Pygmy Chain Sword (Echinodorus tenellus) aquarium plant care.
Pygmy Chain Sword is rated as a high-light plant, with a target of about PAR 60-100 at the leaves. High light usually means a strong planted-tank fixture, and at that intensity the plant also needs steady CO2 and regular fertilizer, otherwise the extra light mostly grows algae. CO2 is recommended for it, and its care difficulty is listed as intermediate.
CO2 is recommended for Pygmy Chain Sword. It can get by without injection, but growth and leaf form are better with a steady CO2 supply. It is a high-light plant, with a target of about PAR 60-100 at the leaves. For nutrients: plant in nutrient-rich aquasoil with root tabs. Keep light, CO2 and fertilizer in balance, because raising one without the others is the most common cause of algae in planted tanks.
Divide rhizome or runners; cut healthy stems and replant. When dividing a rhizome, keep several healthy leaves on each piece and plant or attach it so the rhizome itself is not buried in the substrate. New growth comes in fastest when the tank matches its needs: high light, with CO2 recommended.
It can be, with some planted-tank experience: Pygmy Chain Sword is listed at intermediate difficulty. It needs high light, with a target of about PAR 60-100 at the leaves, CO2 is recommended, and for nutrients: plant in nutrient-rich aquasoil with root tabs. Common mistakes noted for it: burying the rhizome (rots), insufficient light, skipping CO2 in high-tech setups. Stable light, nutrients and water changes matter more than any single product. Check these needs against your current setup before buying.
Pygmy Chain Sword taxonomy and care recommendations cross-checked against the following authoritative references and our internal vendor + breeder database.
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