{"product_id":"echinodorus-bolivianus-rusby","title":"Bolivian Chain Sword (Rusby) | Helanthium bolivianum","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the Bolivian Chain Sword, Helanthium bolivianum – the \"Rusby\" in the old name simply refers to the botanist who first described it, and the plant was long sold as Echinodorus bolivianus. It is a small, grassy chain sword that runs into a low green thicket. Supplied as a clean, lab-grown tissue culture – snail-, pest- and algae-free, and ready to plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHelanthium bolivianum grows along the shallow margins and slow streams of South America in rich, silty ground. Recreate that with a nutritious substrate, good light and stable warmth. It is a true aquatic and grows submerged long-term, spreading by runners into a grassy patch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNarrow, strap-like light-green leaves about 1 cm wide and 10–30 cm long – brighter light keeps it low and dense, dimmer light draws it taller. Rather than a single large rosette it chains outward on runners. The tissue-culture portion is a small clump of young plants that fills in over several weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlacement and Aquascaping\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA foreground carpet in larger tanks, or a midground group in smaller ones. Plant the divisions a few centimetres apart and let the runners join them up. Keep it out of the shade of taller plants so it stays compact.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and Propagation\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRinse the tissue-culture gel from the roots, divide into small plugs, and plant each in the substrate with a root tab nearby. It propagates freely by runners bearing plantlets, which root on their own and can be left to spread or separated and replanted.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEasy to intermediate: moderate to high light keeps it carpeting, and although CO2 is not required it thickens growth. A root feeder – use a nutrient substrate and root tabs, with liquid fertiliser to support it. Keep water at 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5. Growth is moderate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHelanthium bolivianum (formerly Echinodorus bolivianus)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBolivian Chain Sword\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouth America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–30 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForeground \/ Midground\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCO2 Requirement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFertilisation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoot tabs (root feeder) and liquid fertiliser\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–15 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePropagation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRunners with plantlets\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlanted community and aquascaped aquariums from 60 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful community fish – tetras, rasboras, corydoras, dwarf cichlids and gouramis – plus shrimp, which enjoy the grassy cover, and snails.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiggers and large herbivores – goldfish, large cichlids, silver dollars – will uproot the runners and shred the fine leaves. Vigorous burrowers disturb a young carpet before it establishes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAustralian-grown aquarium plants for in-store collection or local delivery. Sold sizes\/portions reflect what we stock; anything shown as sold out will return as we restock.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55234101346595,"sku":"AA2760","price":12.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/echinodorus-bolivianus-rusby-43078208782627-v2.webp?v=1790321529","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/echinodorus-bolivianus-rusby","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}