Micro Sword ... alive but no noticeable growth

[pjsmetana]

My Micro Sword has been in my small tank for about 5 weeks and I have not noticed any growth at all. It was planted at the same time and right next to my Undulata which is doing very well (as is every other plant in there). Its still in the vented pot it came in. Should I pull it out of the pot, tear the root up some, or what? I do not, nor have I ever used co2, nor will I. I would really like this stuff to thrive and spread but so far, if its even growing, it may take years. I use fertilizer weekly and the tank has 14+ breeder Mollies in it (which I'm now thinking they might be Swordtails... but thats another matter). Temp is 78°F, PH is 6.8. I have plenty of light (14 hours/day, 5000-7000K), high circulation (325gph in a 26g tank = 12x+ turnover rate), and smooth gravel substrate.

What am I doing wrong? Should I move it to my larger tank with a lot less current and lower light?

Is there a better grass out there? I really want a nice bed, but so far its nothing.

 

[Sab_Fan]

haven't had much luck with that particular plant myself . . . other swords, yeah, no problem at all, but the micros just never work out

I like to use cryptocorynes as ground cover, mainly because I have had better luck with them

 

[pjsmetana]

I like to use cryptocorynes as ground cover, mainly because I have had better luck with them

Got a pic of that? I'm hearing about something called Blaxyia Something... also a grass.

 

[FSM]

I think you mean Blyxa japonica, but I'm not sure if it will grow well without CO2.


You could try some root tabs.

 

[Pomatomus]

Micro sword doesn't grow upwards much, so you should remove it from the pot and allow it to grow outwards.

Also, for whatever reason, it could be using its energy to facilitate growth at the root meristem

 

[JakeH]

Gotta spread it out. It took a LOT of light & time for mine to start growing in. To do it again I'd probably use a finer gravel or flourite. Either way load up the substrate with root tabs.

 

[pjsmetana]

Gotta spread it out. It took a LOT of light & time for mine to start growing in. To do it again I'd probably use a finer gravel or flourite. Either way load up the substrate with root tabs.

Ok, I got it spread out and added more ferts. The roots in the pot did look like they were growing, but downward. Hopefully this does the trick.

Thanks for the input everyone! If I get a nice bed of grass, I'll take some pics

 

[JakeH]

Don't hold your breath...It takes forevvvvveeeerrrr to grow, even with a 23w CFL pointed right at it. You'll probably get some die-off at first, but it will start to grow in after that.

 

[pjsmetana]

Don't hold your breath...It takes forevvvvveeeerrrr to grow, even with a 23w CFL pointed right at it. You'll probably get some die-off at first, but it will start to grow in after that.

I don't see any die-off yet... but these stupid mollies and swordtails keep uprooting the small shoots while picking at the gravel for leftover scraps or algae. I'm 'bout ready to let my Oscars play with them all. I'm getting some shrimp tomorrow, maybe that will help with these fish-rats digging.