🌿 Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis parvula) is a classic foreground carpet with fine, grass-like blades and soft flow. Built for a natural aquarium, it spreads by runners over a deep soil base with a sand cap—no CO2, no bottled fertilizers—just clean water, light, and patience.
Why it’s great for a natural aquarium
- ✅ Compact, lawn-like growth—forms bright, realistic meadows
- ✅ Root-spreader—sends runners through enriched substrate
- ✅ Low-tech friendly—no CO2 or liquid dosing needed
- ✅ Shrimp & fry safe—gentle cover and grazing zones
- ✅ Perfect scale for nanos—great in 5–20 gallon tanks
Care
- Lighting: medium to high (more light = faster carpet)
- Placement: foreground
- CO2: not required (good light + soil help a lot)
- Growth rate: moderate
- Tank size: 5 gallons and up
🌱 Plant in small clumps, crown at sand level, a few inches apart. Trim tips lightly after planting to encourage dense, horizontal runners.
Father Fish tip
“Patience is key. Let the roots settle into real soil and it’ll spread like a lawn—no bottles needed.”
👉 Build your natural aquarium foundation with Aqua Preta soils, and explore more easy carpets in our Carpeting Plants Collection.
