I May Have Gotten the Wrong Hairgrass

[Kyle E.]

So I ordered what I thought was dwarf hairgrass from this link. It calls it dwarf hairgrass. I got it today (3 days earlier than the earliest it said it would be here). It looks very healthy and green. It has the scientific name of "Eleocharis sp. Belem" according to the container. This is not either of the types of dwarf hairgrass I read about. I looked it up and it calls it japanese hairgrass.

However, I could not find any information on the care of this grass. Does anyone have any experience with it or know if it needs different care then normal dwarf hairgrass? Do you plant it the same?

I probably should have noticed the scientific name on amazon.

Oops.

 

[FFGuest6357]

Can’t help ya, just getting into plants myself and hair grass is not one that I’m trying yet.

hope everything works out for you, and I’ll make a bet you match the scientific names next time, lol

 

[StevenF]

Going from memory there are two versions of hair grass. They are very similar and can be difficult to tell apart. The shape and length of the blades will be about the same. On one the blades are straight while on the other one it curves over so that the tp is almost horizontal. I don't recall the scientific names of each version.

 

[AbbeysDad]

I dunno for sure, but I'm thinking that all the varieties of dwarf hairgrass are more similar than different. It typically grows in shallow water so it needs lots of light. Never did well in my 24" deep 60g. Hope it works for you.

 

[Kyle E.]

Well I found this website as I was trying to figure out how to plant this. According to it there are actually 3 types of dwarf hairgrass. Apparently the "belum" version stays shorter and grows slower.

So maybe not the one I really wanted, but it sounds like it should work the same as the other ones.

I hope it works. I am a bit worried about how they will do with my light.

I’ll make a bet you match the scientific names next time, lol

I will make sure I do!

 

[Colin_T]

hair grass is a garden plant that does not belong in an aquarium.

 

[FFGuest6357]

hair grass is a garden plant that does not belong in an aquarium.

With all due respect and I mean that quite literally, I’ve seen some of your other posts and you tend to be quite detail oriented.

Could you please elaborate?

 

[Colin_T]

there's not much more to say, it's a terrestrial/ marsh plant that usually rots when kept underwater.

if you want a low growing plant for an aquarium, look for pygmy chain swords.

 

[Kyle E.]

Ummm. I have seen many many places that talk about dwarf hairgrass as a carpet plant for aquariums...

https://www.aquariumcoop.com/produc... is a moderately,by sending out runner plants.

https://www.fishkeepingworld.com/dwarf-hairgrass/

https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/2136/?pcatid=2136

Are you sure you are thinking of the right plant?

 

[Colin_T]

Yes I am talking about the same plant in those pictures. I've never had success with it and it used to rot within a week of being in the shop tanks and we had lots of light and fertiliser in the plant tanks.

 

[AbbeysDad]

Well dwarf hairgrass is used a lot in high tech tanks based on what I see and 'hear' on plantedtank.net. I never had any luck with it as my tank was low tech (although I toyed with DIY CO2 for awhile) and with a depth of 24", my light just didn't have enough intensity to satisfy it...and that was what remained after the fish plucked bunches of it right outta the sand!

 

[Kyle E.]

Hmmm. It kinda sounds like it might now work out too well for me...

My tank is pretty low tech... I thought it sounded like it was an easy to grow plant from my research but maybe I was mislead.

We will see how it goes.

It is planted in the tank as it arrived 3 days early (it was quite the surprise) and so far the fish haven't pulled out any of it.

I did however discover a small fry swimming around when planting. It has to be a guppy fry but I didn't even realize any of them had been pregnant. Apparently I don't know what a pregnant guppy looks like! I don't expect the fry to survive until adulthood as I don't have the means for a separate fry tank.

Maybe once/if the hairgrass carpets then I will get some fry that survive.

 

[AbbeysDad]

For fry to survive, floating plants are a good option - not to mention that fast growing floating plants aid in water purification! There are many out there, but I lean towards water sprite....but frogbit, water wisteria, anacharis, and many others. Duckweed is great, but can get out of hand and once you have it, you just might have it forever!

 

[CassCats]

I got a piece of hair grass as a hitchhiker with some moss lol I planted it in my betta tank, it doesn't die but doesn't spread. Basic light no ferts

 

[Kyle E.]

I actually have frogbit coming on Tuesday already! I am getting it for my betta who lives in the 30 gallon. He has been getting along great with the other fish but isn't very active. I am hoping the frogbit will stimulate him and make him feel more comfortable in the tank. And it will add something to the top of my tank as my tank is pretty bare, especially at the top.