Microsword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis)

Description

Microsword for Sale — The Classic Brazilian Micro Sword Foreground Carpet Plant

If you’ve been searching for Microsword for sale, Quinn’s Fins grows Lilaeopsis brasiliensis — commonly known as Brazilian Micro Sword, Carpet Grass, Copragrass, or Micro Sword Grass — right here in our on-site nursery greenhouse. Microsword is one of the most beloved and widely planted foreground carpet plants in the freshwater aquarium hobby — a native of the stream banks, river margins, and wetlands of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay that has become a staple of planted aquascapes worldwide for its ability to create a dense, natural-looking grass lawn across the aquarium floor. Its narrow, flat, light green sword-like leaves grow just 1 to 3 inches tall from a spreading rhizome — shorter in bright high-intensity light, slightly taller in lower light — and spread via runners to gradually fill in the foreground with the lush, wild grass carpet effect that makes Microsword one of the most visually impactful foreground plants available. Microsword for sale at Quinn’s Fins is available in three formats — bunch (SKU 6131-1, $4.99), 2″ pot (SKU 6131-2, $7.99), and pre-grown mat (SKU 6131-3, $11.99).

Why Microsword for Sale Is a Planted Tank Foreground Staple

Microsword combines a natural grass-lawn aesthetic that no broad-leaved plant can replicate with a set of practical functional benefits that make it as valuable for the aquarium ecosystem as it is for the aquascape design.

• Narrow flat light green sword-like leaves 1–3 inches tall — the classic grass-lawn carpet look beloved by planted tank hobbyists worldwide
• Spreads via runners — gradually fills in the foreground naturally without replanting
• Remarkable heavy metal absorption — absorbs approximately 90% of copper and lead from aquarium water within two days
• Active water oxygenator — photosynthesizes and oxygenates the water column as it grows
• Excellent shrimp and fry shelter — dense low carpet provides perfect microhabitat and foraging habitat for shrimp, shrimplets, and juvenile fish
• Outstanding spawning medium — egg-scattering fish use the dense carpet as a natural spawning and egg-protection site
• Biofilm growth surface — dense carpet accumulates biofilm that serves as ideal first food for newly hatched fry and shrimplets
• Available on pre-grown mat — instant carpet placement without individual stem planting

Choose Your Microsword for Sale Format

Microsword for sale at Quinn’s Fins is available in three formats to suit different aquascape needs and budgets:

• Bunch (SKU 6131-1) — $4.99: Multiple nursery-grown stems bundled together. Separate into small tufts and plant with aquascaping tweezers 1–2 cm apart across the foreground substrate. Bury roots into the substrate with the crown at the substrate surface. Rinse thoroughly before planting. The most economical option for establishing a large foreground area gradually.
• 2″ Pot (SKU 6131-2) — $7.99: Nursery-grown in a 2″ pot with established root structure. Remove plant and all growing media — including any rockwool or cotton — before planting. Never place the pot or media in the aquarium. Separate into small tufts, rinse thoroughly, and plant as above.
• Pre-Grown Mat (SKU 6131-3) — $11.99: Microsword pre-grown on a natural mat — the fastest and easiest way to establish a Microsword carpet. Cut to desired shape and press firmly onto the foreground substrate. Weight down or cover mat edges with fine substrate until roots anchor into the tank substrate below. Eliminates individual stem planting entirely and delivers instant visual carpet coverage from day one.

Growing Microsword — Care at a Glance

Light — The Most Critical Variable

Microsword requires moderate to high lighting — this is the single most important care requirement. In insufficient light, stems grow tall and leggy reaching upward rather than creeping low across the substrate, and carpet formation does not occur. In moderate to high light, stems stay short (1–2 inches) and spread horizontally creating the dense carpet the plant is famous for. Provide high-quality full-spectrum LED lighting for 8–10 hours daily. For the most compact, dense carpet, aim for moderate to high light intensity at the substrate level.

CO2 — Strongly Recommended

CO2 supplementation is strongly recommended for reliable carpet formation. Without CO2, Microsword grows slowly, carpet development takes many months, and the plant is more prone to algae competition. With stable CO2 at 20–30 ppm, growth accelerates significantly and carpet formation is achieved in 4–8 weeks under good conditions. Liquid carbon supplements provide some benefit in low-tech setups. For aquarists without CO2, patience and high lighting are the most important compensating factors.

Substrate

Nutrient-rich aquarium soil — ADA Aqua Soil, Fluval Stratum, or equivalent — produces the most vigorous carpet growth. Microsword roots are thin and white, anchoring best in fine-grained substrates. In inert gravel or coarse sand, root tabs placed beneath the planting area are essential. Provide at least 2–3 inches of substrate depth for the root system to develop properly.

Planting

Separate Microsword into small tufts of 3–5 stems each and plant with aquascaping tweezers 1–2 cm apart across the foreground, with roots buried and crown at the substrate surface. Never bury the crown — buried crowns rot and the plant fails to establish. Dense initial planting produces faster carpet coverage than sparse planting. The Dry Start Method — allowing the plant to establish in high humidity before flooding — significantly improves initial anchoring success.

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 68–78°F (20–26°C)
• pH: 6.5–7.5
• Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
• CO2: 20–30 ppm strongly recommended
• Flow: Moderate — distribute CO2 and nutrients evenly; avoid strong direct current on the low carpet
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons

Fertilization

Regular comprehensive liquid fertilizer — iron, nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, and micronutrients — supports healthy growth and vivid green carpet color. Microsword also benefits from root tabs placed directly beneath planting clusters in inert substrates. Iron supplementation maintains the bright light green color of the leaves — iron deficiency causes pale yellowing.

Maintenance and Trimming

Trim Microsword regularly with fine aquascaping scissors to keep the carpet flat, dense, and compact. The carpet layers over time — periodic trimming prevents it from becoming thick and trapping debris at the base. Trimming also encourages lateral spreading and keeps the carpet looking fresh. Remove all trimmings from the tank completely.

Propagation

Microsword propagates naturally via runners that spread from the rhizome. Allow runners to develop before separating — each new plant should have its own visible roots and 2–3 leaves before detaching. Runners can also be redirected or removed if spread needs to be managed.

Nursery-Grown at Quinn’s Fins

Every Microsword for sale at Quinn’s Fins is grown right here in our on-site nursery greenhouse — not drop-shipped or bulk-sourced. Whether you choose bunch, pot, or mat format, your plant arrives healthy and ready to establish. We grow what we sell.

For more on growing Microsword and other aquarium plants, visit the Pond Informer’s aquarium plant care guides or browse our full selection of aquatic plants at Quinn’s Fins.

Microsword Plant Details