2 questions about aquarium plants?

Question

Lloydiella, any experience with this, I saw one today and thought it might look nice. I read about people having to pull it out and prune off the bottom periodically? Could it be easily propigated?

Secondly, would anything bad happen if I introduced duckweed to my aquarium?

someone told me duckweed grows like crazy, should i let it build up a population before adding it, if i only add a little will my fish (rainbows, neons, guppies, plecos, and 2 evil danios) consume it all

everyone was helpful but i really don't know wich answer is best

Answer 1

i cant answer the first question but the second one i used duck week in all my tanks the fish love it and it helps keeping the algae down and keep the oxygen in the water ... but most of all the fish love eating it...lol ... Ive also use house hold plant like spider plants etc.. just have to make sure to wash all the dirt off the roots

Answer 2

Lloydiella?

Grows Submerged
Middleground plant (medium height)
Light: Medium: 2.5-3.0 watts per gallon
Temperature: Medium:73-83 F. (23-28 C.)
Neutral: pH 7.0
Distribution:Domestic US
Reproduction: Cuttings
Hardiness: Medium

Duckweed is very prolific and will cover the top of your tank in very short order. It makes it difficult to feed flake food and unless you have a very good aerator or filter to keep the water moving, it will inhibit good oxygen exchange. If you have an intake tube that is not deep in the tank, it will also clog up the intake.

Two fish that love duckweed are goldfish ( a coldwater fish) and the American Flag fish from Florida. A half dozen flag fish will keep the duckweed under control and they are very pretty fish too. Some cichlids will eat duckweed also. Many of the Lake Malawi group will snack on it.

I have it in about a third of my tanks and am constantly using a net to remove gobs of it. Luckily, I can sell it at the fish auctions here in Cleveland. Many people have goldfish that love it. It goes for about $1-3 a bag.

Answer 3

Well, Lloyd is a fairly high light plants. Without high light you can probably still manage to grow it, but the leaves on the bottom will die, so you'll frequently have to cut off and replant the tops. But yep, it is easy to propagate.

Yess I hate duckweed! lol. Actually, duckweed won't cause any real problems, it's just a major pest, and once you get it, you can never get rid of it. BUT if you don't mind having to remove a bunch of it on a regular basis, then go for it, it can make a tank look green and alive. However, if you want a nicer floating plant, consider Amazon Frogbit; http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_Limnobium_laevigatum.php

Answer 4

Do not bury the rhizome, the meaty rootlike structure that the leaves emerge from. This part of the plant should be exposed. The best method for attachment is to gently band the rhizome to whatever bit of rockwork or bogwood you are intending to be the substrate. I've found that cutting bands out of discarded pantihose makes a slightly elastic and easily disposable tool for attachment and after a few months can simply be snipped of with a scissors. This method also is advisable for another rhizome emergent plant Anubius nana. Either plant will die if the rhizome is buried. As to nutritional additives, don't bother,Java Fern requires nearly no nutrients at all. Using plant foods will only encourage algal growth.

Answer 5

Yes you do have to prune pretty often. You can replant what your prune.

Some fish like to eat duckweed. I love it in my aquariums but it does spread fast. it floats across the top of the water. I find that mine grows faster with brighter light. Some fish stores will give it to you for free because they have so much of it.

Answer 6

Another nice floating plant is floating water sprite. It can be a bit prolific and can get big leaves, but just snap off any leaves that get bigger than what you want. I have actually given "babies" to someone with a pond, and she loved how well it did.

Floating sprite can also be bottom grown.

Answer 7

accually thats 3 questions....lol jk.........well yes u do need to prune it's bottom. i wouldn't say easily propagated, but they can be propagated. i wouldn't recomend duckweed to ur aqaurium...but try Stargrss or Anubias frazeri.

- angeli

Good Luck!