Best ground cover for low tech planted tanks?

Hi everyone,

I would like to find out what ground cover you use and/or prefer in a low tech (no CO2) environment? and which you steer clear of?

thanks!

 

low tech generally means low light.
Its impossible to get a lush carpet under these conditions.

But foreground plants that will survive with low light is dwarf hair grass, h tripartita and monte carlo.

This low tech tank by Dennis wong is my favourite.



But thats using dirt (soil) and good light

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That has been my experience aswell growing HC and Cobra grass... they don't do much and tend just to fade away. Will take a look thanks!

 

I've tried cobra grass , and hair grass they just melt away... Tried s. Repens and it's doing really well. Religiously dosing ferts and have medium lighting. Cheap led units

 

I have had the experience of trying to grow it in low light conditions and believe it or not, they do not thrive at all in low light. Since I switched over to a medium T5 6500K (1400 l/m) led light, the DHG is going through a huge growing boom and it's all growing new runners with shoots coming up everywhere. I've got more DHG than I can ever dream of.

To clarify something on the term low tech:

In the above terms, I would classify my tank as medium tech because my lighting falls in that category and I use Scape Liquid Carbon which helps things along nicely plus EI ferts on top of that. I don't even keep fish or shrimp.

 

A few moons ago:
Now:

1x 24w Plantek Pro flora Pink T5 bulb 1 x 24w Plantek Pro growth White T5 bulb(all most the full length of the tank)
On from 6am till 8pm every day.

Sump type filter on side of tank,orange(the fruit)bags as filter media

Heater set at 26°

Ordinary black fine gravel

No airstone.I rely on my return pump from sump to air rate and create flow.

No cleaning of tank,sifting sand or cleaning algea,I don't have algea(not sure why,maybe it's the ottos,or it could be the correct light spectrum).

Flourish Excel.1st week dosed every other day,thereafter once a week
Never used root tabs or any other form of ferts.

No cutting back or rearranging,but I probably would have to soon,plants are growing nicely.

I also struggle with carpet plants.Tried cobra grass(they live,don't fade away,but don't excell,very slowly making small shoots but pretty much the same as when I added them).Dwarf hairgrass-starting to fade away.Monty carlo(they live,don't fade away,but don't excell,no growth).

Tank was filled with tap water,never used any conditioner on water.Did 1 x 30% waterchange in 10 months,about a month ago.I just top up daily with tap water for evaporation.

Inhabitants are shrimps,ottos and assassin snail.Shrimps are breeding,lots of small shrimps.

I feed algea wafers 2 (sometimes once a week) times per week and now and then i swop out with a little bit of frozen brine shrimp or daphnia.

Tank is give or take 10 months old

After reading this post I would like to try S.Repens if I can get some.

 

Thanks for all the advice, I will definitely take a look at my lighting and ferts.

@rsa Any Idea on where I can find some S. Repens?

 

Some one on the forum is sure to have some available. Unfortunately I don't have any to sell atm.