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Carpet plants for sand substrate.
It is considered an aquatic fern that reproduces by both runners and sporocaps.
It is a short plant so you should keep it in the foreground of your aquarium.
This is one of the more attractive carpet plants that produces four leaves to a stem just like land based clover.
I think sand would be a bit better for the plants because then their roots can set a bit easier and spread out but im pretty sure you can grow plants in gravel just might not be as easy for their roots to set.
And these are the plants that you can keep and grow in your aquarium having a sand substrate.
You can plant anubias in your gravel substrate.
Most of them also need co2 supplementation and ferts.
For most of the aquatic plants you will require a substrate whether that is sand gravel or soil so that you can anchor its roots into the substrate.
Depending on where you live keeping this plant may be banned because it is considered an invasive species.
You can also attach it to any rock driftwood or any other decoration in your aquarium and then put it inside your aquarium.
It also has the benefit of being easy to grow even when planted in sand.
Most carpet plants have tiny leaves and plants with tiny leaves generally need very intense light to do well.
Dwarf hairgrass is a rewarding carpet plant that will mimic a grassy field inside of your aquarium.
Also if you prepare your sand substrate by adding some root tabs before planting your aquatic plants then it will help it anchor its roots in the sand substrate.
It can survive in all lighting conditions.
How to grow aquarium plants with inert substrate.
Some will grow in sand possibly most but the substrate is the very least of the concerns.
Micro sword is a small carpet plant species 4 7 cm or 2 3 inches that forms an excellent foreground subject for planted tanks.
On the other hand there are some plants that don t require any substrate to keep them in an aquarium.
Those that might grow won t be carpets they ll grow much taller and leaner looking.