Carpeting plants issues (with pictures)

[Victor]

Hi, guys! Do you know if it's necessary to trim carpeting plants? My echinodorus tenellus and eleocharis parvula are becoming ever more dense. Take a look at this pictures:http://[ATTACH=full]99252[/ATTACH]

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I like them this way. But they're growing fast and becoming very compact. Can I keep this way or I'll have problems? Thank you.

 

[EnderUK]

Looks lovely wouldn't take long for it to recover from a trim and would grow back more dense.

 

[Victor]

Looks lovely wouldn't take long for it to recover from a trim and would grow back more dense.

But what happens if I don't trim them? They'll die?

 

[EnderUK]

It depends, sometimes the lower parts don't get as much flow and co2, dirt is trapped and you'll start getting algae. I like having some space between the glass and the carpet so you can cut bits out using a credit card to slice the roots in a line about an inch from the glass.. You can then replant these parts and this will give the carpet an area to spread back into.

It's really up to you. If you like the look then I say don't touch it. If it's starts getting out of control then a trim won't do any harm.

 

[xim]

But what happens if I don't trim them? They'll die?

They both will grow upon themselves. HG can become a thick layer that you can roll up like a lawn turf.
I've also seen a pile of Tenellus reaching water surface.