Low light carpet...??

iplants · 01-18-2013, 01:47 AM

Are there any plants that are low light that will do well in a low light low maintenance tank? I could really use help

leo1234 · 01-18-2013, 01:56 AM

I heard Marsilea minuta is a low light carpet. I just got some and trying it out.

Seattle_Aquarist · 01-18-2013, 01:57 AM

Hi iplants,

In lower light, non-CO2 tanks I have probably I have been most successful with Helanthium tenellum (formerly Echinodorus tenellus v ‘Tenellus’) or Micro Chain Sword. I find it will grow and multiply with medium to medium low light levels. At higher light levels it develops reddish colored leaves. It does not require CO2. An alternative for medium light applications might be Marsilea minuta. Pictures of each follow.

Helanthium tenellum (formerly Echinodorus tenellus v ‘Tenellus’) right foreground

Helanthium tenellum (formerly Echinodorus tenellus v ‘Tenellus’) closeup

Marsilea minuta

**l8nite** · 01-18-2013, 02:05 AM

+1 on Marsilea minuta

iplants · 01-18-2013, 02:42 AM

I will definitely look for Marsilea minuta! Thank so much.

I've heard you can also do a carpet of crypt wendtii??? I've tried it and its ok I guess. It's surviving.

Monster Fish · 01-18-2013, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iplants

I will definitely look for Marsilea minuta! Thank so much.

I've heard you can also do a carpet of crypt wendtii??? I've tried it and its ok I guess. It's surviving.

Go with a smaller growing crypt instead. C. lucens/C. wilissii are better alternatives and if you have patience, you can go with C. parva.

iplants · 01-18-2013, 01:36 PM

Awesome thank you! I will be on the look out for those too.

Also how do you pick your surrounding plants? Is it just creativity or do you plan every thing out?

amberoze · 01-18-2013, 03:28 PM

My tank is a random jungle of plants, but I use marsilea in my 125 gallon as foreground. Its a slow grower, but can grow faster with higher light and nutrient rich substrate.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

iplants · 01-18-2013, 04:38 PM

What do you guys think about a micro chain sword? I called my LFS and they gave me a small selection and said this was best for low light?

**Aquatic Delight** · 01-18-2013, 05:12 PM

Micro chain is good, i have it in my 20l, along with hydrocotyle, both will do well in low light.

hydrocotyle will require trimming and re-planting to keep it low though.

Blackheart · 01-18-2013, 05:20 PM

How the heck do you grow crypts as a carpet? that'd be pretty sweet. must only be certain varities of crypts?

Seattle_Aquarist · 01-18-2013, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iplants

What do you guys think about a micro chain sword? I called my LFS and they gave me a small selection and said this was best for low light?

Hi iplants,

The first one I mentioned in #3 post in this thread, probably the most tolerant of the low light foreground plants for me

dafil · 01-18-2013, 05:35 PM

Marsilea hirsula

micheljq · 01-18-2013, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iplants

I've heard you can also do a carpet of crypt wendtii??? I've tried it and its ok I guess. It's surviving.

Crypt wendtii is definitely easy to grow and can thrive in low light. I have plenty in my foreground.

Michel.

iplants · 01-18-2013, 06:37 PM

ok so I have this to choose from

marsilea
Helanthium tenellum
C. parva
dwarf sagittaria (i got a recomm. for this, any thoughts from you guys?)

or I can stick to my crypt wendtti wannabe carpet lol.

01-18-2013, 01:47 AM	#1
iplants Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 35	Low light carpet...?? Are there any plants that are low light that will do well in a low light low maintenance tank? I could really use help

01-18-2013, 02:05 AM	#4
l8nite Zombie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 682	+1 on Marsilea minuta __________________ HANdS: 110G Community, 10G Fry Containment Unit, 7.5G ADA Bettascape, 2.3G Moss Recovery Unit, 2G Fluval Spec

01-18-2013, 05:12 PM	#10
Aquatic Delight H is for Hillstream (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Antonio TX Posts: 1,290	Micro chain is good, i have it in my 20l, along with hydrocotyle, both will do well in low light. hydrocotyle will require trimming and re-planting to keep it low though. __________________ __________________________________ Will ________________________________ my 29g story To See all of my photos Click ME!

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01-18-2013, 01:56 AM	#2
leo1234 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (17/100%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: lynn,ma Posts: 540	I heard Marsilea minuta is a low light carpet. I just got some and trying it out.

01-18-2013, 01:57 AM	#3
Seattle_Aquarist Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (25/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,027	Hi iplants, In lower light, non-CO2 tanks I have probably I have been most successful with Helanthium tenellum (formerly Echinodorus tenellus v ‘Tenellus’) or Micro Chain Sword. I find it will grow and multiply with medium to medium low light levels. At higher light levels it develops reddish colored leaves. It does not require CO2. An alternative for medium light applications might be Marsilea minuta. Pictures of each follow. Helanthium tenellum (formerly Echinodorus tenellus v ‘Tenellus’) right foreground Helanthium tenellum (formerly Echinodorus tenellus v ‘Tenellus’) closeup Marsilea minuta __________________ *Roy* 45 Gallon Tall; 96 Watt AH Supply CF; 6700K; & 30 Gallon Long; 2X36 Watt AH Supply CF; Press. CO2; UGF; Heat Treated Montmorillonite Clay Greater Seattle Aquarium Society (GSAS)

01-18-2013, 02:42 AM	#5
iplants Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 35	I will definitely look for Marsilea minuta! Thank so much. I've heard you can also do a carpet of crypt wendtii??? I've tried it and its ok I guess. It's surviving.

01-18-2013, 01:36 PM	#7
iplants Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 35	Awesome thank you! I will be on the look out for those too. Also how do you pick your surrounding plants? Is it just creativity or do you plan every thing out?

01-18-2013, 03:28 PM	#8
amberoze Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: lexington, sc Posts: 305	My tank is a random jungle of plants, but I use marsilea in my 125 gallon as foreground. Its a slow grower, but can grow faster with higher light and nutrient rich substrate. Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

01-18-2013, 04:38 PM	#9
iplants Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 35	What do you guys think about a micro chain sword? I called my LFS and they gave me a small selection and said this was best for low light?

01-18-2013, 05:20 PM	#11
Blackheart Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan Posts: 643	How the heck do you grow crypts as a carpet? that'd be pretty sweet. must only be certain varities of crypts?

01-18-2013, 05:35 PM	#13
dafil Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bulgaria Posts: 174	Marsilea hirsula

01-18-2013, 06:37 PM	#15
iplants Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 35	ok so I have this to choose from marsilea Helanthium tenellum C. parva dwarf sagittaria (i got a recomm. for this, any thoughts from you guys?) or I can stick to my crypt wendtti wannabe carpet lol.