Amazon Sword forest Aquascape?

I have finally come to the conclusion of how I want my tank to look after staring at a rather plain 'aquascape' for the past month. I have decided to go for something which may be a little unique (or not) and create a sort of Amazon Sword forest. I would use larger Echinodorus Bleheri and place them in small groups around the tank to create a 'canopy' of sorts and then leave a few spaces where a few Pygmy Chain Swords can grow and create the likes of an 'undergrowth' possibly around a piece of twisty root-like wood.

Would it work? Once the aquascaping really gets underway I will be using a liquid fertiliser, would CO2 also be ideal too?

Thank you all in advance

 

That's an interesting idea - I'd like to see it once it's there.

Swords benefit greatly from root tabs...more important than CO2 IMO.

 

I agree. Swords take most of their nutrients from their roots so a nutrient rich substrate and root tabs would be more important than CO2 and liquid ferts.

 

I think the swords will create too much shade for pygmy chain sword to grow directly underneath it if you are thinking of a carpet will grow under there (how often do you see grass under a large shady tree? ).

 

bigdreams what foreground plant would be better suited to a shadier set up?

I currently have a gravel substrate and the three 17" Amazon Swordplants I have now are doing well without ferts (I will get some once I get paid) so I don't think my substrate is too bad nutrient wise.

 

Anubis Nana is low and grows well with low light, but it isn't a carpeting plant, it gets to 2-3 inches