Description
Aquatic dwarf hair grass (also called love grass) is a popular choice when it comes to adding plant life to your aquarium. This extremely versatile plant is commonly used to “carpet” areas of tanks and gives off a seaweed-like vibe, making the motion in the aquarium very obvious. Dwarf grass is a staple for anyone trying out the aquatic landscaping hobby.
The aquascaping possibilities are endless with this type of plant. It looks beautiful next to Stone, as well as contrasting perfectly with dark sand or soil.
It’s incredibly easy to grow. So much so that you’ll probably find yourself trimming this quite a bit!
For aquascapers, having a carpet of Dwarf Hairgrass is the crowning jewel in their aquarium. This grass is not only beautiful, but it provides many benefits to your aquatic ecosystem. Not only does it help with nitrate reduction, but it provides cover and spawning sites for fish and shrimp. If you've been thinking about adding this versatile plant to your tank, here's a step-by-step guide on how to use Dwarf Hairgrass seeds in your aquarium.
How to Germinate the Seeds
Each packet with cover 20x20 cm of area. You will need to spread the seeds evenly in a tank without water. Then add sand or mud substrate (so the seeds will not float) ontop of the seeds. Add water so that the substrate is moist. Once the seeds begin to sprout at 1-2 cm above the surface you can gradually add more water.
Step 1: Soak the Seeds
The first step is to soak the seeds in dechlorinated water for 24 hours. This will help to remove any impurities that may be on the surface of the seeds.
Step 2: Fill Your Tank
After the seeds have been soaked, it's time to fill your tank with dechlorinated water. Be sure to leave enough space at the top of the tank for the seeds to float.
Step 3: Add the Seeds
Once your tank is filled, add the seeds carefully so that they are evenly distributed throughout the tank.
It's important to note that Dwarf Hairgrass seeds have a high success rate, so you should see results within 2-3 weeks.
Dwarf Hairgrass can grow quite quickly, so be sure to trim it every few weeks to prevent it from taking over your tank.
To learn more about this plant and how to care for it, check out our complete guide to Dwarf Hairgrass care!
Optimal Conditions
Here are the optimal conditions you'll want to strive for in your aquarium:
- Water Conditions: 70-83° F @ pH 6.5-7.5
- Lighting: Moderate to High
- Nutrients/Ferts: Nutrient-Heavy substrate with Fertilizer dosing
- CO2: Not required, but best for optimal growth see more
While Dwarf Hairgrass grows in a variety of conditions, these are the optimal conditions for the fastest growth & healthiest carpet. If you're looking for the fastest, most healthy growth, it's also important to get a few other things right:
Substrate
This plant thrives in a nutrient-rich substrate. While it's not critical to its success, you'll have the best results in your tank with a good substrate. (This applies to all sorts of plants, including Dwarf Hairgrass). See my recommended substrate here.
CO2
If you're going to have a carpet in your planted tank, especially a Dwarf Hairgrass carpet, you'll probably want to use some sort of CO2 system. Whether that's DIY or pressurized is up to your budget, but I've seen both work quite well for carpets.
Water Circulation
Not only is this vital for Dwarf Hairgrass, it's also pretty much a required for healthy planted tanks. Getting as much CO2 and nutrients to the Hairgrass is vital to get that explosive growth for the carpet. As a bonus, this also keeps your carpet (and substrate) clean, as well as hindering algae growth in between the hairgrass.
Trimming Hairgrass
The key to a great DHG carpet is consistent, even trimming. Left alone, Dwarf Hairgrass grows vertically, not horizontally. That's why it's important to continually trim the plant quite often to stimulate horizontal growth, forcing the growth outwards, not upwards. This is even more true if you're using CO2: Dwarf Hairgrass has explosive growth in CO2 and high light. However, I wouldn't suggest this for beginners; that's also a very easy way to have algae take over your tank.
It's also a good idea to keep a fish net around when you trim this stuff: it gets VERY messy. Get as much of the trimmings out as possible, but what's left will simply rot away, so don't stress about it.
If you're looking for a plant that is both beautiful and beneficial for your aquarium, look no further than Dwarf Hairgrass. This plant is easy to care for and can provide many benefits for your aquatic ecosystem. By following these simple steps, you'll be able to successfully add Dwarf Hairgrass seeds to your aquarium in no time!
How to Use Dwarf Hairgrass Seeds in Your Aquarium
Aquarium enthusiasts are always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to decorate their tanks. One trend that's becoming increasingly popular is using aquatic plants to create a lush and vibrant underwater landscape. However, finding the right plants and seeds can be a challenge. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the best places to buy aquarium plant seeds, including dwarf grass seed and freshwater aquarium plant seeds.
One type of aquarium plant seed that's highly sought after is dwarf grass seed. This type of grass is popular because it stays small and doesn't grow too tall, making it perfect for smaller aquariums. You can find dwarf grass seed online or in pet stores that specialize in aquarium supplies.
While lawn grass may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of aquarium plants, some types of lawn grass can actually grow in aquariums. For example, Bermuda grass is a type of lawn grass that can thrive in an underwater environment. However, it's important to do your research before adding any type of lawn grass to your aquarium, as some types may be toxic to fish.
Freshwater aquarium plant seeds are another popular choice among aquarium hobbyists. These plants are not only beautiful, but they also provide a natural habitat for fish and other aquatic creatures. You can find freshwater aquarium plant seeds online or in pet stores that specialize in aquarium supplies. Some popular varieties include Anubias, Java fern, and Amazon sword.
If you're looking to add some life and color to your aquarium, there are plenty of options available when it comes to aquatic plant seeds. Whether you're looking for dwarf grass seed, freshwater aquarium plant seeds, or underwater plant seeds, there are many places to buy them both online and in-store. Just be sure to do your research and choose plants that are safe for your fish and other aquatic creatures. This plant is easy to care for and can provide many benefits for your aquatic ecosystem. By following these simple steps, you'll be able to successfully add Dwarf Hairgrass seeds to your aquarium in no time! Happy planting!
Sam –
Mine fully grew in a few days, as long as you have the right substrates and some light it should be the same.
Vinu –
Be patient. They will grow. This is what happened to me. Didn't see any activity for 1 week and then they slowly started to sprout. I would strongly recommend adding Flourish Iron and Flourish for every 3 days and double the dosage. Also keep the tank lights on for atleast 10 hours. If you started in dry start method, keep the seeds well moist all the time.
Amanda J. –
Might have been my substrate and filter placement, but after developing a thick and lush carpet (dry start), I filled up the tank, added an airstone, and about 10% came dislodged from the sand and seachem substrate (I don't remember which version) and started floating to the top. Turned on my HOB and lost another 70%. They don't die when they float, so they don't pollute the tank and with tweezers can be placed back into the substrate, but they slipped right out again with even the most gentle flow. Then I added guppies, pygmy Cory's, snails, and cherry shrimp. The guppies seem to do the most damage (as expexted), but the shrimp and snails just glide over it and perch on the leaves. Definitely worth the weekly hassle of replanting, for me anyway.
I did manage to germinate some on some granite and driftwood, the granite didn't take too well (nothing to anchor to), but the wood looks fabulous and the roots were able to grab effectively - definitely going to use some of my remaining seeds on more driftwood.
Will definitely try again (mostly because I need an excuse to start another aquarium)
Anthony –
First time planting seeds in an aquarium, so wasn't sure what to expect. Super pleased with the result. After about 4 days it started to sprout and it just took off from there. The picture is at day 14. This is a 20 gallon tank, used one full pack, which was way more than enough (we also planted a hairgrass in the back)
Luna –
Growing these from seeds was trial and error. I tried an empty tank with substrate, just 2" of water, and direct LED lighting, and got very little germination after a week and a half of trying. I then gave up and decided to aquascape the rest of the tank with other plants and then filled it up all the way with water. After about a week like this 100% of the seeds grew in and now they are covering my crypts and rocks so that I can barely see them. I believe the key was heated water. This was for a 20g Caradina shrimp tank and this provides them with a lot of surface area to graze and hide. If I had to do this over again, I would add substrate, add seeds, water a bit, let it set for a day or 2, add more substrate on top, then fill and heat the water and add good lighting for fastest germination.
Brandon –
UPDATE: My betta has started eating these fricking seeds and he’s bloated. I guess it’s my fault for nit growing them into actual plants before adding them to the tank. They’re also sticking all over his body and I have to keep using tweezers to take them off of him. Not necessarily the company’s fault. The directions said to plant and grow them THEN add them to the tank. But just wanted to put this on here for anyone with Betta fish. The seeds can cause a blockage and be dangerous so don’t put them directly into the tank.
Seems to be working so far! I put them in a small bowl of water for a few hours to get all gooey and then I stuck them to this piece of driftwood in my tank. They started sprouting within 5 days. The picture I posted is about one week after planting them. I also use a grow light on them, not sure if that has made a difference in the growth speed. But I will be adding more to my tank depending how these guys grow. Pretty satisfied overall. This is a tiny pinch of the seeds, I didn’t even use 10% of the seeds that were in the package. Definitely don’t use them all because you’ll be overgrown lol.
Colton –
Great product and it does what it says ONLY if you use it correctly. This is made for a dry start. Do not pour seeds then fill your tank up with water. Do not poour seeds then pour water all the way to the seeds where it's saturated. You will grow mold. Pour enough water so it's halfway to your seeds. When they start to grow, roots will reach for the water and force them to be stronger. Have patience and wait if you want this product to grow. Just like any carpeting plants, do not overload your tank with fish. Fish waste will be trapped in your plants and cleaning with result in more work. Any other questions, just ask. But please do your research. Images shown and I am still waiting for another month before I fill the tank up and added stock.
Chase Nichols –
This seeds actually sprouted and they all grew. Now I have a lot of plants in my aquarium, I used the second method (just dumped the seeds inside the aquarium full of water)
Bonnie S. Calhoun –
They grew sporadically. I even bought fertilizer and have a pretty good lighting system. If it takes more than what I have it is it really worth it. I got some sparse patches here and there. It’s pretty cool to see little plants growing here i it’s pretty cool to see little plants growing Randomly, but I kind of wanted a thick bed of plants covering the bottom.
Shan –
I've been letting these grow for a few months. Glosso seeds can get to 2-5cm tall. I have some seeds that grew past 6 inches. These are way to wide and the wrong color of green.
They still make a decent carpet and they haven't melted on me but it would be nice to know beforehand.
syvine –
This is my first time trying real plants in an aquarium. I used plant substrate and I planted the seeds as instructed by multiple youtube video. The seeds start germinating 7 days after they were planted, after I learned that I was supposed to wrap the aquarium with saran wrap.