Recommend Tall grassy favorites

[Phish Tank]

Looking for a background plant with tall thin grassy appearance for a medium energy tank. I want slower growth rate (low maintenance), and don’t want to be chasing runners all over the tank (so no vallisneria).

Gh: 8 kh: 4
Tank height : 18 inch
Substrate: inert gravel
Ferts: water column, less than EI levels, more like PPS pro
CO2: yes, but less than 30ppm
Light: medium, will be setting up a new week aqua L

What are your favorites?

 

[bizo]

Eleocharis vivipara? ... but it isnt that slow ... and is a bit weedy ... some comb it with a comb lol

I had cryptocoryne balansae but it's not thin ...

Also got a few days ago cyperus helferi i think.

 

[Phish Tank]

I had cryptocoryne balansae but it's not thin ...

Maybe “grassy” is too specific, I would definitely include Crypt Balansea.

 

[Rob23]

Unless you're intending this to be a dedicated breeder tank, I would pass on E. vivipara as it tends to become a tangly mess. A nice alternative that is thin and upright is E. montevidensis. Check out @Bolbi's layout for a nice example of how it can be used.

C. helferi is another great option. Its slightly wider, flat leaves look amazing when they ripple on the surface. @Naturescapes_Rocco has some nice examples of using this.

C. spiralis var. caudigera is one that I don't see mentioned often. I would like to see it become more readily available here in the states.

 

[Unexpected]

Erio Feather Duster.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I do recommend Cyperus Helferi, no runners, natural grassy look, slow growth rate. Ends tend to be algae magnets, though, be warned!

 

[Phish Tank]

I do recommend Cyperus Helferi, no runners, natural grassy look, slow growth rate. Ends tend to be algae magnets, though, be warned!

Would ends be any worse algea magnets than other tall plants?

I do like the look of Cyperus Helferi, and some of the tall crypts too.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Would ends be any worse algea magnets than other tall plants?

No, and once they get established with good deep roots, you can trim them down to the base and they'll grow new algae-free leaves.

Just know that 99% of C helferi is grown emersed; the emersed growth WILL die off or worse, get algae, underwater.
My recommendation is, give them 1-2 weeks underwater, and once you see new submerged growth, trim off the old leaves at the base.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

I recommend crypt crispulata var. tonkinensis. Though it gets tall it bends at the surface of a 24" tall tank. It is thinner then balansae and crispulata

 

[Burr740]

Normally Id say Helanthium bolivianum Angustifolia, can see it in my avatar pic. But it does spread via runners. I just keep them pinched off as needed. Plug the extra in the main group til theres enough. Its less trouble than a group of medium speed stems

Blyxa roban is a good greenish brown. Med or less light itll stay green. Gets some brownish-red hues under high light. Slow but will hit 24" tall

Blyxa sp red for a deep red 24"+ tall. Note that Im only speaking of the sp red I have. Some of the big retailers have a 'sp red' that doesnt exactly get red or tall, likely aubertii or variant

Blyxa octandra could work too, stays green but not as tall as the others. Tops out 12-15 inches. Hard to find these days too

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I recommend crypt crispulata var. tonkinensis. Though it gets tall it bends at the surface of a 24" tall tank. It is thinner then balansae and crispulata

Ok, this is interesting to me. Never seen it before, and it's hard to even find photos online. Do you have any photos?

 

[Rob23]

There's some good information on C. crispulata var. tonkinensis along with photos here.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

There's some good information on C. crispulata var. tonkinensis along with photos here.

Mine looks different then this. But wow that's pretty.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

Ok, this is interesting to me. Never seen it before, and it's hard to even find photos online. Do you have any photos?

Ill get a close up of it this evening.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

Crypt. Sivadasanii would also work unfortunately i killed mine when I treated it with h2o2