Growing dwarf hair grass

[HarrisE]

I'm thinking of adding dwarf hair grass to my 10-gallon tank. Does anyone know if my current lighting setup would work for it? I've got a single T8, 18-inch Life Glo bulb in there.

[rustic1]

I've personally had trouble with growing dwarf hair grass, it's never seemed to like my water. I've tried it in both high and low light conditions, with and without CO2. My best results were in high light with CO2, but it still didn't spread or flourish. In low light, it just survived. I think CO2 is necessary for it to grow well, but some people have had success without it. If you're looking for a carpeting plant, there are plenty of other options out there.

I've found Sagittaria Pusilus to be relatively easy to grow. Blyxa japonica is similar to hair grass, but I'm not sure it likes liquid carbon - I'm testing my memory here, it's been a while since I was into the hobby. If you do have CO2, Hemianthus callitrichoides is a good option. If not, you could always use mosses to create a carpet. Java and weeping moss are easy to grow and work well. There are plenty of other carpeting plants out there, it just depends on the look you're going for.

[HarrisE]

I'm looking for a carpet plant that'll spread a bit and not grow too tall. Out of the ones you mentioned, which one do you think would be the easiest to grow without CO2? I'm particularly interested in something that'll form a nice carpet without requiring too much maintenance.

[rustic1]

I personally found Lilaeopsis brasiliensis to be one of the easier carpet plants to grow, even without CO2, it's a good option for a low-tech tank like yours. Alternatively you could try Glossostigma eletinoides, it's another good choice for a carpeting plant that doesn't require high lighting or CO2. If you're looking for something a bit different, a moss species like weeping moss could be a good option, I think it looks nicer than some of the other mosses.