🌱 Lilaeopsis brasiliensis Pre‑Grown Mat 15x10cm

Lilaeopsis brasiliensis, commonly known as Micro Sword, is a compact foreground plant prized for creating lush, low‑growing carpets in freshwater aquariums. The pre‑grown mat format offers an instant, established carpet that transitions quickly into your aquascape with minimal melt or adaptation stress.

This plant features:
– Fine, grass‑like leaves forming a dense, bright‑green lawn
– Naturally low height (3–7 cm), perfect for foregrounds and nano tanks
– Strong root structure already developed in the mat
– Ideal for Iwagumi, nature-style, and minimalist layouts
– Safe for shrimp, snails, and all freshwater fish

The pre‑grown mat makes aquascaping easier by providing immediate coverage, reducing algae risk, and speeding up the carpet‑forming process.

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💧 Care Requirements

💡 Light
– Medium to high light encourages compact, dense growth.
– Under low light, leaves may grow taller and spread more slowly.

🌿 CO₂ & Nutrients
– CO₂ is recommended for fast, tight carpeting but not mandatory.
– Benefits from nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs.
– Liquid fertilizers help maintain vibrant green color.

🌱 Planting the Pre‑Grown Mat
– Place the mat directly on the substrate.
– You can keep it whole for instant coverage or cut it into smaller squares to encourage faster spreading.
– Gently press into the substrate so roots make contact but avoid burying the leaves.

💧 Water Parameters
– Temperature: 20–28°C
– pH: 6.0–7.5
– Soft to medium-hard water preferred
– Stable conditions help the mat root quickly

🌬️ Flow & Maintenance
– Moderate flow prevents debris buildup between the blades.
– Trim regularly to maintain a low, carpet-like appearance.
– Remove any yellowing leaves to keep the mat healthy.

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🐠 Ideal For
– Foregrounds in planted tanks
– Nano aquascapes
– Iwagumi layouts
– Shrimp tanks
– Beginners and advanced aquascapers alike

🌿 Ludwigia sp. ‘Guinea’ (Ludwigia senegalensis) is a striking stem plant prized in aquascaping for its vivid red coloration and intricate leaf veining. Originally from Africa, it’s now a rare but popular choice among advanced aquarists.

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📝 Description
– Scientific name: Ludwigia senegalensis (formerly Ludwigia sp. ‘Guinea’)
– Appearance: Deep red leaves with green and light-colored veins; in optimal conditions, leaves show a full red surface with a central vein.
– Growth habit: Upright stem plant; can grow submerged or emersed (creeping form above water).
– Placement: Best used in the mid-ground of aquascapes due to its moderate height and visual impact.

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🌱 Growing Tips

💡 Lighting
– Requires high light intensity, especially with a strong red spectrum to enhance coloration.
– In low light, leaves turn more green and lose vibrancy.

🧪 Nutrients & Substrate
– Thrives with rich substrate feeding, especially nitrogen in ammonia form.
– Needs a balanced fertilizer regimen—deficiencies can quickly lead to stunted, dark leaf tips.

💨 CO₂ & Water Parameters
– Benefits from stable CO₂ injection, though it can survive in low-tech setups with cooler temperatures.
– Prefers slightly soft water, but this is not strictly necessary.

✂️ Maintenance
– Propagate by trimming tops and replanting.
– Bottom stems will sprout side shoots if healthy.
– Space stems adequately to prevent overcrowding and ensure light penetration.

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⚠️ Challenges
– Not beginner-friendly due to its sensitivity to lighting, nutrients, and CO₂ fluctuations.
– Requires prompt attention to nutrient imbalances to avoid rapid decline.