Helanthium bolivianum "quadricostatus"

In the aquarium hobby, relatively small, turf-forming plants have long been known under various names such as Echinodorus quadricostatus, E. magdalenensis and E. xinguensis. These "chain swords" from the Helanthium bolivianum complex originate from tropical Central and South America. As amphibious plants, they colonise periodically flooded banks of rivers, lakes and ponds as well as swampy places. In the terrestrial form they have stalked, lanceolate leaves and small white flowers, in the submerged form they have narrower, almost grass-like leaves.
The plant we offer as Helanthium bolivianum "quadricostatus" has formed a turf about 10 - 13 cm high in our aquariums; Tropica states a growth height of 10 - 15+ cm. The light green, soft underwater leaves are linear-lanceolate and about 8 - 9 mm wide. It spreads rapidly by long chains of runners that creep along the ground, forming a lush, bright green turf.

This ground-covering plant does not require a lot of light, but at least medium light intensity is recommended, as is a good supply of macro and micronutrients. Iron deficiency can quickly lead to pale new leaves. CO₂ supply is not always necessary, but is very beneficial for growth. The plant grows well in soft to medium-hard water. Temperatures between around 22 and 28 °C are ideal. The Helanthium species are comparable to the related Echinodorus species and cultivars in terms of their requirements. Individual rosettes of leaves are placed in the substrate at some distance from each other, where they then grow together with their runners to form a lawn. When the lawn has become very dense, it is advisable to thin out and cut off the runners so that the plants do not push each other up. Individual bushes or smaller groups are also possible if the runners are removed regularly.

The Chain sword can be used in a variety of ways as a taller, higher "meadow" or as a group in the foreground to midground of tropical aquariums. The bright green bushes create a lush impression and can also be combined with lower ground cover plants. With its fast growth and low requirements, Helanthium bolivianum "Quadricostatus" is recommended for the initial planting of newly established tanks and for aquarium beginners.