ground cover plants

[wolf13]

I was curious if the use of ground covering plants like micro sword or dwarf hairgrass was reccomended for a tank with apisto's in it? I've been considering whether I want to go that route.

 

[tjudy]

I do nto think that the fish would care either way. I have pretty much gone the way of leaf litter. I can still grow tall plants with the leaves lying around the bottom.

 

[chris1932]

I would think that the lighting needed for hairgrass would put it out of running for an apisto tank.

 

[ed seeley]

You can grow E.tenellus under lower lighting but, as long as you let the plants establish first, then Apistos don't seem to mind higher light levels IME as they have plants to hide around/under.

I've grown E.tenellus, glosso and hairgrass with about 2 watts of T5 lighting per gallon. The hairgrass will need CO2 injection IME and the tenellus will do much better with it too.

 

[Apistomaster]

I'm with Ed. If you want a ground covering plant E. tenellus is a good compromise. It does need good lighting but nothing too far out of the ordinary.
Apistos can cruise through the under growth which the shy ones appreciate.