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the 2hr way
It is surprisingly easy to 'grow anything' and by this we mean 99% of commercially available aquatic plants. This does require a solid foundation (read more about The 2Hr Way) and a good understanding of the needs of the plants we look to grow- covered in this section.
In nature, carpeting plants thrive in sunny, CO2 rich waters. While it is possible to grow them in aquariums without injected CO2, it is akin to bodybuilding on a low- protein diet: possible, but difficult, and a classic example of battling nature instead of going with the flow.
'HC Cuba' is one of the hobby's most popular carpets because of its dense, tiny leaves, but it is incredibly dependent on CO2 for good growth
This said, it is possible to grow species such as 'Dwarf hair grass' and 'Monte Carlo' in relatively good form without injected CO2, using the techniques described below.
This is a challenge for most hobbyists, but red plants are actually quite easy to grow. A good foundation is important (and not complicated). On top of that, the 3 factors are stronger light (higher PAR values), increasing reds and blues in the light spectrum and nitrate limitation, as described in more detail in the button below.
The most common mistake is a focus on nutrients- either "more", or "more iron". Most red plants do display their best form in CO2 rich environments.
Bucephalandra ("Buceps") are hardy, slow-growing plants that are endemic to Indonesia, and are found on the island of Borneo. Their roots anchor to rock and wood.
Buceps are very easy to grow, though many beginners struggle with them because the tank has not been properly cycled. Buceps prefer cooler water (71f/21c-79f/26c), good flow and a biologically mature tank enviornment. Read more below.
A carpet of 'blood vomit' is easy when grown the 2Hr Way, using APT Complete as fertiliser.
