Sagittaria Subulata or Echinodorus Tenellus or other?

[Vince G.]

I'm about to do a major overhaul on my tank...substrate change, aquascape, and new plants, and I'm trying to decide on the right foreground grass plant for my setup. I have a 92 gal corner bowfront (24 inches tall). Lighting is a 36" Dual t5 HO with 6700K and 10000K bulbs. The lighting cycle is about 7.5 Hours a day starting in the late afternoon (the room has curtian filtered light all day long). No CO2, but I use Seachem root tabs, and dose Excel and Tetra Flora-Pride. Once that bottle is used up, I'll start with Flourish.

The two foreground plants that seem to be best for my setup are Sagittaria Subulata and Echinodorus Tenellus. I have read that Sagittaria can get a bit tall, and I do want something that stays kind of low. Any thoughts?

 

[tanker]

There are 2 kinds of Tenellus. A broad leaf one and a narrow leaf one.

I would rather have swords then sag.

 

[Crispino Ramos]

In a well-lighted part of the tank with rich substrate, the Sagittaria subuluta can grow tall.

 

[Vince G.]

So Echinodorus Tenellus sounds like the winner. I'm assuming that Tenellus 'micro' is the narrow leaf one.

 

[cradlefan]

Im not so sure you have enough light for tenellus...I had about that much light and it didn't grow too well. I hope yours turns out diff

 

[tanker]

Echinodorus plants are root feeders. IMO--They do best with lots of light.
CO2 will make them grow faster.

From my experience---Excel is a not as good as CO2.

 

[Vince G.]

Is there another option for a low-growing grass like plant with my setup? I'm definitely not going the CO2 route.

 

[fishorama]

Try the sag & see. In any tank, any light, I've had it grow tall if it's in front (hoping for short) & short if it's at the back or sides where I'd like it taller. Maybe dwarf hairgrass though it was a bit taller than I wanted, ~4 inches, it can be trimmed.

 

[2rivers]

Crypt. parva. I have low-light and coarse gravel. I kill micro-sword and all grasses that require lots of light. Crypt.parva grows thin-leaved,long and colorfull in the foreground of my 10g with only 2800k of light. Ive dosed trace elements (Sera) afew times but dont keep up with it. Most Sag. should do allright for ya

 

[Vince G.]

Thanks 2rivers. I've been checking up on Crypt. parva. It looks like it will work. I've been reading that it grows really slow, so I'm thinking that I should buy enough to try to fill up the space a little, instead of waiting for it to fill in.