just want a "jungle"

[ES4]

Originally Posted by Church

In that last pic there, maybe it's just the photo, but it doesn't look like the microsword is getting enough light. What kind of reflector(s) did you use over the cfl bulbs?

The tank is off to a great start btw!

THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU!

Must be just the picture. up close it appears to be growing great. Kinda wish I did what you did and break it up to get a faster spreading carpet.

[ES4]

Originally Posted by Nate McFin

The worms are most likely planaria. Water changes and cleaning should take care of them. The fish lke to eat them and they shouldnt cause any problems. Mine went away after the tank established itself. (or the fish ate them)
You may as well cut off the dying leaves on the swords as the plant is wasting energy trying to bring them back (and it they wont come back) By cutting them off you will encourage new growth. The new growth will look different in shape as you have emersed growth now.

Hmmmm... good idea on trimming off the leaves, I'll do that. Planaria? How do they get in there?

[ES4]

Originally Posted by jaidexl

That lily is going to block a lot of light if you let it grow, so will the sword, eventually. You'll grow a carpet faster if you break your microsword into smaller clumps and checker-board it, like Church has in the left of his sig ^

What if I kept just a couple leaves? I like the look of a couple floating leaves, gives the true illusion of a section of a littoral zone.

[Church]

It's not too late to pull out your microsword and spread it around the foreground, fwiw. As far as the planaria goes... they are very common. They can come in with your substrate, or with plants. They are harmless, and as someone already mentioned, tend to be free live food for your fish after a while.