Duckweed?

[MsGardeness]

Do you ever put duckweed in your aquarium for your fish? Or other floating plants?

[Pamelajo]

I have twice and regretted it both times. lol Still scooping it out.

[Bwhiskered]

There are some fish such as scats and monos that will eat every speck of duckweed put into their tank. If you put it in a tank where it is not all eaten it will get spread by nets and hoses and be in all tanks. You will learn to hate it as I do.

[MsGardeness]

Okay, so no duckweed. How about using any other floating plants, like the water hyacinth with roots that can grow long and hang way down? I never did like water lettuce very much.

[Bwhiskered]

Water Hyacinths require much stronger light than is in most aquariums and do not last very long before they fall apart. There is one little pond plant that has smooth looney size leaves and is sold for ponds and does very well in aquariums. The proper name is Limbodia spongia. It could be sold as money wort or frog bit. The stores use this nome for all round leaved plants. I recently saw some in Big Al's in Oakville.

[2wheelsx2]

Water sprite works well for floating plants. Personally, I hate floating plants, and I choose to attach java fern high up on wood to provide the shade my fish like. I also do it with rocks. Nutrient uptake, greens, shade...what's not to like? :D

[MsGardeness]

Thanks Bwhiskered - I'm familiar with frog bit (flat found leaves connected in the center) from my outdoor pond days. Our garden centres carry it too.

2wheelsx2 - why do you hate floating plants? I think it's cool to see roots hanging down from the top.

[2wheelsx2]

Most floating plants propagate with plantlets and they get everywhere on everything and get to all tanks. They also increase surface tension and minimize surface area for gas exchange. That alone keeps me from putting it pleco tanks.

[MsGardeness]

Great explanation - thanks!