Help Iwagumi Plant Choice

[Pianoguy0101]

I am getting ready to scape my first Sanzon Iwagumi and I need help selecting background plants. The tank is an ADA 60F which is a 60X30X25 tank so relatively shallow. I plan on doing either monte carlo, HC cuba or UG carpet, maybe helanthium tenellum broad leaf as an accent, then a taller grass/tape like plant in the background. I have little experience with these type of plants and there are a lot of options but I am not sure what would be most suitable for a tank this size. My options are:

Cryptocoryne Spiralis Claudigera
Blyxa Japonica
Cyperus Helferi
Eleocharis Acicularis
Eleocharis Montevidinesis
Eleocharis Vivipara

I would like something that can reach the top without getting too large, I will say I prefer the look of the ones with wider leaves vs the hairgrass for this application but I am open to either. Which of these plants or otherwise do you think would best suit a tank of this size?

 

[gjcarew]

Cyperis helferi is going to be the most tape-like of the plants you mentioned, so it's probably what you're looking for. Eleocharis acicularis gets about 4-6" (as long as it's not the mini type!) and is probably the best size-wise if you don't want it laying over the top of the water a bunch. Eleocharis montevidensis is a good grass-like background plants, but it does have thinner leaves.

Crypt spiralis tends to curve in random directions at the tip, so I don't think it's great for an iwagumi. Eleocharis vivipara gets advantageous plantlets at its tips and kinda ends up looking like tangled hair. Blyxa japonica is great but grows more bunchy, and turns red which you probably don't want.

 

[BenB]

You've already thought of the plants I had in mind before I saw your list. The only additional ones maybe are Crypt tonkinensis. It also goes by a different name these days. I've seen it sold under both. The other is Cryptocoryne crispatula 'Tonkinensis'. Blyxa also has a longer leaf version than B japonica that I believe Joe sells. There might be a Valisnaria that will work, but I think the ones that would be tall enough would get too tall.