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The Micro Sword Aquarium Plant: A Complete Guide and Care Tips
Are you looking for a beautiful and easy-to-care-for plant to add to your aquarium? Consider the micro sword, also known as Lilaeopsis brasiliensis.
This aquatic plant is native to South America and can thrive in a range of water conditions.
In this guide, we will explore everything you need to know about caring for micro sword aquarium plants.
Appearance
The micro sword has narrow blades that resemble grass.
It typically grows to be around two inches tall, making it ideal for use in the foreground of an aquarium.
When grown under the right conditions, the leaves may develop a slight reddish tint.
Care Requirements
The micro sword is relatively easy to care for and can tolerate a range of water conditions.
- Lighting: The plant requires moderate lighting levels of around 3 watts per gallon.
- Filtration: Good filtration is essential since this plant cannot tolerate stagnant water that lacks oxygen flow properly.
- C02: The addition of CO2 injection through mechanical means or carbon dioxide liquid fertilizers helps increase growth rate.
- Fertilizer: Regularly adding fertilizer with essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus potassium (NPK), iron (Fe) will be beneficial towards growing healthy leaves and roots system over time..
Growth Rate & Propagation
The micro sword grows relatively slowly and typically requires several weeks to establish itself in an aquarium.
Once established, it can spread quickly through the roots system, which develops runners that grow along the substrate.
Propagation of the micro sword is easy; it can be done by separating from a healthy parent plant or trimming off a runner with at least two nodes and replanting it separately in new substrate.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Inadequate Lighting: Without proper light levels this plant will not thrive or grow well.
- Inconsistent Water Quality: This plant cannot tolerate changes in water quality like other aquatic plants making it necessary to maintain good water parameters such as pH balance, hardness levels and temperature for optimal growth.
- Crowding: Overcrowding your aquarium with too many plants might lead to competition for resources leading to slow growth of this particular species.
In Conclusion
It requires moderate lighting levels, filtration flow, CO2 injection and fertilizers supplement; however once its needs are met it will reward you with an impressive display of healthy leaves over time.
Avoid common mistakes such as inadequate lighting or inconsistent water quality when caring for this plant but also don’t overcrowd your aquarium as these may limit its potential growth rate if unchecked.
If you’re looking for an attractive and low-maintenance option that adds beauty to your tank then consider adding the microsword! Happy planting!
