Growing dwarf hair grass on a coco mat.

[Lachlan]

I recently added Dwarf Hair Grass as front ground cover for my tank, opting for the 3x3 inch Coco Mat batches - four of them, to be exact. The alternative options were bundled and potted, but I was drawn to the Coco Mats for a reason.

I'd never heard of Coco Mats before, so I did some research and found that they supposedly promote faster initial growth. The higher cost compared to bundles or potted options was worth it for me, given my curiosity about these mats.

Has anyone worked with Coco Mats before and can offer some advice on how to handle them?

[coltin]

I'd advise against using Dwarf Hair Grass, as it's not a true aquatic plant and will likely struggle in your tank. It needs extremely bright lighting, CO2 and a lot of fertiliser to even stand a chance - and even then, it's a gamble.

If you're looking for low-growing options, I'd recommend Pygmy chain swords or dwarf Sagittaria instead.

[Lachlan]

I'd advise against using Dwarf Hair Grass, as it's not a true aquatic plant and will likely struggle in your tank. It needs extremely bright lighting, CO2 and a lot of fertiliser to even stand a chance - and even then, it's a gamble.

If you're looking for low-growing options, I'd recommend Pygmy chain swords or dwarf Sagittaria instead.

Not exactly the response I was hoping for. I've already ordered the Dwarf Hair Grass, so I suppose it's destined for my cockatiel's terrarium instead.

[Lachlan]

I've just shot off an email to my plant supplier, hoping to swap out the Dwarf Hair Grass for some Pygmy chain swords and/or dwarf Sagittaria. I mentioned I'd be keen on two of each, and we can sort out any price difference later - fingers crossed they'll be accommodating.

[BadgersSong]

I've had limited success with hairgrass, keeping it alive in just one of my low-tech tanks. Initially, I used the dry method, which worked out for a few years, but it never quite formed a lush carpet like I'd hoped.

[Lachlan]

I've had limited success with hairgrass, keeping it alive in just one of my low-tech tanks. Initially, I used the dry method, which worked out for a few years, but it never quite formed a lush carpet like I'd hoped.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my supplier will work with me on this. They've been top-notch so far, even sending me a PDF of my initial order when I accidentally deleted the email.

I'm pretty optimistic we'll come to some sort of arrangement - they seem like a really customer-focused outfit. I've had zero issues with them so far, and my initial order way exceeded my expectations. The supplier is https://www.wetplants.com/ and I've got nothing but good things to say about them.

Here's a pic of the initial plants I got - it wasn't cheap at around $120 USD, but the quality is seriously impressive.

[Lachlan]

Just got a response from WetPlants - they've agreed to swap my order to 2 Pygmy chain swords and 2 dwarf Sagittaria. They'll be refunding the difference, which I'm told should show up in my account within a few days. Really impressed with their customer service so far - they've definitely earned some brownie points with me.

[shakinStevens]

I'd advise against using Dwarf Hair Grass, as it's not a true aquatic plant and will likely struggle in your tank. It needs extremely bright lighting, CO2 and a lot of fertiliser to even stand a chance - and even then, it's a gamble.

If you're looking for low-growing options, I'd recommend Pygmy chain swords or dwarf Sagittaria instead.

I've had Dwarf Hair Grass in my tank with great success, it's been thriving for well over a year and has grown beautifully. This plant has been used in aquariums for a long time and is actually a swamp plant that does well in wet soil or fully submerged. Many plants used in the hobby are swamp plants, like Anubias and Lava Fern, which are also widely used.

Dwarf Hair Grass roots well in soil or mats made of materials like metal, cloth, or coco, but it doesn't take to gravel as well and will spread out much more slowly in that environment. If it does die in the tank, the cause is usually a lack of nutrients for plant growth.

[Lachlan]

Received the new plants from wetplants.com, and they look fantastic - just as I've come to expect from them. Now, just need to get my two small driftwood pieces and the tank will be complete... for the time being, at least, until I get the urge to tinker again.