Brazilian Micro Sword

Brazilian Micro Sword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) is a popular foreground aquarium plant that forms a lush, grass-like carpet in planted aquariums. Its fine, bright green blades create the appearance of a natural underwater lawn, making it an excellent choice for Iwagumi, nature-style, and Dutch aquascapes.

This versatile plant spreads by runners, gradually filling in open spaces to create a dense carpet over time. Under medium to high lighting and with CO₂ supplementation, Brazilian Micro Sword grows more quickly and develops a thicker, more compact carpet. It can also be grown without CO₂, although growth will be slower.

Easy to maintain once established, Brazilian Micro Sword provides a beautiful natural foreground while offering shelter for shrimp and small fish.

Care Guide

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Growth Rate: Moderate

Placement: Foreground

Lighting: Medium to High (Higher light encourages faster carpeting)

CO₂: Recommended for faster growth and a denser carpet, but not required

Temperature: 20–28°C (68–82°F)

pH: 6.0–7.5

Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard

Propagation: Spreads naturally by runners. New plantlets can be left to fill in the carpet or separated and replanted.

Why You'll Love It

• Forms a lush, natural grass-like carpet
• Spreads easily through runners
• Perfect for foreground planting
• Excellent for shrimp tanks and nature aquascapes
• Creates a soft, natural look around rocks and driftwood
• Beginner-friendly and easy to maintain once established

Tip: Plant small portions a few centimeters apart instead of one large clump. This encourages the runners to spread evenly and produce a thicker, healthier carpet over time.