about this like couple month ago )

 

[Alan-86]

Cheers gagaliya!! I was wondering why my Eleocharis parvula was going brown!..its only been in the tank bout 2 weeks now, nd all the other plants seamed to be doing great!...even the more demanding ones!...was about ready to dump the lot!

Thanks!

 

[Robert H]

There are a few species of Eleocharis, and they are all native to this country. E. acicularis is the most common. That is the dwarf specie that is sold potted in this country. E.parvula is supposed to be slightly shorter than acicularis, but that is debateable. E. vivipara is a prevasive grower that has branching hairs that grow into a thick entanglement. It is the least attractive looking in my opinion. The other species of Eleocharis are marginal marsh plants that grow like reeds above water two or three feet tall. One of those is sometimes used in the aquarium and is reffered to as "Giant hairgrass", but it is more commonly sold as a pond plant.

There is no "low light" hairgrass. All three of the supposed "dwarf" species grow in shallow water under full sun. In the aquarium they all need fairly intensive light, particularly if your tank is more than 15" tall. Like all short carpet plants, the deeper the water, the slower it grows and the more light it needs. Dwarf hairgrass has very shallow roots and may be dug up easily by bottom feeding fish until it is very well established. Temps over 80 will severly slow down growth.

I have never been able to grow hairgrass without C02.