Amazon sword (Echinodorus amazonicus and related Echinodorus species) is a large, hardy rooted aquarium plant with broad, bright green leaves that grows as a centrepiece in medium to large tanks, and it needs root fertilizer, steady medium light and a deep substrate rather than CO2. It is a heavy root feeder, which means the most common reasons for yellow leaves are a lack of root tabs and a shallow substrate. This guide covers varieties, light, substrate and fertilizer, how to plant it, how it spreads, why leaves turn yellow or melt, and which fish and tanks suit it.
Quick answer: Plant Amazon sword with the roots buried and the crown just above the substrate, use at least 5 cm of gravel or a nutrient soil, push a root tab near the roots every 2-3 months and add a liquid fertilizer weekly. Give it medium light for 7-8 hours. Expect leaves to reach 30-50 cm, so it suits tanks at least 45 cm tall or long.
Amazon sword at a glance
| Trait | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Echinodorus amazonicus (often sold as Amazon sword) and related Echinodorus |
| Origin | Slow rivers and swamps of South and Central America |
| Plant type | Rooted rosette plant; heavy root feeder |
| Light | Medium; strong light needs more nutrients |
| CO2 | Not needed, though it grows faster with it |
| Temperature | About 22-28 C |
| Water | Soft to moderately hard water, pH roughly 6 to 7.5 |
| Growth speed | Medium; a new leaf every one to two weeks when well fed |
| Height | 30-50 cm for the common Amazon sword; smaller types 15-25 cm |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate; needs root nutrients |
| Fish eat it? | Goldfish may nibble; most fish leave it alone |
Why Amazon sword suits Indian aquariums
Amazon sword is tolerant of Indian tap water, warm summers and ordinary lights, and it is one of the few large-leaved plants that survives in a tank with cichlids and larger fish. A single plant can fill a corner and give fish shade and cover. Because it feeds mainly through its roots, it works in tanks with gravel or sand as long as you add root tabs, which is why it often features in our guide to growing aquarium plants in gravel and sand and in the best aquarium plants for beginners list. See also the complete aquarium plants guide for India for how it compares with other rooted plants.
Echinodorus varieties compared
| Variety | Look | Height | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon sword (E. amazonicus) | Narrow, bright green leaves | 30-50 cm | Large tanks, background |
| Bleheri / broadleaf sword | Broad, glossy leaves | 35-50 cm | Large tanks, cichlid tanks |
| Ozelot | Green leaves with red-brown spots | 30-45 cm | Colourful centrepiece |
| Red Flame | Leaves that start red and turn green | 30-45 cm | Mid to large tanks in good light |
| Radican (Rubin) | Broad leaves, often reddish new growth | 30-40 cm | Planted tanks with strong light |
| Dwarf sword (E. tenellus) | Short, grass-like leaves | 5-10 cm | Foreground and carpets |
Our guide to types of aquarium plants and their names helps you identify plants by leaf shape. If you want a sword that spreads as a carpet, read the carpet plants guide for dwarf options.
Light and CO2
Medium light for 7-8 hours suits Amazon sword. Strong light speeds growth but also raises the demand for nutrients; if you push the light, add fertilizer to match, or algae will appear on the broad leaves. Our planted aquarium lighting guide explains how much light different tanks need. Good lights for a sword tank include the Sobo AL-480 (21W) (₹1,500) for 2-3 foot tanks and the Sobo AL-380 (15.5W) (₹1,230) for 1-2 foot tanks. CO2 is optional; the plant grows well without it, and our low-tech planted tank guide shows how.
Planted tank lights by tank size (Fish Bazaar range)
Pick the row that matches your tank length, then choose by plant level: the cheaper full-spectrum lights suit low to medium light plants such as Anubias, Java fern and Cryptocoryne, while the Chihiros WRGB II Pro and B Series are built for red plants, carpets and CO2 tanks. Tank length is the longest side of the glass. Prices are in rupees as listed on Fish Bazaar on 9 October 2026 and can change, so check the product page for the current price and stock.
| Tank length | Light | Power | Best for | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nano, about 20 cm | Sobo AL-180 COB | 8W | Easy low-light plants: Anubias nana, mosses, Bucephalandra, small Crypts | ₹890 |
| Nano, about 20 cm | BluePet N6 Neo+ | 6W | Easy low-light nano plants; full spectrum | ₹550 |
| Nano, about 20 cm | Chihiros B Series (B 20) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech planted tanks; tunable colour | ₹4,900 |
| Nano and small tanks (about 20-40 cm) | Neo Helios Flat Nano S3 Plus | 13W | Low to medium light: Anubias, Cryptocoryne, Java fern, easy stems | ₹1,050 |
| Nano and small tanks (about 20-40 cm) | Neo Helios Flat Nano S3 Pro+ (10000K) | 13W | Low to medium light; cooler 10000K full spectrum | ₹1,250 |
| Nano and small tanks (about 20-40 cm) | Blue Pet Flat Nano S3 WRGB | 10W | Easy low-light nano plants; WRGB colour | ₹850 |
| Nano and small tanks (about 20-40 cm) | Blue Pet Flat Nano S4 WRGB | 16W | Low to medium light; more penetration than the S3 | ₹1,010 |
| 30-40 cm (about 1 to 1.5 ft) | RS Electrical RS-S13 clip-on | 12W | Low to medium light; clip-on for rimless tanks | ₹860 |
| 30-40 cm (about 1 to 1.5 ft) | RS Electrical RS-L13 clip-on (10000K) | 12W | Small planted tanks; clip-on, full-spectrum beads | ₹850 |
| 30 cm | Chihiros B Series (B 30) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech; red plants | ₹5,900 |
| 30 cm | Chihiros WRGB II Pro (30) | 4-in-1 WRGB, app control | High-tech tanks with demanding plants | ₹22,000 |
| 30 cm | Chihiros WRGB II Slim (30) | WRGB, app control | Planted and high-tech; use CO2 and dosing for demanding plants | ₹11,600 (sold out at time of writing) |
| 40-50 cm (about 1.5 ft) | Sobo AL-380 COB | 15.5W | Low to medium light: Anubias, Crypts, Java fern, easy stems | ₹1,230 |
| 45 cm | Chihiros B Series (B 45) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech; red plants | ₹6,500 |
| 45 cm | Chihiros WRGB II Pro (45) | 4-in-1 WRGB, app control | High-tech tanks with demanding plants | ₹26,000 |
| 45 cm | Chihiros WRGB II Slim (45) | WRGB, app control | Planted and high-tech; use CO2 and dosing for demanding plants | ₹12,000 (sold out at time of writing) |
| 50-60 cm (about 2 ft) | Sobo AL-480 COB | 21W | Low to medium light; add CO2 and dosing for carpets and red plants | ₹1,500 |
| 50-60 cm (about 2 ft) | Neo-Helios XP-300 (up to about 2-2.5 ft) | 16W | Small to medium planted tanks; many medium-light plants | ₹3,450 |
| 60 cm | Chihiros B Series (B 60) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech; red plants | ₹7,200 |
| 60 cm | Chihiros WRGB II Pro (60) | 4-in-1 WRGB, app control | High-tech tanks with demanding plants | ₹31,999 |
| 60 cm | Chihiros WRGB II Slim (60) | WRGB, app control | Planted and high-tech; use CO2 and dosing for demanding plants | ₹15,000 (sold out at time of writing) |
| 80 cm (about 2.5 ft) | Chihiros B Series (B 80) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech; red plants | ₹9,800 |
| 80 cm (about 2.5 ft) | Chihiros WRGB II Pro (80) | 4-in-1 WRGB, app control | High-tech tanks with demanding plants | ₹37,999 |
| 90 cm (3 ft) | Neo-Helios XP-600 (3 ft and up) | 32W | Medium to large planted tanks, including more demanding plants | ₹5,050 |
| 90 cm (3 ft) | Chihiros B Series (B 90) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech; red plants | ₹10,700 |
| 90 cm (3 ft) | Chihiros WRGB II Pro (90) | 4-in-1 WRGB, app control | High-tech tanks with demanding plants | ₹41,999 |
| 90 cm (3 ft) | Chihiros WRGB II Slim (90) | WRGB, app control | Planted and high-tech; use CO2 and dosing for demanding plants | ₹20,000 (sold out at time of writing) |
| 120 cm (4 ft) | Neo-Helios XP-1200 (4 ft and up) | 64W | Medium to large planted tanks, including more demanding plants | ₹5,850 |
| 120 cm (4 ft) | Chihiros B Series (B 120) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech; red plants | ₹11,500 |
| 120 cm (4 ft) | Chihiros WRGB II Pro (120) | 4-in-1 WRGB, app control | High-tech tanks with demanding plants | ₹52,999 |
| 120 cm (4 ft) | Chihiros WRGB II Slim (120) | WRGB, app control | Planted and high-tech; use CO2 and dosing for demanding plants | ₹24,000 (sold out at time of writing) |
| Specialist Chihiros (tank size not stated on the product page) | Chihiros A II 801 | White LED, app control | Densely planted freshwater tanks; acrylic stand, no metal legs | ₹11,500 (sold out at time of writing) |
| Specialist Chihiros (tank size not stated on the product page) | Chihiros RGB Vivid II Mini | RGB, app control | The most demanding plants; mount or pendant versions | ₹27,400 pendant, 28,800 mount (sold out at time of writing) |
Chihiros sizes (30, 45, 60, 80, 90, 120) match the tank length in cm. Wattage alone does not decide plant growth, so match the light to your plants and add CO2 and fertilizer only if you want demanding species. Not sure which light fits your tank? See the full aquarium light range or message us with your tank size.
Substrate and root feeding
The roots of Amazon sword are thick and spread widely, so a substrate that is at least 5 cm deep suits it best. A nutrient soil such as ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia Ver.2 (₹3,500) feeds the roots for months; see our aquarium soil guide for planted tanks. In plain gravel or sand, push a root tab such as Sunken Garden Root Tabs (₹290) into the substrate near the roots every two to three months, or use a root booster such as TPRS Root Boost+ (₹353). Our comparison of root tabs and liquid fertilizer explains when each is better.
ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia Ver.29 L nutrient soil 
Sunken Garden Root TabsRoot fertilizer, 6+1 pack 
TPRS Root Boost+Root fertilizer booster
Liquid fertilizer
Amazon sword also takes nutrients through its leaves, so a weekly dose of liquid fertilizer helps, especially for iron, which is the usual cause of pale new leaves. An all-in-one such as Sunken Garden Green (₹490) is a good start; see the aquarium plant fertilizer guide, how to dose aquarium fertilizer and the guide to iron deficiency in aquarium plants for details.
How to plant Amazon sword
- Rinse the plant and quarantine it; see how to dip and quarantine new plants.
- Trim any dead or very long roots to about 5 cm and remove damaged leaves.
- Dig a hole in the substrate and place the roots in it.
- Bury the roots fully but keep the crown, the point where the leaves meet the roots, just above the substrate.
- Press a root tab into the substrate a few centimetres from the plant.
- Leave it undisturbed; expect some older leaves to melt in the first weeks as it adapts.
Our guide to how to plant aquarium plants explains every method, and aquarium plant holders, pots, weights and glue covers the tools.
Growth, flowering and propagation
Amazon sword grows in a rosette and sends out a long flower stalk that rises above the water or lies along the surface. Small plantlets form at the nodes of this stalk. Once a plantlet has three or four leaves and a few roots, cut it from the stalk, pin it into the substrate, or float it on the surface to root, then plant it. This is the simplest way to get free plants. See our guide to propagating aquarium plants for the full method.
Using Amazon sword in your tank layout
Amazon sword works best as a single centrepiece or a pair at the back or one side of the tank, rather than scattered around. Leave about 15-20 cm of space around each plant so that the leaves can spread, and place it where the light is strongest. Because the leaves are broad, they cast a lot of shade, so keep low-light plants such as Anubias, Java fern or Cryptocoryne beneath them. Avoid planting it close to the filter outlet, where strong flow can tear the leaves. As the plant matures, trim the oldest outer leaves at the base with clean scissors so that light reaches the new growth, and thin the plantlets so that the tank does not become crowded.
Common Amazon sword problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow leaves, green veins | Iron or micronutrient deficiency | Dose a liquid all-in-one fertilizer; add a root tab |
| Pale, thin new growth | Low nutrients or shallow substrate | Add root tabs and deepen the substrate where possible |
| Leaves melt after planting | Transplant shock | Keep conditions steady; new leaves will grow |
| Holes in leaves | Potassium or other nutrient shortage | Add a micronutrient supplement; check for snails |
| Algae on the leaves | Strong light with low nutrients | Reduce light or add nutrients; trim old leaves |
| Crown rots | Buried crown | Replant with the crown above the substrate |
| Leaves grow very tall | Normal; large plant | Trim older leaves at the base or choose a smaller variety |
See why aquarium plants melt or turn brown and yellow and nutrient deficiency in aquarium plants for more help.
Which fish and tanks suit Amazon sword
Amazon sword suits large community tanks, cichlid tanks and goldfish tanks with a deep substrate; the leaves are tough enough for larger fish, although goldfish may nibble them and uproot young plants. Tie or weigh the roots down until they grip. See cichlid care, goldfish care and best fish for a planted aquarium. A single large plant can overshadow a small tank, so check the tank size before buying; our nano planted tank guide lists plants for small tanks instead.
Buying Amazon sword in India
Amazon sword is sold as potted plants, bare-root bunches and tissue-culture cups. Choose plants with firm green leaves and healthy, pale roots, and avoid any with yellow leaves or mushy crowns. Quarantine every plant for a week; see where to buy live aquarium plants in India. At the time of writing, Fish Bazaar does not list live Amazon sword on the store; we stock the lights, soil, root tabs and fertilizers shown above, and you can message us on WhatsApp for help planning your tank.
हिंदी में संक्षेप: अमेज़न सोर्ड एक बड़ा, मज़बूत जड़ वाला पौधा है जो मध्यम रोशनी में चलता है और CO2 नहीं माँगता। यह जड़ों से ज़्यादा खाता है, इसलिए कम से कम 5 सेमी बजरी या न्यूट्रिएंट सॉयल रखें और हर 2-3 महीने में रूट टैब लगाएँ। जड़ों को दबाएँ, पर क्राउन (जहाँ से पत्ते निकलते हैं) को मिट्टी के ऊपर रखें। पीले पत्ते अक्सर आयरन या जड़ों के पोषण की कमी बताते हैं, इसलिए हफ़्ते में थोड़ी तरल खाद दें।
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon sword easy to grow?
It is easy to moderate. It tolerates a wide range of water but needs a deep substrate and root fertilizer, because it is a heavy root feeder.
How do you plant Amazon sword?
Bury the roots in a hole in the substrate and keep the crown, where the leaves meet the roots, just above the surface. Add a root tab nearby.
Does Amazon sword need CO2?
No. It grows well without CO2 and with medium light, although CO2 can speed growth.
How big does Amazon sword get?
The common Amazon sword reaches 30-50 cm, so it suits larger tanks. Smaller sword varieties and dwarf swords suit nano tanks.
Why are my Amazon sword leaves turning yellow?
The usual causes are iron or micronutrient deficiency, a shallow or depleted substrate, or transplant shock. Add a root tab and a liquid fertilizer.
How often should I add root tabs for Amazon sword?
Every two to three months, pushed into the substrate a few centimetres from the plant, or follow the product label.
How much light does Amazon sword need?
Medium light for 7-8 hours a day. Stronger light needs more fertilizer to avoid algae.
How do you propagate Amazon sword?
Let the plant produce a flower stalk and wait for plantlets to form, then cut them off once they have several leaves and roots and plant them.
Can goldfish and cichlids live with Amazon sword?
Yes, it is one of the better large-leaved plants for these fish, but they may nibble or uproot it, so anchor the roots well.
Can Amazon sword grow in gravel or sand?
Yes, if you add root tabs and use a substrate at least 5 cm deep. A nutrient soil gives better results.
Related plant guides
- Aquarium plants for fish tanks: the complete India guide
- Aquarium plants in gravel and sand without soil
- Types of aquarium plants and their names
- Cryptocoryne guide
- Vallisneria guide
- How to plant aquarium plants
- Best fish for a planted aquarium
Planning a tank with Amazon sword and unsure about substrate or fertilizer? Message us on WhatsApp at +91 91523 30102 and we will help.
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