Duckweed

[StripySnailGirl04]

Hello!
A quick question, can you collect duckweed from the river, wash it in dechlorinated water and use it in the tank? Is it safe?
Thanks.

 

[OliveFish05]

You would be better off bleach dipping it I would think, but I don’t know how well floating plants respond to that. I once collected some duckweed, parrots feather, anacharis, and a water Lily from a pond, bleached them, and then quarantine them in a bucket and there were all kinds of bugs and parasites still!

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

You would be better off bleach dipping it I would think, but I don’t know how well floating plants respond to that. I once collected some duckweed, parrots feather, anacharis, and a water Lily from a pond, bleached them, and then quarantine them in a bucket and there were all kinds of bugs and parasites still!

Oh ok! But would traces of bleach kill the fish?

 

[Slaphppy7]

I would hope the bleach killed the duckweed...horrible stuff

 

[connorlindeman]

I would hope the bleach killed the duckweed...horrible stuff

why is it horrible?

 

[Slaphppy7]

why is it horrible?

It overtakes the surface in a short amount of time, darkens the tank, clogs HOB filters...it's just a mess that's hard to control...there are MUCH better options for floating plants

 

[connorlindeman]

It overtakes the surface in a short amount of time, darkens the tank, clogs HOB filters...it's just a mess that's hard to control...there are MUCH better options for floating plants

Makes sense. Water Sprite is great! Growing like crazy in my tank after only being in there for about 3 weeks now

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

I just need floating plants that can be grown in 7ppt salt.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I don’t suggest it. I had duckweed in a pond on my property, and I found a lot of nasty’s when I pulled up a chunk. Dragonfly nymph’s, water beetles, mosquito larvae, algae, etc.

It’s just not worth the risk. If you really want duckweed, they sell it at LFS’s for around $5 a cup. However, I don’t suggest getting duckweed. It takes over very quickly and gets lodged in filters and other equipment. (As mentioned above)

I recommend frogbit or salvinia if you’re looking for a good floating plant.

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

So no Duckweed. I will consider water sprite then.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

I just need floating plants that can be grown in 7ppt salt.

If this is referencing your brackish tank plans for breeding your nerites, it might not be a good idea. Essjay mentioned in that thread that the other fish in your tank wouldn't tolerate added salt well, and iirc you only have the one tank?

 

[Slaphppy7]

Makes sense. Water Sprite is great! Growing like crazy in my tank after only being in there for about 3 weeks now

I'm going to be getting some WS for my 29G when the weather warms up a bit (shipped)....maybe some red root floaters, as well

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I just need floating plants that can be grown in 7ppt salt.

I don’t know of any freshwater floating plant that can survive in brackish water.

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

If this is referencing your brackish tank plans for breeding your nerites, it might not be a good idea. Essjay mentioned in that thread that the other fish in your tank wouldn't tolerate added salt well, and iirc you only have the one tank?

A nano brackish tank is only an idea for now and I might add bumblebee gobies but nerites is the priority for me. I will add small doses of salt at first and gradually increase so the plants will accumulate slowly to hopefully 7ppt salt. This is of course not entirely safe and if any plants have problems, I'll move them back into the Freshwater tank. I'm not sure how trusty this source is but I am considering plants from this list:

30+ Brackish Water Plants - Shrimp and Snail Breeder

In this article, I have put together the list of the most popular aquarium plants that can grow in brackish water tanks.

aquariumbreeder.com

Hopefully I'll still be left with some Hardy Anubias in the brackish tank! (If my dream comes true).

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

If this is referencing your brackish tank plans for breeding your nerites, it might not be a good idea. Essjay mentioned in that thread that the other fish in your tank wouldn't tolerate added salt well, and iirc you only have the one tank?

Of course this will be done in a separate tank.