⚠️ NOT a beginner plant. CO2 REQUIRED. High PAR light REQUIRED. Soft acidic water (pH 6.0–6.8; TDS 100–200) REQUIRED. Without all three: the plant melts.
✓ Ready for HC Cuba? You have: pressurised CO2 system · quality planted LED · RO water or soft tap water · aqua soil · experience with Monte Carlo or Marsilea carpet.
🌿 Three Critical Points
Drop checker lime green: CO2 target 20–30 ppm throughout photoperiod. Turn on 1 hr before lights; off 1 hr before lights end.
Algae prevention is everything: Algae in HC Cuba carpet cannot be removed. Start at 6-hr photoperiod; increase after carpet establishes. CO2 balance is the primary algae prevention tool.
Progression path: Frogbit → Hygrophila → Monte Carlo / Marsilea → HC Cuba. Each plant builds the skills for the next.
The reward: A well-established HC Cuba carpet is the gold standard foreground in planted aquarium keeping. No other plant produces a 1cm continuous jewel-green lawn. The difficulty is the reason it remains exclusive.
