Lovely, Lovely Dwarf Hairgrass

[JeffJustice]

I love the stuff and have been trying to get my hands on some but it seems a bit hard to come be in my usuall local fish stores. Having tirelessly looked online I have only found 1 place selling it. (also checking old posts, I have found some info but most links are dead)

http/www.aquaticplants.eu.com/acatalog/info_152.html

It will cost me £4 in total for a a 3-4cm clump of the stuff.....That seems a little pricey for somehting I want to cover my tank in (33 gal). Call me cheap but having read up on HG it seems I will need a greater amount.

Would it be suitable to buy just 1 clump and let nature take its course and hope it spreads throughout? Or would do you kind folks recommend?

 

[Mikaila31]

Well the first question is what is your lighting in your tank. Dwarf hairgrass is a pretty demanding plant, does best with medium to high light and co2. You need really high light to get it to grow dense.

 

[Rlon35]

I love the stuff and have been trying to get my hands on some but it seems a bit hard to come be in my usuall local fish stores. Having tirelessly looked online I have only found 1 place selling it. (also checking old posts, I have found some info but most links are dead)

[URL="http/www.aquaticplants.eu.com/acatalog/info_152.html"]http/www.aquaticplants.eu.com/acatalog/info_152.html[/URL]

It will cost me £4 in total for a a 3-4cm clump of the stuff.....That seems a little pricey for somehting I want to cover my tank in (33 gal). Call me cheap but having read up on HG it seems I will need a greater amount.

Would it be suitable to buy just 1 clump and let nature take its course and hope it spreads throughout? Or would do you kind folks recommend?

^^^^^^^^^^^

I like the way that stuff looks in well done tanks. I would think you would spread it in a few clumps, but the experts will chime in. Not to hijack your thread, but I haven't had success with this plant. I think a decent CO2 system, good substrate, and adequate lighting are all crucial. I have a turbo fermentation kit in my 55 gallon, that I am yet to supplement or upgrade (really only adequate up to 40 gallons, and that's pushing it). I added eco complete, so my substrate is better. I am using 130 watts for 55 g. Would such conditions be adequate for growing hair grass??? And, to respond to the original poster, I think it is difficult to get hairgrass to look as good as some of the talented folks on these forums (e.g. Mr. Farmer). The experts do well, but I don't know thatit is for an amatuer like me. I am trying to use dwarf sag to creat a foreground carpet.

 

[JeffJustice]

Thanks for the hastey replies!

I currently am putting out about 1.5wpg which I think is low-medium lighting. I don't have an CO2 going on and tbh, don't have the space.

My tank is already about 40% planted. I would essentially be looking for an eays maintenance plant that would cover the bottome of my tank. I am using fairly fine gravel but nothing else (except liquid ferts every other week).

If dwarf hair grass wouldn't be suitable for my tank, what would members recommend?

 

[Rlon35]

Thanks for the hastey replies!

I currently am putting out about 1.5wpg which I think is low-medium lighting. I don't have an CO2 going on and tbh, don't have the space.

My tank is already about 40% planted. I would essentially be looking for an eays maintenance plant that would cover the bottome of my tank. I am using fairly fine gravel but nothing else (except liquid ferts every other week).

If dwarf hair grass wouldn't be suitable for my tank, what would members recommend?

^^^^^^^^^^

I don't think dwarf hairgrass will work. Micsroswords and gloss also will not work. I am trying dwarf sag...but, I don't know the results yet. I have higher watts per gallon than you, use low co2, and dose ferts/excel regularly. So, keep in mind that I could not make it work with those three options, which is why I am trying the dwarf sag.

 

[aaronnorth]

It will take a long time for it to grow out and produce a dense carpet,

 

[Honeythorn]

If you want a lawn-like effect, you could perhaps try java moss tied down to sheets of fine plastic mesh? Very much in the way you would make a moss wall for the back of a tank.

It won't look great to begin with, but once it grows in and covers the mesh it should look really good IMO. You can hide any edges of the mesh in the sand.

All you'd need to do is trim it a bit if it gets too long/high, and simply vacuum it as you would sand or gravel. Plus with the lighting you have described, it should grow just fine under that level.

 

[Johnlenham]

The mesh idea will work but make sure youve not got any substrate diggers like corys as ive read storys of them getting trapped and drowning (such an odd thing to say for a fish).

 

[JeffJustice]

Thanks for the advice folks. Im in the process of building a DIY co2 system which will hopefully make my plants flourish more.

Honeythorn: I'll give the java moss a go and let you all know how it goes.

I read an article about a plant called 'marsilea' that can cover an aqaurium floor. Does anyone know aboout this? I have found info on the plant but only seen it grow out of water.