Any good recommendations for . . .

[tear-scar]

plants that could make a "carpet" look on the bottom? In other words, plants, or arrangements of species that can make it look like the bottom is grass-like or like a lawn? thanks.

 

[sinistral]

I don't know what your tank specs are (in terms of CO2 or light), but generally the plants that will carpet the bottom of a tank can be relatively demanding.

Riccia fluitans is one plant that is in pretty wide use nowadays for aquascaping after Takashi Amano influenced the whole world to use it. I've never grown it, but it needs to be tied down to the substrate or a rock with fishing line or netting. Glossostigma elatinoides is another plant that I believe Amano has popularized. Needs pretty high light.

Microswords (lilaeopsis species, particularly brasiliensis) will form a lawn, but need high light intensity and are rather slow growing.

Finally, pygmy chains (echinodorus tennellus) are challenging in the same way that microswords are (slow growing, needs high light to form a lawn).

Two plants that I don't know much about are hairgrass and marsilea.

EDIT: Here is a lovely example of a tank with riccia and glosso.

 

[tear-scar]

thanks for the info, it does look nice. I've also seen tall plants placed lengthwise and mixed in with the carpet, anyone have comments on that?

 

[sinistral]

Full credit to Colin_BC for this post. Check out the fourth post in this thread. Hopefully it'll address your question. Colin made a nice diagram.

 

[tear-scar]

thanks sinistra, that's awesome. I think I'll try that myself since Limnophilla is way easier to find than riccia.

 

[Grim Reaper]

check this site out they got lots of pics with plants at the button u might like them
The Planted Tank