Helanthium Tenellum (Dwarf Chain Sword) – Easy Foreground Carpet Aquarium Plant
Helanthium Tenellum, commonly known as Dwarf Chain Sword, is a popular foreground aquarium plant loved for its narrow, grass-like leaves and ability to spread into a natural green carpet over time. Formerly known as Echinodorus tenellus, this hardy plant is a great choice for aquarists who want a low-growing foreground plant that is easier to care for than many demanding carpeting plants.
With proper lighting, nutrients, and stable aquarium conditions, Helanthium Tenellum will send out runners and gradually fill open spaces in the foreground or midground of a planted aquarium.
🌟 Key Features
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Scientific Name: Helanthium tenellum
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Former Name / Synonym: Echinodorus tenellus
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Common Name: Dwarf Chain Sword
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Growth Form: Rosette plant that spreads by runners
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Placement: Foreground to midground
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Care Level: Easy to moderate
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Color: Bright green to light green
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Great Carpet Alternative: Easier than many high-demand carpeting plants
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Natural Look: Creates a soft, grassy effect in aquascapes
🌱 Growth & Propagation
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Lighting Needs: Medium to high light recommended for compact growth
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CO₂ Requirement: Not required, but CO₂ helps promote faster spreading and healthier growth
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Growth Rate: Moderate to fast once established
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Propagation: Spreads by runners, producing new small plantlets over time
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Nutrient Substrate: Recommended for best root development and runner production
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Can Be Grown Emersed: Yes
Helanthium Tenellum is a root-feeding plant and benefits from nutrient-rich substrate, aquasoil, or root tabs. After planting, it may take time to adjust before sending out new runners.
🖼️ Aquascaping Benefits
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Excellent choice for creating a natural green foreground carpet
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Works well in nature-style, low-tech, and high-tech planted aquariums
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Great for softening hardscape areas around rocks and driftwood
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Can be trimmed and managed to create a low, grassy appearance
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Suitable for beginner aquascapers looking for an easier foreground plant
📦 What You’ll Receive
Sold as small bare-root plant portions in the following pack sizes:
1 Pack: Includes 1 small portion, approximately 2–4 small plants
5 Pack: Includes 5 small portions, each portion approximately 2–4 small plants
10 Pack: Includes 10 small portions, each portion approximately 2–4 small plants
Each portion may vary slightly in size due to natural plant growth and harvesting.
⚠️ Disclaimer
Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation. Unless specified, we do not guarantee aquatic plants will be free of pests, snails, algae, or pesticides. Plants may be grown emersed or submerged. Some melting, leaf loss, or transition is normal as plants adapt to a new aquarium environment.
🚫 State Restrictions Notice ♻️ Be a Responsible Aquatic Plants Owner
Certain aquatic plants may be restricted or regulated in some U.S. states. Always check your local and state regulations before purchasing or introducing plants into natural waterways. Never release aquarium plants into the wild.
Shipping Policy
At Aquarium Plants Factory, we carefully package and ship all orders to ensure plants and livestock arrive healthy and ready to thrive.
Order Processing Time
Most orders are processed within 1–2 business days after payment is received.
Orders placed on weekends or holidays will be processed on the next business day.
Orders containing out-of-stock, pre-order, or backorder items may require additional handling time.
Once your order ships, tracking information will be sent to your email.
Shipping Schedule
Live Plants
Live plant orders ship Monday through Saturday when using United States Postal Service (USPS).
Most plant-only orders ship within 1–3 business days, excluding products that are out of stock, pre-order, or backorder.
Estimated USPS delivery time is 2–5 business days, depending on your location.
UPS Express Shipping
We offer the following UPS expedited shipping options:
UPS 2-Day Air®
Estimated delivery: 2 business days
Please note that UPS 2-Day Air® is not a guaranteed service in the event of carrier delays, weather disruptions, or operational issues.
UPS Next Day Air®
Estimated delivery: 1 business day
This service is guaranteed by UPS according to their service guarantee policies.
UPS expedited orders ship Monday through Wednesday only to ensure packages arrive within the same week and avoid weekend delays.
Please note that orders require 1–2 business days of handling time before shipment.
To help ensure same-week delivery, please place UPS orders on or before Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time (PT).
Live Animals Shipping
Live animal orders ship Monday through Wednesday only.
This schedule ensures animals arrive within the same week and do not remain in transit over the weekend.
Handling time for live animal orders typically ranges from 1–5 business days, depending on:
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Weather conditions
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Livestock health
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Shipping destination
Tracking information will be emailed once the order has been shipped.
Free Shipping
We offer Free Shipping on eligible orders over $150 within the contiguous United States.
Estimated delivery time for free shipping orders is 2–5 business days.
If your order contains both live plants and live animals, the shipment may be combined and the appropriate shipping rate will be shown at checkout.
Free Shipping is not available for customers located in:
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Alaska
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Hawaii
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Puerto Rico
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Guam
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U.S. Virgin Islands
Customers in these locations must select Expedited or Express shipping options at checkout.
Delivery Time Estimates
Delivery times shown at checkout are estimates provided by the shipping carrier.
While we work hard to ship orders quickly, delivery times may vary due to factors outside of our control, including:
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Weather conditions
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Carrier delays
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High shipping volumes
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Transportation disruptions
Aquarium Plants Factory is not responsible for shipping delays caused by the carrier.
Delayed or Lost Packages
Occasionally, shipments may take longer than expected.
A package is considered lost only after 15 business days (approximately 3 weeks) from the ship date.
If a package is confirmed lost by the carrier, we may offer a 50/50 replacement, meaning:
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Aquarium Plants Factory covers 50% of the replacement cost
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The customer covers 50% plus shipping
Address Accuracy
Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate shipping address when placing an order.
Please ensure that your address is correct when using payment methods such as:
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Credit / Debit Card
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PayPal
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Apple Pay
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Google Pay
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Amazon Pay
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Shopify Pay
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AliPay
Orders returned due to:
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Incorrect address
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Refused delivery
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Failed delivery attempts
may not be eligible for a refund.
Order Cancellations
If you need to cancel an order, please contact us as soon as possible.
Orders can only be canceled before they have been shipped.
Once an order has been shipped, it can no longer be canceled.
Returns
Due to the sensitive nature of live goods, all sales are final.
We do not accept returns or exchanges for:
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Live plants
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Live animals
For any shipping questions, please contact us before placing your order.
Aquarium Plants Factory
https://www.AquariumPlantsFactory.com
WHAT WE GUARANTEE
24 Hours Live Arrival Guarantee* - In a rare case of live stocks dead on arrival, we must be notified within 24 hours by the same day of delivery. Please take clear photos of the damaged product and send it to us within 24 hours. Live Arrival Guarantee will be void after 24 hours of delivery. All replacements are considered final and we will not replace the replacement.
- Picture requirements: Take at least 2 clear photos of damaged product in their original, unopened & sealed transparent packing and send photos and orders information to our email within 24 hours: aquariumplantsfactory@gmail.com
- Please do not take picture of damaged plants, or animals in your aquarium. Once they have been introduced to your aquarium's ecosystem. It is no longer covered by our guarantee.
Please be aware that our Live Arrival Guarantee is subject to certain conditions. Specifically, the guarantee will not be applicable in cases where the package is marked as 'invalid address', 'undeliverable' or is 'returned to sender.' This includes situations such as a vacant delivery address, a missing apartment number, or any other issues that prevent the postal service from delivering your package.
It is crucial to provide accurate and complete shipping information to ensure the successful delivery of your order and the applicability of the Live Arrival Guarantee.
Please keep in mind that Live Arrival Guarantee only guarantees that live stocks will be alive upon arrival. We cannot guarantee that you will continue to have success with them. Many factors, including the aquarium environment, water quality, nutrient, temperature, lighting, filter, and CO2 system, can contribute to the failure to grow live plants and live animals.
WHAT WE CAN'T GUARANTEE
Even though our plants are very clean, but we can't guarantee they will be 100% pest-free because we cannot be responsible for your aquarium. Please use it at your own risk. We recommended all customers rinse the plants with clean water and quarantine them before use.
However, plants in tissue culture will be 100% free from pests, algae and never have been contacting with any aquarium.
- Due to the nature of the product. We don't guarantee our plants will be pests free. ( snails, algae, hitchhikers )
- We don't guarantee our plants will be free of pesticides. We use homemade, organic pesticides in our greenhouse to control pests. We do not use pesticides that contain copper. Copper is toxic to invertebrates such as aquatic snails, crabs, shrimps, etc
- We don't guarantee your aquarium success or are responsible for your aquarium inhabitant including but not limited to fish, shrimp, snail, turtle, etc. So please quarantine all plants when use!
- Unless specific, we don't guarantee aquatic plants will be grow emerged or submerge.
Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.
Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.
Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.
Customers praised these aquarium plants as "healthy" with "strong root systems" and generous portions. Many reported plants "spreading" and "producing runners" within weeks, even without CO2. However, some shoppers received very small plants with minimal roots that were difficult to plant in substrate. Overall, customers found them easy to maintain and excellent value.
- Started growing and shooting out runners a half an inch each day in only gravel substrate
- Super high quality and a TON of it too
- Lots of nice green healthy looking plants with lots of roots
M
Extremely small not like picture at all
R
I can not wait to add these lovely plants to my aquarium.
P
Arrived quickly and packaged well. Lots of nice green healthy looking plants with lots of roots. Responding well in my tank.
G
Very healthy quality. It sat there for three weeks and then suddenly started growing and shooting out runners a half an inch each day in only gravel substrate newly cycled, no CO2. Very satisfied.
M
Just like the picture
A
Helanthium Tenellum (Dwarf Chain Sword)
C
Plants came in healthy.
B
Ordered 20+ various plants and the dwarf chain sword was by far were the biggest disappointment. While the plants arrived green, they were unusable in any type of course substrate. They are quarter inch tall runners with no established root system and too small to plant. I am going to try floating them for now with liquid fertilizer in hope a root system starts to grow. Just not fun getting a plants you cant add to your aqua scape. These also applied as my free plants in the buy 2 get 1 free deal, so now it feels like I never really got the promotion.
B
Ordered 20+ various plants and the dwarf chain sword was by far were the biggest disappointment. While the plants arrived green, they were unusable in any type of course substrate. They are quarter inch tall runners with no established root system and too small to plant. I am going to try floating them for now with liquid fertilizer in hope a root system starts to grow. Just not fun getting a plants you cant add to your aqua scape. These also applied as my free plants in the buy 2 get 1 free deal, so now it feels like I never really got the promotion.
M
I’m all around satisfied with this purchase. There was a good amount of plants to fill the front area of my 29 gallon aquarium. I will buy from this seller again.
w
One reason I purchased these plants was for their easy maintenance. The arrived alive and I was able to rinse them and put them in the tank right away.
W
Very generous portions which were shipped promptly and packaged securely. The plants arrived in excellent shape.
K
I found these a bit hard to plant as they are small and tended to float up out of the substrate. That said, once anchored they have done very well. Look a bit like an upside down spider plant, with the 'babies' growing up instead of hanging down.
S
Helanthium Tenellum (Dwarf Chain Sword)
C
amazing clumps of this lower tech carpeting plant that produces runners! super high quality and a TON of it too
G
All the plants arrived in excellent shape. Looks great in my tank!
B
Awesome little plants
R
Purchased 14 plants, moss, grasses and all arrived healthy. Great value. I would suggest on each plants page that plants care requirements and planting, etc. Though, this information is readily available on other sites.
D
Couldn't be more pleased with quality quality of the plants
A
Nice amount, well developed and strong root system, came in great shape
G
Plants were in excellent shape again.this was the second buy from aquarium plant factory.the first was excellent .my son saw the order and was impressed.so I reordered forhim .he was very pleased.every one I know will know about the quality of the plants and service.great place to buy plants..this order was only shain swords.last week was chain swords ,anubias minima and dwarf sag. All exelent! When I was told day plants would arrive .exactly on time.
J
Filled in nicely
J
This plant arrived well packaged and healthy, displaying great color and healthy roots. I was actually not expecting as large a portion as I received so was very happy. I will be buying plants from Aquarium Plants Factory when I need them due to great prices and having received great plants.
D
These arrived in great shape, along with everything else in my order. Very satisfied overall!
J
Arrived in great shape, well packaged. Very nice roots and lovely little plants. This was a great buying experience and will absolutely buy from APF again!
M
How many plants are included in this bare root plant order? Is it just one plant or are they several plants connected by runners?
Approx. a few small plants
M
How many of these should be bought to cover a 75gal tank as a carpet?
A lot! 85 gal can fill hundred of this plant. But i recommended start around only 20~40 portion to test to see how they grow, you can always add more later. Once they adapted and rooted, they actually grow out quickly.
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