Care specifications
| Type | Carpet |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Light | Medium (35–65 µmol PAR) |
| CO2 | Beneficial, not required |
| Fertilizer demand | Medium |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Max height | 3 in |
| Spread | 4 in |
| Placement | Foreground |
| Attaches to hardscape | No |
| Snail & shrimp safe | Yes |
| Temperature | 68–82 °F |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Color | Green |
| Trimming | Regular |
| Styles | Iwagumi, Nature |
Get Micro Sword
Propagation
Spreads by runners; separate a mat into small plugs and plant them an inch or two apart to seed a lawn.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Micro Sword take to carpet?
It is a slow carpeter — expect a couple of months or more for full coverage even in good conditions, and longer without CO2. Plant small plugs in a grid to speed things along, keep the light reaching the substrate, and resist the urge to disturb it while runners establish.
Does Micro Sword need CO2?
Not absolutely, but it makes a real difference. With CO2 and strong light it grows denser and carpets faster; in a low-tech tank it can survive and slowly spread, but it tends to stay sparse and is easily outcompeted by faster groundcovers.
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