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I've been trying to grow Dwarf Sagittaria in my 20-gallon tank but it's not spreading like I expected. The substrate is Fluval Stratum, and I've got a Nicrew light running 8 hours a day. Any tips to get it to carpet better?

Dwarf Sagittaria prefers moderate to high lighting and a nutrient-rich substrate. Are you dosing any fertilizers? Also, what's your water hardness like? It tends to do better in softer water.

Mine took forever to spread too. I added root tabs and it helped a lot. Maybe try that? My tank's got sand, not sure if that matters.

Falzone wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 6:52 am Dwarf Sagittaria prefers moderate to high lighting and a nutrient-rich substrate. Are you dosing any fertilizers? Also, what's your water hardness like? It tends to do better in softer water.

I agree with Falzone. I've had success with Seachem Flourish root tabs and keeping the water soft. How often are you doing water changes?

I've got Dwarf Sag in my 10-gallon with just gravel and it's going nuts. Maybe it's the light? I'm using a Finnex Planted+ 24/7. Also, are you trimming it? Cutting it back can encourage spreading.

What's your CO2 situation? Mine didn't do much until I added a DIY CO2 setup. Now it's everywhere.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I'll try root tabs and check my water hardness. I'm not running CO2 yet, but maybe that's the next step.

turtlego wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 12:38 pm Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I'll try root tabs and check my water hardness. I'm not running CO2 yet, but maybe that's the next step.

CO2 can definitely help, but start slow. Too much too fast can cause algae issues. Monitor your plants and adjust as needed.

Yeah, CO2 is a game-changer but it's sketchy if you don't know what you're doing. I'd try the root tabs first and see how it goes.

Another thing to consider is tank mates. Do you have any fish or snails that might be uprooting the plants? My corys used to dig mine up all the time.