[Captain Ahab]

I’ve planted some dwarf hairgrass to try carpet the front section of my tank. It is a low light setup and although I can see some new leaves from the main plant, there isn‘t any runners so there is no carpeting effect. The gouram’s love pulling it up and it’s driving me crazy. Should I pull it up and try something else, try replant it closer together or just leave it to “grow”. It’s been in the tank about 2 months.

 

[minorhero]

In low tech tanks you don't get plants really carpeting like high tech tanks. They will eventually grow in but the 'eventually' is measured in years not weeks or months. Of course if its getting pulled up even that might not be possible. If you want a carpet you will need to either 1) do a dry start method with the tank empty, or 2) upgrade to co2 injection.

 

[Captain Ahab]

Well the hairgrass is in a 250l tank which I can't really drain just to get the grass to grow but I'll possibly attempt a dry start with my 55l nano. The hardscape is all in and just waiting for the plants so I can get the Monte Carlo, anubias nana and possibly Java trident into the tank, moisten it and cover and hope for the best.

 

[evil8]

I couldn't get hairgrass to grow at all until I put in CO2. I have it in one carpeted corner that gets good light. Trimming also seems to stimulate growth.

 

[Aaronious]

I couldn't get hairgrass to grow at all until I put in CO2. I have it in one carpeted corner that gets good light. Trimming also seems to stimulate growth.

Playing with this in my 'play' tanks. seems to support this, I haven't trimmed so I think I'll try that.

 

[Capsaicin_MFK]

Just leave it. I have DHG in my greenhouse pond and it took a week or two to start producing runners, but then it snowballed and now the entire 8" pot is filled. Again, just give it time.

 

[MissCris]

Mine took a little while to start filling in, even with some CO2, but when I accidentally uprooted one of the plugs after a month I found that it had been spending it's time rooting deeply. At the 2 month mark I started seeing runners, and now it's really taking off. Patience is a virtue.