Different Carpets

Elatine hydropiper is a rare plant that has recently become very popular. Unfortunately it commands a very high price.
I've seen Blyxa japonica used as a carpeting plant in larger tanks.
Rotala mexicana 'goias' would also make an excellent carpeting plant assuming that you have CO2, good ferts and a decent amount of light. It is sometimes mixed with other carpeting plants to add some color.
Limnophila vietnam 'mini' might also work if you have high light and keep it trimmed down.
Ranunculus inundatus is a super cool plant that could be used as a carpeting plant, though it grows tall when there is not enough light and honestly would probably look too busy in most tanks as a carpet. It looks best when planted in clumps in the foreground.
Lilaeopsis chinensis is a cool sp. that i think demands more popularity.

Hygrophila sp. araguia
Staurogyne sp. "porto velho"
Hydrocotyle verticillata

All of these can be grown into foregrounds but it is seldom done.

Echinodorus tenellus
Cryptocoryne parva

Those are more "grassy" types of carpet plants.

Any of the Marsilea sp. make good carpets too.

Syngonanthus(sp?) repens
+1 ranaculus inundatus - it is quite invasive though and will spread throughout the rest of the the tank if not kept in check.
Eriocaulons!

HolyAngel said:

Syngonanthus(sp?) repens
+1 ranaculus inundatus - it is quite invasive though and will spread throughout the rest of the the tank if not kept in check.
Eriocaulons!

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Isn't is Staurogyne repens?

I was going to use stauro to carpet since I am doing an Amazon themed tank but since I have low light it started to grow more up than out. And I honestly like the look so I stuck with it

pandamonium said:

I was going to use stauro to carpet since I am doing an Amazon themed tank but since I have low light it started to grow more up than out. And I honestly like the look so I stuck with it

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I was thinking of using stauro for low growing bushes. DO they only grow low if they have high lights?

Colorful said:

I was thinking of using stauro for low growing bushes. DO they only grow low if they have high lights?

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I was told that in high light, stauro will grow outwards, while in low light it will grow upwards to reach the light. In my tank and just in my experience, my stauro is growing more up than out.

Yep staurogyne repens, my bad ^^

Ive grown it in both highlight w/co2 and in low light. It tends to grow up regardless but if you top it it'll spread out nicely.

I think I will do Elatine hydropiper. (even though it will be a little hard on my wallet) How fast is the growth rate? For those of you who have had it, is it fussy? How often would you trim it?Would little bushes of Rotala mexicana 'goias' look good or would it look out of place?

Thank You to everyone who has helped answer my question

I think clumps of Rotala mexicana 'goias' would look excellent in the foreground. Not quite sure how it would look mixed with the Elatine hydropiper, but i think they would look fine next to each other. Are you doing a nano tank?

ranalisma rostrata would be a less common carpet that comes to mind, similar appearance to c. parva

The tank will be a 10 gallon which will be upgraded to an ADA 60P or 12 gallon long. The tank has/will have ADA Amazonia, pfertz, and CO2.

there's also Echinodorus Tenellus for larger tanks. Looks pretty impressive fully carpeted.

Staurogyne repens has to be trimmed - regardless of light level - in order to encourage it to carpet. While it grows tighter when in CO2-rich, high-light tanks, it can still be used as a carpeting plant in a low-tech environment. Just have to start with more plants or replant the tops as you trim.

You can try crystalwort too. they are fast growing and easy to care. very invasiver

Try crystalwort too! They are very fast growing and bushy!

Indian fern said:

Try crystalwort too! They are very fast growing and bushy!

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Is crystalwort the same as riccia? :confused1:

Colorful said:

Is crystalwort the same as riccia? :confused1:

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Yes. :smile: