Tropica Eriocaulon Cinereum

Eriocaulon cinereum is a delicate aquatic plant from tropical Asia (India, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia) belonging to the family Eriocaulaceae — the pipewort family. It forms small, compact rosettes of very fine, pale-green hair-like leaves that create an intensely delicate, grass-like texture unlike any other aquarium plant. Under good light it has an almost translucent, ethereal quality.

This species is regarded as challenging due to its specific requirements: it demands very soft, acidic water (low GH and KH), CO2 injection, good lighting, and a nutrient-rich substrate. It is particularly sensitive to water hardness — elevated GH causes the plant to deteriorate rapidly. For this reason, it is best suited to soft-water aquariums or setups where RO water is used to achieve appropriate parameters.

In Nature Aquarium aquascaping, Eriocaulon species are prized for the unique fine texture they provide — no other plant creates the same delicate, hair-like quality — but they are considered specialist plants suited to experienced aquarists who can precisely control water parameters.

Tropica produces high-quality Eriocaulon cinereum tissue culture plants (in vitro) for clean introduction.

Light: Medium to high light (30–60+ PAR) required for healthy rosette development.

CO2: Essential (20–30 mg/L). This plant will not survive long-term without CO2.

Water Softness: CRITICAL — requires very soft water (GH 1–6, KH 0–3). Hard water (GH > 8) causes rapid deterioration. Use RO water if your tap water is hard.

Substrate: Nutrient-rich aqua soil is required. Fine-grained, slightly acidic substrate (ADA Amazonia) is ideal.

Placement: Foreground to midground accent. Compact rosettes 3–7 cm diameter. Plant individually or in small groups of 2–3.

Maintenance: Moderate. Remove yellowing leaves. Requires consistent soft-water conditions — do not mix with hard-water tap water during changes.

Water Parameters: pH 4.5–6.5, temperature 22–28°C, GH 1–6, KH 0–3. Requires very soft, acidic water.