AquaSage
Species library

Amazon Sword

Echinodorus grisebachii

Alismataceae

PlantsDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
Amazon Sword — Echinodorus grisebachii
📷 Brianza2008 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

About

The Amazon sword is a large South American rosette plant that forms a lush bush of broad, lance-shaped leaves, making it a classic background centrepiece. It is a heavy root feeder that draws most of its nutrients from the substrate, so it thrives with root tabs or a nutrient-rich base. Given room and feeding, a mature specimen easily reaches 40-50 cm and can dominate a tank.

Care

Plant in a nutrient-rich substrate and supply root tabs; give moderate light and space. Keep the crown above the substrate line to prevent rot.

Diet

Predominantly a root feeder - root tabs or enriched substrate drive growth; iron-rich dosing prevents pale new leaves.

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Frequently asked questions

What water parameters does a Amazon Sword need?
Amazon Sword does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 6.5–7.5 and a general hardness of 3–18 °dGH.
Where should Amazon Sword be placed in the aquarium?
Amazon Sword works best at the back of the tank and reaches around 50 cm.
Is the Amazon Sword suitable for beginners?
Yes — Amazon Sword is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature22–28°C
Optimal temp.23–27°C
pH6.5–7.5
Hardness (GH)3–18°d
Carbonate (KH)3–15°d
Water typeFreshwater
FlowLow
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