Eriocaulan Cinereum

🌿 Species Profile

• Common Name: Pipewort / Eriocaulon cinereum
• Scientific Name: Eriocaulon cinereum
• Plant Type: Rosette aquatic plant
• Origin: Asia (commonly Southeast Asia)
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
• Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
• Placement: Foreground / midground

🌱 Appearance

• Small rosette with thin, needle-like leaves
• Forms a neat, rounded “starburst” shape
• Bright green coloration
• Size:
  • Height: 3–8 cm (1–3 in)
  • Spread: compact clumps

It gives a very fine-textured, carpet-like detail effect in aquascapes.

🧪 Tank Requirements

• Temperature: 22–28°C
• pH: 5.5–7.0 (slightly acidic preferred)
• Hardness: Soft water preferred
• Lighting: High (very important)
• CO₂: Strongly recommended

🌿 Substrate & Nutrition

• Needs nutrient-rich aquasoil
• Benefits from:
  • Root tabs (carefully placed nearby)
  • Iron and trace elements
• Sensitive to unstable water conditions

✂️ Care Tips

• Requires stable tank conditions (does not like sudden changes)
• Avoid shading from larger plants
• Plant in small groups for best visual effect
• Good flow and CO₂ improve compact growth

🌱 Propagation

• Slowly produces side shoots from base
• Can be divided carefully once mature clumps form

🐟 Aquarium Use

Best for:

• High-end aquascapes
• Nature-style detailed foregrounds
• Dutch-style planted tanks (accent plant)

Compatible with:

• Shrimp
• Nano fish (rasboras, tetras)
• Peaceful community fish