dwalstad

This sounds like progress, indeed. Your swordplant is having babies! The spike will develop blossoms and then new plants all along the spike. Try to keep the spike in the water so the growing tip doesn't dry out. Because this is a new tank where you want as much plant growth as possible, I wouldn't do any pruning for quite awhile. Later, you can plant the baby swords or give them away.

I understand about the Marsilea mess floating upwards. I had to use a small stone to keep the plants from dislodging and floating.