🌱 Echinodorus tenellus – Care Guide
(Now often classified as Helanthium tenellum)
Echinodorus tenellus, also known as the Pygmy Chain Sword, is a classic foreground carpet plant that's easy to grow and ideal for low- to high-tech aquascapes. It resembles grass, grows via runners, and forms lush green lawns when given the right conditions.
🔎 Overview
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Scientific Name: Helanthium tenellum (formerly Echinodorus tenellus)
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Common Names: Pygmy Chain Sword, Dwarf Sword
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Origin: North and South America
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Growth Form: Thin, grass-like blades from a central rosette
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Size: 5–15 cm (2–6 inches) tall
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Placement: Foreground or low midground
💡 Care Requirements
🔆 Lighting
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Medium to high lighting promotes tight, compact carpeting
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Low light = taller, less dense growth
💨 CO₂
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Not required, but strongly recommended for carpeting effect
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Helps reduce legginess and promotes vibrant growth
💧 Water Parameters
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Temperature: 20–28°C (68–82°F)
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pH: 6.0–7.5
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Hardness: Soft to medium
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Flow: Moderate flow is ideal
🧪 Nutrients
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Heavy root feeder – thrives in nutrient-rich substrate
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Root tabs helpful if planted in inert substrates
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Responds well to liquid ferts for micronutrient balance
✂️ Growth & Maintenance
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Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
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Spreads through runners/stolons to form a lawn
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Trim tall or shading leaves regularly to keep the carpet flat
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Remove dead/dying leaves to avoid decay buildup
🌱 Propagation
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Produces runners with small daughter plants
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Let daughter plants root, then trim the runner to separate
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You can replant or let them spread naturally
🪴 Aquascaping Tips
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Perfect for foreground in nature-style or Iwagumi aquascapes
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Works well with hardscape (rocks or driftwood), providing a natural grassy base
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Combine with:
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Eleocharis acicularis for textural contrast
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Cryptocoryne parva for mixed foregrounds
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Pogostemon helferi for dynamic leaf shape variety
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