Plant Profiles

Helanthium tenellum

Live freshwater plant Helanthium tenellum - Pygmy Chain Sword for fish tanks and aquariums Large bunch or portion of aquatic plant Helanthium tenellum - Pygmy Chain Sword. Aquarium plant with fast delivery across Australia.
Helanthium tenellum
Pygmy Chain Sword
$8.95

This is an excellent carpeting plant for aquarists seeking to create lush and captivating foreground in the aquarium. With its petite size and fast growth, the Pygmy Chain Sword is a good alternative to other, similar carpeting plants like Eleocharis pusilla.

Originating from South America, Helanthium tenellum is popular as a low-tech foreground plant, due to its low growing nature. Its slender leaves grow to around 6 to 10 cm in length, and grow out along runners to form a beautiful mat of foliage that creates a sense of depth in the aquascape. The Pygmy Chain Sword is relatively undemanding in terms of care requirements. It can thrive in a range of lighting conditions, from moderate to high, although brighter lighting tends to encourage more compact growth. Strong lights will also bring out a red colouration in the leaves. This plant benefits from a nutrient-rich substrate and occasional fertilization, promoting healthy and vigorous growth. Helanthium tenellum prefers soft to medium-hard water, with a pH range of 5.0-7.0, and can tolerate a range of temperatures between 10-35°C.

The Pygmy Chain Sword's adaptability makes it an excellent choice for aquascaping, whether you're a beginner or an experienced aquarist. Its ability to reproduce through runners allows it to gradually fill in the available space, creating a cohesive and natural appearance within the aquarium. Additionally, its carpet-like growth helps prevent algae growth by outcompeting the unwanted organisms for nutrients and light.

Helanthium tenellum is an excellent plant choice for aquarists looking to add some greenery to their aquarium. Its low maintenance and cold water tolerance make it a good choice for a range of different planted tanks.

Requirements and information

Temperature:
TropicalWarmCold

Substrate type:
CoarseFine

Substrate nutrients:

Medium

Water nutrients:

Medium

Light demand:

Medium

CO2:

Low

Height:

Low

Growth rate:

Vigorous

Growth habit:

Rosette

Creeping

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Native to: