The Best Aquatic Grass for Aquariums Blyxa Japonica Var. Japonica or Called Japanese Bamboo – Blyxa japonica or called Japanese bamboo plant is one of the popular aquarium grass among the aquarium fish keepers because it’s so impressive, looks like a grass and bushy habit. This aquatic grass grows in swamps in shallow ponds and slow-flowing woodland rivers rich in iron. It’s native to tropical regions and subtropical regions of East and South-East Asia.
In 1889, the Blyxa japonica originally described, and in 1900 century, this plant introduced to the aquarium hobby. The Blyxa japonica becomes a popular grass plant aquarium by Takashi Amano’s Nature Aquarium layouts.
Blyxa japonica var. japonica also known as Japanese Blyxa, Japanese rush, the bamboo plant and Dwarf Asian Grass. Besides, it’s used in an aquarium as ground cover, this plant also used in the water garden. In-tank it’s usually used as mid-ground plant for a larger tank because it’s appearance like a hedge. Thinner with other foreground plants such as Hemianthus callitrichoides or Glossostigma elatinoides, and these combinations will look more attractive in aquariums.
The Best Aquatic Grass for Aquariums Blyxa Japonica Var. Japonica or Called Japanese Bamboo
This aquarium grass can grows to around 20 cm tall. It’s suitable for foreground or middle ground in a smaller tank, or it can be planted as background in a nano tank. Blyxa japonica has long slim leaves with short stems, which the leaves develop from an internal structure of short stem that makes the plant looks like a rosette.
The Best Aquatic Grass for Aquariums Blyxa Japonica Var. Japonica or Called Japanese Bamboo
The cultivation of this aquatic grass is not difficult. It needs sufficient light around 0.5-1 watt/ liter or more, CO2 supply and fertilization with potassium, nitrate, phosphate, and micronutrients. You can use a CO2 kit from ista if you are want to set up an aquarium and start to plant B. Japonica. You can see the detailed about CO2 by ista here. It’s will showing golden and reddish hues and more dense growth habit when cultivating in optimal conditions and under sufficient light.
The Best Aquatic Grass for Aquariums Blyxa Japonica Var. Japonica or Called Japanese Bamboo
In low light, Blyxa japonica looks greener and grows higher with a thinner habit. This aquarium grass plant develops a greater root system and likes substrate with rich nutrients or bottom fertilizers. When phosphate level is higher around 1-2 mg/ liter, it systematically shoots long stems with tiny white flowers.
The Best Aquatic Grass for Aquariums Blyxa Japonica Var. Japonica or Called Japanese Bamboo
Although this aquarium grass plant species looks like a rosulate plant, in fact, this aquatic grass species is a stem plant with a shorter stem with very dense leaves. B. japonica is not invasive like other grass foreground and middle ground plants as it does not shape long runners. Instead, this plant grows lateral shoots at the basis, it can be cut off with scissors and then be replanted to another area. But, it’s difficult to plant them in the area you want them because their buoyancy is large. Though, if it starts rooted in the substrate, it will develop a good root system pretty fast.
Read other articles about aquatic grass for aquarium below:
- Grass For Freshwater Aquarium Lilaeopsis Brasiliensis or Called Micro Sword
- Easy Carpeting Aquarium Plants Micranthemum sp. “Montecarlo” Called New Large Pearl Grass
- Underwater Grass For Aquarium Eleocharis Pusilla (Eleocharis Parvula or Hairgrass)
The Best Aquatic Grass for Aquariums Blyxa Japonica Var. Japonica or Called Japanese Bamboo
That’s all about Blyxa Japonica which it’s one of the popular aquatic grass for aquariums among the aquarium hobbies. If you want to keep this aquarium grass you can buy it on Amazon, click here to see detailed about the plant.
You can see how to propagated and carrying the Blyxa Japonica in the video below:
Other article about aquarium grass for covering substrate:
- Best Freshwater Aquarium Grass For Planting In Large Aquarium Echinodorus Tenellus or Helanthium Tenellum or Pygmy Chain Sword
- Best Ground Cover Aquarium Plants Eleocharis sp ‘Mini’
Plant Profile
- Major group: Angiosperms
- Order: Alismatales
- Family: Hydrocharitaceae
- Genus: Blyxa
- Binomial Name: Blyxa japonica var. japonica.
- Common Name: Japanese Blyxa, Japanese bamboo plant, Japanese rush, bamboo plant, Dwarf Asian Grass.
- Synonyms Species: Blyxa laevissima Hayata, Hydrilla japonica Miq
- Origin: East Asia and South-East Asia
- Difficulty: Medium
- Growth: Medium
- Lighting Needs: Medium-High
- Temperature Tolerance: 16 – 32° C
- Optimum Temperature: 20 – 28°C
- Carbonate Hardness: 0 – 7° dKH
- pH: 5 – 6
- Carbon Dioxide: 25 – 40 mg/l
- Nitrate: 10 – 50 mg/liter
- Phosphate: 0.1 – 3 mg/liter
- Potassium: 5 – 30 mg/liter
- Iron: 0.01 – 0.5 mg/liter
- Cultivation: Cutting off daughter plants, Splitting, Runners, Seeds
- Plant Type: Creeping stem or Rhizome
- Can grow emersed?: No
- Suitable for Beginners: Yes
- Availability: Available commercially
- Potioning In Aquarium: Foreground, Nano tanks, Groundcover, Midground, Group
- Habitat Plant Type: Stem, Rosette
