Best carpeting plants for 5 gallon?

So, I need a carpeting plant for a 5 gallon betta tank. Suggestions? Also, it needs to be easy and hardy. Can you guys send me pics of YOUR Staurogyne repens. Thanks!

 

So, I need a carpeting plant for a 5 gallon betta tank. Suggestions? Also, it needs to be easy and hardy. Can you guys send me pics of YOUR Staurogyne repens. Thanks!

What's your substrate?

 

My s. Repens likes to just grow denser and denser and then die off and continue to grow denser in one tiny little clump rather than carpet. Its been like 2 months and I was finally able to arrange a couple strands into a straight line but that's about it. All my other plants grow properly so who knows what I'm doing wrong.

Check out marsilea if you're going low tech

 

What's your substrate?

White sand. here is the link.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076FVMHTD/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=A2LDZGFAGG1QXE&psc=1

 

White sand. here is the link.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076FVMHTD/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=A2LDZGFAGG1QXE&psc=1

Oh maybe hairgrass or some hydrophilia

 

Oh maybe hairgrass or some hydrophilia

Hygrophila is actually a stem plant and could grow tall for a 5 gallon, unless the OP is not using lids.

 

Hygrophila is actually a stem plant and could grow tall for a 5 gallon, unless the OP is not using lids.

Oh I meant HYDROCOTLE I always get those mixed up.

 

I am using a lid. Sorry for the undetailed response, lol.

 

I have Monte Carlo in one of my 5 gallons doing well but slow carpeting without co2! It didn’t do well at first but I was patient and a couple months later it bounced back! I have S repens in my other 5 gallon growing well but in my 15 gallon it grows well and melts away! Can’t quite figure it out so I’ve been stealing trimmings from the 5 gallon to help fill it back in. I’ll post a pic of each of the tanks all low tech!

 

What do you guys think about dwarf sag OR crypt Parva as carpeting?

 

dwarf sag is one of the easiest carpeting plants out there

 

I have not tried either of those but I’ve read they are both easy crypt parva I’ve heard is very slow growing without co2 and is hard to get to spread, but I’d like to try some for myself. Let us know what you decide on and how it goes! I’d like to try something different than what I’ve already done for my next tank!

 

I have not tried either of those but I’ve read they are both easy crypt parva I’ve heard is very slow growing without co2 and is hard to get to spread, but I’d like to try some for myself. Let us know what you decide on and how it goes! I’d like to try something different than what I’ve already done for my next tank!

I will! I was also considering Marsilea Hirsuta. IDK........

 

I will! I was also considering Marsilea Hirsuta. IDK........

That’s one I would like to try as well I really like the look of that as a carpet!

 

That’s one I would like to try as well I really like the look of that as a carpet!

I agree. I feel as it's not too big like dwarf sag or Staurogyne repens but not too small like monte Carlo.

 

I agree. I feel as it's not too big like dwarf sag or Staurogyne repens but not too small like monte Carlo.

If my S repens continues to melt away I may try something else! It’s frustrating when everything else is growing well and then your nice green carpet starts melting away! It grows back for a while and does it again! I can’t for the life of me figure it out! I’m just nervous trying to plant a carpet plant with the tank having to be partially full for the fish! I’ve only ever planted carpet plants without any water in the tank when I’m first setting them up and that’s hard enough as it is! Any good tips or is it really not that hard with the tank being say 1/3 full of water?

 

If my S repens continues to melt away I may try something else! It’s frustrating when everything else is growing well and then your nice green carpet starts melting away! It grows back for a while and does it again! I can’t for the life of me figure it out! I’m just nervous trying to plant a carpet plant with the tank having to be partially full for the fish! I’ve only ever planted carpet plants without any water in the tank when I’m first setting them up and that’s hard enough as it is! Any good tips or is it really not that hard with the tank being say 1/3 full of water?

IMO this happens with everyone's S. repens. I have heard countless stories of this happening. Try another plant tbh.

 

IMO this happens with everyone's S. repens. I have heard countless stories of this happening. Try another plant tbh.

Now I want too! But what to try maybe the Marsilea Hirsuta? Or dwarf hair grass? I’ve heard sometimes that doesn’t do well in low tech and I want something that’s hopefully gonna fill in dense over time being no co2

 

Pearlweed is another good one.

 

Now I want too! But what to try maybe the Marsilea Hirsuta? Or dwarf hair grass? I’ve heard sometimes that doesn’t do well in low tech and I want something that’s hopefully gonna fill in dense over time being no co2

IMO It does not need high light or co2 but will grow denser with it. So, it's something you don't need but can have. C02 will make growth faster tho. So, it's no mandatory and it's up to you. I just use a cheap air stone for co2, lol. Tbh I would go with Marsilea Hirsuta but once again, it's all up to you.

Pearlweed is another good one.

Oooo! I like the look of pearlweed. It's a carpeting plant not a foreground plant, right?

 

IMO It does not need high light or co2 but will grow denser with it. So, it's something you don't need but can have. C02 will make growth faster tho. So, it's no mandatory and it's up to you. I just use a cheap air stone for co2, lol. Tbh I would go with Marsilea Hirsuta but once again, it's all up to you.

Oooo! I like the look of pearlweed. It's a carpeting plant not a foreground plant, right?

Absolutely! Just need to trim it to keep it carpeting. Mine carpets like crazy in gravel/sand, low tech. Here’s some pics it’s a bit overgrown but you could certainly hack it down to like an inch it would be fine. Check out the progress here from Oct 4 to Oct 30.

 

Absolutely! Just need to trim it to keep it carpeting. Mine carpets like crazy in gravel/sand, low tech. Here’s some pics it’s a bit overgrown but you could certainly hack it down to like an inch it would be fine. Check out the progress here from Oct 4 to Oct 30.

View attachment 748334View attachment 748335

The pearlweed looks amazing!! I this one is a very strong contender. I might just go with pearlweed.

 

The pearlweed looks amazing!! I this one is a very strong contender. I might just go with pearlweed.

It was a real sleeper for me...I got some for free with other plants and just threw it in there not expecting much, now it’s my favorite plant in my tank