Why is my dwarf hairgrass turning brown after planting?

This is commonly known as 'melting'. Most commercially available hairgrass is grown emersed (above water). When submerged in your tank, the old terrestrial leaves die off to make way for new aquatic growth. Ensure parameters are stable and give it time to adapt.

Do I strictly need CO2 to grow dwarf hairgrass?

While it can survive in low-tech setups without injected CO2, it will grow extremely slowly and may never form the dense, thick carpet you see in professional aquascapes. CO2 injection is highly recommended.

How often should I trim the carpet?

Trim the hairgrass whenever the blades become long enough to bend over significantly, or when it looks untidy. Regular trimming down to about 2-3 cm actually stimulates the plant to send out more lateral runners, thickening the carpet.

Can I plant dwarf hairgrass in standard aquarium gravel?

It is very difficult to grow hairgrass in coarse gravel. The delicate runners struggle to push through large, heavy stones. A fine-grained substrate like aquasoil or fine sand is strongly recommended for carpeting success.

What is the best way to plant a new pot of hairgrass?

Never plant the whole pot as one clump. Remove the rockwool or growth gel, separate the grass into tiny plugs of about 5 to 10 blades each, and plant them in a checkerboard pattern about 2-3 cm apart using aquascaping tweezers.

FreshwaterPlantsIntermediate

Dwarf Hairgrass

Eleocharis parvula

Dwarf Hairgrass is a highly popular, fine-bladed foreground plant that creates a stunning, naturalistic lawn effect in the aquarium.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 10 – 28 °C
pH range: 5.5 – 7.5
Hardness: 2 – 15 dGH
Adult size: 3 – 7 cm
Min. volume: 10 litres+
Lifespan: 1 – 5 years
Diet: Photosynthetic / Root feeder
Water flow: Moderate
Preferred setup: Fine-grained substrate such as aquasoil or sand is essential for delicate runners to spread.

About the Dwarf Hairgrass

Belonging to the Eleocharis genus, Dwarf Hairgrass is the quintessential carpeting species for nature aquariums and Iwagumi layouts. Its thin, needle-like green stalks sway gently in the current, creating a dynamic and visually soothing miniature meadow. While the trade name often encompasses similar species like Eleocharis acicularis and Eleocharis pusilla, they all share the same iconic grass-like aesthetic and growth habits.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Dwarf Hairgrass against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Dwarf Hairgrass comes from

Native range

North America, Europe, Asia

Countries / regions

United States, United Kingdom, Japan

Habitat

Shallow margins of lakes, marshes, and mudflats where they grow both emersed and submersed.

A cosmopolitan species found globally in temperate and subtropical wetland environments.

Similar species

Micro Sword
Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
Monte Carlo
Micranthemum tweediei
Dwarf Baby Tears
Hemianthus callitrichoides

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Amano Shrimp
Caridina multidentata
Shrimp excel at picking trapped debris and early algae growth from the fine grass blades without damaging them.
Great
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Small, mid-to-top dwelling schooling fish pose zero threat to delicate foreground plants.
Great
Otocinclus Catfish
Otocinclus spp.
A gentle, lightweight algae grazer that will keep the grass clean without uprooting the carpet.
Great
Bronze Corydoras
Corydoras aeneus
Their enthusiastic substrate sifting can easily uproot newly planted grass plugs before they have a chance to establish.
Compatible with caution
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
Large, boisterous cichlids will actively dig and completely destroy carpeting plants.
Not recommended
Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Goldfish are notorious for foraging in the substrate and eating or uprooting delicate foreground vegetation.
Not recommended

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