Recommend a tightly packed/thick carpet plant.

Dawes

My lighting is:
1x 24inch, T8 Power-Glo. (20W).
1x 24inch, T8 Life Glo. (20W)

I have normal sand substrate, and will be placing root tabs directly under where I will be planting said carpet plants. I will also be dosing liquid Fert.

I have mainly been thinking about growing.

Hemianthus callitrichoides
Utricularia graminifolia
Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
Eleocharis
Marsilea hirsuta

Do you think it is possible to grow any of these successfully? If so, would you recommend a particular one for sustainability and general 'hardiness' - I understand Carpet plants are not the hardiest of plants, but out of all of them which would be the safest best?
I wanted the tightest/thickest carpet I could possibly get with my current lighting if such a thing was possible.

Geomancer

Unfortunately pretty much all carpet plants need high light tanks and/or CO2 injection in order to work.

Pygmy chain sword carpets the best of what I've seen in moderate light no CO2 tanks, but it is not small and hugging the substrate.

Pearl2011

You could trim it so it is closer to the substrate.

Three6s

I need to do some research on CO2 systems. I am not really a fan of a lot of the low light plants. I pretty much have the same set up.

redchigh

Most of us focus on the fish, and choose not to use co2 or carbon supplements.

How deep is your tank?
If its not too deep and you don't mind the plants taking a long time to grow in, I'd go with eleocharis. It might literally take a year to have a perfect lawn, but it will slowly grow in.

HC and UG are no-goes, and lb and Chain Sword never get super thick.

Marsilea Q. Could work. (it looks like a large HC.) Have you thought about mosses or riccia? They can make nice foreground tanks in low light...

Dawes

No, What is Riccia exactly? Does it hug and attach to the substrate?

It is 45cm deep. But as I have quite alot of sand substrate and the lights sit quite far down in my tank, it is probably 5cm or so less, if that accounts for anything.

*Edit*
Also: Do you have any guides as to how to plant Riccia? Are there any special requirements for it?

Co2, High lightings, etc.

What do you think my safest best would be? Eleocharis or Riccia?

Dawes

Also, is Hemianthus callitrichoides incredibly hard to grow? I presume so from your response.
Or does it have certain requirements?

redchigh

Hc pretty much requires blindingly bright light, co2, and trimming to look good.


riccia is really more like a moss, but can be anchored to the substrate.
For the most uniform look, I would let it float for a long time to get it in a flat "mat" shape.
Java or willow moss can work the same way..

If you have sand and a lot of patience, go with the eleocharis.

Dawes

I already have a Life Glo T8 Bulb and a Power Glo T8 Bulb.
I'll also be getting another Life Glo T8 Bulb for Christmas (To replace the Power Glo) which I have been told to be an excellent light, by Byron. (Thanks Byron <3)
- As for Co2 I probably wont buy any Co2 Injection kits, but I might try small doses of liquid Carbo along side normal amounts of Profito. (By EasyLife Brand)
I'll also be adding Root Tabs too. - Do you think this would work? Or would it still be rather risky?

redchigh

I would advice against hc altogether. Its too much work imo. No harm in trying it if you want.

The "liquid carbon" is good for hairgrass, so if you use sand or fine gravel, I'd go with hairgrass. Liquid carbon kills riccia and some other sensitive plants.