Micro Sword

Micro Sword, known botanically as Lilaeopsis mauritiana, forms a low foreground carpet of bright green, grass-like blades that stay under 8 cm under good light. It spreads by runners and fills in steadily under moderate to high light with CO2 supplementation in the 15–40 mg/l range. The optimum temperature is 23 to 28 °C and pH of 6 to 7.5, with carbonate hardness between 2 and 14 dKH. Without CO2 the carpet takes longer to establish and may remain patchy in places. Growth is slow, so allow time for the planting to spread. Propagation is straightforward: lift a section of the established runner mat, cut it into pieces with several roots each, and replant a few centimetres apart. It is rated moderate in difficulty, not because the plant is fussy about water chemistry but because the slow growth makes it vulnerable to algae while it establishes. It also needs consistent CO2 and stable light; without those the carpet thins and allows algae to take hold on the open substrate.