Eriocaulon cinereum
Also sold as Eriocaulon · Pipewort
Eriocaulon cinereum is a rosette plant for the foreground, growing to about 10 cm (3.9 in) at a slow pace. It wants 68–82°F (20–28°C), high light and pressurised CO₂, and counts as an advanced plant to keep alive.
At a glance
| Type | Rosette plant |
|---|---|
| Light | HighThe least light it survives in, not the light it looks best in. |
| CO₂ | RequiredWhether it survives without added CO₂ — not whether CO₂ would help it grow faster. |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Temperature | 68–82°F (20–28°C) |
| Max height | 10 cm (3.9 in)Grown submersed, left to mature, never trimmed. |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Placement | planted in the foreground |
| pH | 5–7 |
Before it goes in
- Eriocaulon cinereum needs high light. A low- or medium-light LED is not enough for it to last.
- Pressurised CO₂ is required — without injection it melts away rather than settling in.
- It feeds through its roots, so in plain sand or gravel it needs root tabs; in an aquasoil it does not.
- Expect it to melt back a few weeks after planting and regrow from the roots — pulling it out at that point is the mistake.
- Its leaves are medium: Goldfish, Electric Yellow Lab and Colombian Ramshorn Snail will eat it.
- It counts as an advanced plant: it is not a first-tank pick.
Can it grow without CO₂?
No. Eriocaulon cinereum needs pressurised CO₂; without it, it melts back rather than settling in.
How much light does it need?
High light — and that is the survival line, not the “it looks better” line.
How big does it get?
About 10 cm (3.9 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing slowly, after roughly 4 weeks to root in.
Why is it melting?
That is normal for this one. It usually drops its existing leaves a few weeks after planting and regrows from the roots — leave it in place and it comes back.
Will my fish eat it?
Its leaves are medium, so some will: Goldfish, Electric Yellow Lab and Colombian Ramshorn Snail.
What it goes with
- Plants that run on the same light and CO₂, so they can share a tank without one of them being the odd one out: Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis', Water Sprite, Anubias nana 'Petite' and Dwarf Hairgrass Mini.
- Animals that share its temperature range and will not eat or uproot it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Angelfish and Bristlenose Pleco.
Often compared with
| Eriocaulon cinereum | Eriocaulon 'Feather Duster' | Eriocaulon 'Vietnam' | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | High | Medium | Medium |
| CO₂ | Required | Recommended | Recommended |
| Max height | 10 cm | 10 cm | 20 cm |
| Difficulty | Advanced | Medium | Medium |
More plants
Sources (1)
- tropica.comSep 2026