Dwarf Hairgrass Carpet

[XeroTolerance]

Hi everyone. I am trying to establish a think carpet of dwarf hairgrass in my 10 gallon tank. I currently have some dwarf hairgrass in there but it has been growing slowly even with DIY Co2, two different liquid fertilizers, and root tabs. I think it is because it is planted in gravel. Anyways, I was thinking about buying some more pots of dwarf hairgrass to "fill" in the empty space so you can barley see the gravel. Hopefully it will grow to fill in the small spaces. Would this tactic work for a 10 gallon tank? I think it would because it is a smaller tank and if you have the money it isn't a problem.

Thanks for the input!

 

[mike455555]

iv had trouble with hairgrass its doing nicely out of the water in my propagator but its a pain to grow in my tanks... what lighing do you have? how many WPG

 

[XeroTolerance]

I am currently using two 10 watt fluorescent lights so that would make it 2wpg.

 

[mike455555]

i found that it grow's slow under water. that should be okay for it then... hmmm gravel shouldn't make much difference you can allways swap to sand though

 

[XeroTolerance]

I was thinking about switching to sand except I do not know how to do it effectively so that the established bacteria do not die.

 

[mike455555]

most of the bacteria should be in your filter.
i swapped a tank over to sand 2 days ago. just took the fish out put them in a holding tank with about 50% of the water then emptied the gravel and stuck the sand it
everything fine with the tank

 

[XeroTolerance]

Hmm sounds like a good plan. The thing is I do not have a holding tank to put the fish into. Do you think I could do the swap with them still in the tank if I take it really slow as to not spill any gravel?

Oh! I forgot, how would I do the dwarf hairgrass I already have planted? Would disturbing their root structure kill them?

 

[mike455555]

it might do a little just be carefull with the hairgrass... if its only 10gal you could put them in 2 3 gal buckets that will hold them okay

 

[XeroTolerance]

Hmm, now that I am thinking about this I would rather just pay the money to fill the bottom with DHG instead of switching everything. It isn't going to be a fortune because I can get a pot for $4 each. I think I would only need 4-5 and I will be set.

Thank you so much for your time.

 

[stu40]

How's the flow down there?

 

[XeroTolerance]

Its good, I am running a filter designed for a 30 gallon aquarium. The current isn't too strong but it is strong enough.

 

[stu40]

i struggled to get it to do much in an inert substrate with similar lighting to yours.
Was using carbon,too. The best results where in areas of the best flow.

 

[XeroTolerance]

I agree. Right under my filter is where the most DHG is. Are there easy tools to platen DHG with. I do not have tweezers, just fingers but that wouldn't be a very efficent way I think...

 

[stu40]

Sorry only ever used tweezers, that way, you can bury them nice and deep.I have however, upgraded, from my wife's eyebrow ones,to a long handled pair

Spraybar?

 

[XeroTolerance]

Sorry only ever used tweezers, that way, you can bury them nice and deep.I have however, upgraded, from my wife's eyebrow ones,to a long handled pair

Thanks. I was just wondering if there was anything that I could use as a substitute around the house. I do have a swiss army knife that came with tweezers. They aren't very long but they can get under the gravel.