Duckweed

[Tindy]

My problem is my local shop does not sell duckweed but there is a lot in my local park. I have asked the grounds keeper if I could have some from the pond and he said he would be most grateful if I would take some. The thing is what do I have to take off? The pond is very big and very deep so is the plant rooted and will I have to uproot some and take it or can I just chop some stem off the top and use it. If so will I have to put it in my gravel and let it grow or just put it on the top of the water surface and let it grow?

 

[LadyMinion]

Just wondering why you want duckweed. It spreads very fast and once it's in your tank, it's a right pain in the arse to get rid of.

 

[SirMinion]

If it's rooted, then it ain't duckweed.

Duckweed is tiny floating plants that quickly for a mat over the surface of the water. You do not want it in your tank.

 

[StingrayKid]

Duckweed SUCKS! Take it from me. I bought some and it clogged my filter and it messed up my tank. All it's good for is Silver dollar food, which they really seem to like. Be extremely careful with it. It grows like crazy!

 

[Tindy]

Thanks you guys for that. Just wondering then can you suggest a good floating plant, as I want one to breed Siamese fighter fish

 

[fishdudein]

I beg to differ. I will agree that duckweed can be a pain if you have power filters on your tanks. But for simple box filter and/or sponge filtered tanks, or tanks that you will be using for breeding purposes where the fish will feel secure with a good growth of plant on the water surface (not to mention the long trailing root systems that provide excellent cover for fry), duckweed can be wonderful stuff. Just needs to be in the right setting, the right tank. And when it gets to be too thick, you can just scoop some out of the tank, I've never had a problem getting rid of it.

Sir Minion is right, though, about the root system. The roots just trail down into the water, and never actually take hold in the substrate.

If you do decide to get a start from the park's pond, you could just net out a small scoop of it, it will be more than you need. The thing to be worried about will be the "critters" that you bring home from the pond along with your duckweed. Snails, leeches, hydra, all kinds of nasty things live in pond water.

 

[Fish Buddy]

As far as I know, duck weed is a very tiny plant with 4 leaves. The rood system-if you can call it that- is very limited and tiny too. Personally I would not get it from a pond to put into a tropical tank-only native species tank/pond because of the little 'beasties' that could be transfered. If you really want it in your tank-as I once did- wash the plant in water to get rid of the muck and then put it into a quarantine jar/container.

I think you want a plant that has a floating root system that the betta can hide in as well as build a bubble nest from it's leaves, if so I'd recommend water lettus or even water hydranga (spelling?) that is from a pet/garden store. Don't pay more than $3 or at least not much over.

 

[Discus_boy]

u could try bananana lilly ? it has like pads that form on top the the serface. they grow to about 4-5" in