low light "carpet" plants

[fish_newbie]

are there any low-light and easy to care for plants that i can put on top of my gravel as a "carpet" other than java moss?

 

[StingrayKid]

Micro Swords. It's like underwater grass. Very easy to take care of but, it grows rapidly into a "shag carpet" for your tank. You can buy it at http/www.liveaquaria.com/ under the freshwater plants section, or your LFS might have some!

 

[luxum]

I don't think microsword will do well in true low light, although it is growing and spreading like crazy in my low-medium (1.8W per gallon) tank.

 

[fish_newbie]

ahh micro swords! i was hoping someone would say that ..i think they're cool and look better den javamoss ..ok thanks!

btw ..how do you trim swords if they get too long? ..just cut the tops off? oh yeah and if i buy the ones in the pots can i just take the bunch and seperate them into little groups? or will this kill it

 

[StingrayKid]

Yes you can sperate them and yes they do well in low light and just trim em' when they get too long.

 

[fish_newbie]

aw crap.. whats the standard watts on a 10g hood?

 

[fish_newbie]

argh why is everyone making another post when im replying!!!! its ok though! thanks for the help!

 

[smithrc]

they wont do well in low light at all - in my experience.

I now have 120W over my 50gal, CO2 and fertilizer and they havent done anything over the last 3 months - except get covered in dark green algae, look bad and not spread.

its only recently 6weeks or so (since upping to 120w) that they have shown any sign (only slight) of improvement.

 

[fish_newbie]

whats the standard watts on a 10g hood? will it be enough for micro swords?

 

[smithrc]

have a look in the tube - it'll most likely say on that...