Amazon Sword
Echinodorus grisebachii · family Alismataceae
- Light
- Medium
- CO₂
- Helpful
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 3–12 °dGH
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Height
- up to 50 cm
- Placement
- Midground
- Root feeder
- Yes
Pros and cons
- Striking midground centerpiece — draws the eye
- One mature bush covers the back wall
- Great fry nursery — wide leaves provide shelter
- Flower stalks produce plantlets automatically
- Heavy root feeder — needs iron tablets
- Old leaves (up to 50 cm) can block the whole tank
- Without CO₂, grows slower and stays smaller
Description
Echinodorus is a large rosette plant, the classic 'specimen' for the midground. Requires nutrient-rich substrate and regular root tabs.
Care
Fertilization
A heavy root feeder. Tabs with micronutrients and iron once every 2–3 months. Without feeding, leaves shrink and yellow.
Propagation
Flower stalks produce daughter plants. Separate the daughter once it has 4–5 leaves and its own roots.
FAQ
- My Amazon sword is turning yellow — what should I do?
- Most likely an iron or nitrogen deficiency. Add a root tab and check the nitrate level (should be 10–20 mg/L).
Goldie editorial team
Practising aquarists with a combined 30+ years of experience · Biologists and editors, fact-checking against FishBase and Seriously Fish · Every piece is reviewed by a qualified ichthyologist before publication
Scientific board — ichthyologists and veterinarians
Ichthyologists and veterinarians with university degrees · Reference FishBase, Seriously Fish and peer-reviewed literature · Sign every reviewed article with their credentials shown
Sources
- Echinodorus grisebachii — Tropica · Tropica · 2026-05-22