Carpeting plant

A carpeting plant is any species that grows low and spreads horizontally across the substrate rather than growing upward, forming a dense mat that resembles a lawn once established. Carpets are a common feature in iwagumi and nature-style layouts, where they cover open substrate and give small fish or shrimp somewhere to forage and hide.

Most true carpeting plants need bright light and a steady CO2 supply to grow densely and low rather than reaching upward toward the light, which is why a full carpet is considered a more advanced goal than most other planted tank elements. Nutrient-rich substrate such as aqua soil, along with root tabs, supports the dense root systems these plants develop once established. A carpet usually starts as small portions spaced across the substrate and fills in over several weeks to a few months, rather than covering the floor immediately after planting.

When choosing a carpeting species for a tank, match its light and CO2 needs to the equipment already in place rather than picking based on looks alone, since a demanding carpet species in a low-light tank will grow tall and patchy instead of low and dense. A common mistake is planting too sparsely at the start, which leaves gaps that algae can colonize before the carpet has a chance to fill in.