Selecting a Sword Plant

carttman

carttman

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Feb 27, 2003
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I have a 29 gallon tank and would like to get a Amazon sword plant. I have read many different things on these plants. I have read that they get too big for tanks, and that you can grow them in five gallon tanks. I have also found out that there are many different species of sword plant. What do I believe? I plan on planting this plant directly in the middle of my tank. Can somebody help me?

Substrate = natural color gravel
Tank volume = 29 gallons
Length = 30 in.
Width = 12 in.
Height = 18 in.
pH = 7.4
GH = 10
KH = 3
 
it depends on what you want... take its half of the tank out of the middle or smaller

avoid: E. cordfolius
E. uruguayensis

as both could get taller than your tank.

so give me an idea whether you want the tank with the sword plant or a comunity of plants dominated by a sword plant or something small that is not considered a carpet plant
 
I don't want the sword plant to be big, but I don't want a real small one either. I also planned on adding other plants mainly background though. Java Fern, Hornwort, Water Sprite, and Corkscrew.
 
Now I grow a sword in my 10 gallon. I am sure that it could be much bigger but I have gravel for substrate, do not add CO2 and add ferts sparingly. I cut a few leaves off once or twice a month to keep the plant smaller.

But truthfuly most swords that can get bigger will be able to take over any size tank. So it really depends on your setup.
 
TKOS is totally right -

A few years ago I got a sword for my 30g planted tank. It didnt do so well, and thats when I did some reading and found out about DIY CO2. Got it all setup to see if it would help...

The sword went CRAZY. It took over the tank AND all of the space under the tank hood within a few weeks. Got some flowers. One thing that was cool was that any rips or tears in the leaves would bubble out CO2 like crazy. Looked neat.
 
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