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Plant · Carpet

Dwarf baby tears

Micranthemum callitrichoides 'Cuba' · Cuba · also Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba', HC

It needs strong light, added CO2, good water flow and fertilizer, or it will lift and melt. Plant tiny clumps a few centimetres apart and trim the carpet often, or the bottom layer dies.

At a glance

Light

Bright light

CO₂

Needs CO₂

Growth

Steady growth

Where it goes

Front

Temperature

22–26°C

pH

6–7

Height in a tank

1–5 cm 0.4–2 in

Difficulty

Hard

What it does for your tank

Makes the classic bright green lawn in small aquascapes.

Fish that eat or uproot it

Not eaten much, but digging fish, plecos and crayfish pull it up easily.

Growing more

Plant small clumps; runners spread into a carpet.

Grows well with

Same light and temperature, but a different spot in the tank, so they fill it out together.

Alternanthera reineckii

Alternanthera reineckii

Plant · StemSome care

  • Bright light!
  • CO₂ helps
  • Steady growth
  • Middle
  • 18–26°C

Pink to red leaves make a colour contrast among green plants.

South America

Alternanthera reineckii

Alternanthera reineckii

South America

Temperature
18–26°C
pH
6–7
Height
10–20 in · 25–50 cm
Light
High
CO₂
Helps
Growth
Medium
Goes
Middle
Difficulty
Some care

More plants. Pinch off the top and plant it; the old stem branches out.

Goldfish, silver dollars and some plecos chew its soft leaves.

Full care guide

Photo: Rchampagne, Public domain

Cabomba

Cabomba

Plant · StemSome care

  • Bright light!
  • CO₂ helps
  • Fast growth
  • Back
  • 20–25°C

Fine, fan-shaped leaves make a soft hiding place for fry and small fish.

Southeastern South America and the eastern and western United States

Cabomba

Cabomba caroliniana

Southeastern South America and the eastern and western United States

Temperature
20–25°C
pH
6–7
Height
12–24 in · 30–60 cm
Light
High
CO₂
Helps
Growth
Fast
Goes
Back
Difficulty
Some care

More plants. Cut off stem tops and replant them; cut stems are slow to branch.

Goldfish, silver dollars and many cichlids shred the delicate leaves.

Full care guide

Photo: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0

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