Lilaeopsis brasiliensis

Micro Sword Growing & Care Guide

Micro Sword is a classic carpeting species native to South America, featuring stiff, upright grass-like leaves that form highly durable underwater lawns. Famous for its thick root network and ironclad resistance, it is a spectacular foreground choice that sways beautifully, providing vital grazing surfaces for shrimp setups.

Lighting Moderate to High

Water Hardness Aquatic (pH 6.5-7.5)

Substrate Fine gravel or sand

Water Temp 15°C - 26°C

Toxicity Pet Friendly (Non-toxic)

Botanical macro photography of Micro Sword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) - Plant AI care database

How to Identify Micro Sword

Micro Sword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) has key botanical markers. Recognizing these features is crucial for successful aquascaping and thriving growth.

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Visual Shape & Growth: Dense green carpet of fine, vertical, grass-like blades creeping via runners.
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Leaf Morphology: Linear, stiff, bright green leaves rising directly from a dense creeping runner crown.
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Root & Anchoring Structure: Extremely dense, creeping runner network that rapidly colonizes and binds the substrate.

💡 Plant AI Tip: Take a photo with Plant AI to identify aquatic weeds and diagnose fungal spot diseases in 1 second.

Complete Cultivation & Spawning Guide

Follow our detailed scientific water parameters and care guides to keep your Micro Sword thriving.

pH: 6.5 - 7.5, GH: 4 - 15 dGH. Adaptable to soft or moderately hard freshwater setups.

Moderate. Can grow without CO2, but pressurized CO2 injection significantly speeds up runner propagation and lawn density.

Moderate to high. Strong light keeps the carpet flat and compact; low light will cause it to grow tall and sparse.

Trim the tallest grass blades near the base crown using sharp, curved scissors to stimulate rapid runner growth.

Enjoys both water column and substrate fertilization. Weekly micro-dosing keeps the grass blades vibrant green.

Prefers fine gravel or sandy substrate. Plant the runner stems deeply and gently to avoid crushing the lower tissues.

Optimal temperature is 15°C to 26°C (59°F - 79°F). Highly hardy and can survive cool temperate setups well.

Enjoys steady water circulation to keep organic detritus from settling in the dense grass lawn, preventing hair algae.

Perfect for community community setups. Ideal hiding place for baby shrimp and fish fry. Safe from plant-grazers.

Its dense structure easily catches filamentous algae. Employ Amano shrimps, Otocinclus, and keep parameters stable.

Separate the pot into small plugs. Plant plugs 1 inch apart in the foreground; it will quickly merge into a solid green lawn.

Common Diseases & Treatment

Algae Choking

Symptoms: Hair algae wraps around the grass blades, choking out light and causing the lawn to turn brown.

Action: Reduce light duration, perform regular water changes, trim the algae-covered blades, and increase your shrimp crew.

Root Suffocation (Anaerobic)

Symptoms: Roots turn black and rot, causing the grass blades to yellow and die.

Action: Caused by compacted, anaerobic substrate. Gently vacuum the substrate and improve bottom circulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Micro Sword easy to grow?

It is moderately easy. It is hardier than Dwarf Baby Tears but grows slower than Dwarf Hairgrass. It requires patient lighting and fertilization.

How tall does Lilaeopsis brasiliensis grow?

Under strong light, it typically stays very short, around 1 to 2 inches. Under low light, it can stretch upward to 3 to 4 inches.

Can I grow it in sand?

Yes, but you must insert root tabs near the root crown every few months, as sand lacks the natural nutrients found in aquasoil.

Is it safe for dwarf shrimps?

Yes, Micro Sword is 100% pet-friendly, non-toxic, and highly favored in shrimp tanks where its leaves collect biofilm.