Dwarf Baby Tears, also known as Hemianthus Callitrichoides or even Hemianthus Callitrichoides in aquarium literature, is perhaps one of the popular foreground plants such as planted aquariums.
It grows tiny, bright green leaves in an amazing speed, since the container floor with a lush valley rug.
The Dwarf Baby Tears naturally occurs in Cuba, however, it has spread throughout implanted tanks worldwide. They are normally sold separately in little pots or, for less patient aquarists that need an immediate carpeting, they are already grown and rooted in coco fiber mats.
They can also be seen rooted in driftwood bits for aquascaping purposes.
Tank Requirements
The Hemianthus Callitrichoides will thrive in mostly contaminated water with a pH range between 5.0-7.5 and also a fever between 70-84 degrees Fahrenheit. Being so small, this plant is ideal even for Nano tanks, given they have been well-lit.
Lighting as strong as 2 watts per gallon minimum should be available to hold the plant growing near the bottom. Less light will cause it to rise up to the surface, where it lives in the wild.
Planting your Dwarf Baby Tears
Dwarf Baby Tears usually are found rooting on freshwater stones or driftwood pieces. They may be implanted within the substrate for a foreground plant, however the result is significantly stronger and natural when attached to other tank objects.
You're able to tie tiny segments of Hemianthus into some stone or wooden bit of one's own choice and then leave it to build up its roots round the thing. Many aquarists prefer using cotton thread rather than rubberbands or fishing line, even because it's scarcely noticeable and it melts with the years, leaving only the roots attached.
Still another way of keeping them from floating around would be to cover the Dwarf Baby Tears' roots with moss that will add some weight to the plant.
For planting at the substrate, then you are able to plant an entire pot in one place and wait for it to disperse, or you could split up little stalks and plant them around one inch apart for faster policy.
This really is a timeconsuming process, though, so allow a few aquascaping hours. Plant the stalks employing a very long pair of tweezers and make sure the roots are well inserted in the ground.
Care
Dwarf Baby Tears need a fine-grained substrate full of minerals and nutrients, particularly iron. The plant is more sensitive to iron deficiency and will display yellow leaves if there's inadequate iron from the tank.
They will do well with CO2 supplementation and constant fertilization that will help hasten growth rate.
Always prune this plant, even as while growingnew stalks can get on top of older types and suffocate themDwarf Baby Tears literally kills itself if left unattended.
Reproduction
Even the Hemianthus has pretty slow rise and development pace, but will spread across the substrate after settling on your tank. Roots will branch off and create a complex network, resulting in a carpet-like appearance, but only in case you remember to constantly trim the plant to continue to keep it low.
Another popular way of propagating the Dwarf Baby Tears will be always to cut off smaller sections of larger plants and replanting them in the substrate.
This way, they will cover up the tank floor faster, as propagation is made from several points.
The Dwarf Baby Tears could be implanted along with other short foreground plants in contrasting colors. The dense carpeting allows spawning fish to lay their eggs as well as the younger fry to hide from harassing adults.
There's absolutely no worry if plant-nipping fish graze over the Hemianthus Callitrichoides, even as it will begin to recover and grow again, specially if it has already covered a considerable surface.
Try never to include ravaging fish, such as Oscars or Jack Dempseysinto a tank implanted with Hemianthus Callitrichoides, as they are going to make an effort to uproot weaker stems when"rescaping" the tank.
Goldfish are perhaps not just a good idea as a result of these different environmental requirements and since they are going to attempt to eat as a lot of their plant as possible.
Be creative and use your own imagination and try some aquascaping tricks for this specific small versatile plant. You may use it in many tanks, even from the smallest to the largest, in an assortment of ways.
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