Duckweed

[CACAdmin]

I've decided that Duckweed is virtually indestructible (although I have thought that I have killed in my tank in the past... it did magically start to reappear months later. :confused:

I had a look at my nano pond on the balcony today (it only has about an inch on rain water in it... I drained it last fall) and guess what is growing in there? :yes: Yup, duckweed. :rolleyes: We've had lows of -17 over the winter, nothing added to the pond in the way of nutrients of any kinds and yet somehow it survived and is growing out there. :laugh: Now if only that were the case with the water lettuce.

[OldMan]

That sounds right to me Jay. I have duckweed in lots of my tanks, on purpose. The only way that I have found to permanently get rid of it is to put it into my large tank with the rainbow cichlids. Those guys will eat several cups of duckweed in just a couple of weeks and there will not be one viable leaf left anywhere in the tank. It is the same tank that I threw a mass of hair algae as big as my head into yesterday while cleaning out another tank. I can still find a few scraps of it so they must not be hungry any more.

[CACAdmin]

:laugh: Those ravenous rainbow cichlids don't leave much behind do they?

I like duckweed too. However, I have no idea where the duckweed disappeared to in my tank when it did that time. no rainbow cichlids or anything that eats it in any quantity... it just disappeared... only to magically reappear months later (I assumed reintroduced by something I added to the tank... and it's back to flourishing). However, after seeing it in my pond, I think maybe it was just dormant for a while.:Dunno: I find too it can out-compete other plants given the right situation. Right now it seems to have a chokehold on the water lettuce in my leaf fish tank. (And when there were fry in there, I didn't dare scoop any of it out.)

[brnttoast]

my crayfish eat duckweed quicker than i can scoop it out of tanks and throw it in theirs
but then again, they eat anything, other than convicts, i gave them some as feeders and they would not eat them, i guess they knew they were not expensive fish :P

[CACAdmin]

i gave them some as feeders and they would not eat them, i guess they knew they were not expensive fish :P
They must prefer the higher priced items when it comes to the fish section of the menu and find the shocked look on your face when an expensive fish disappears entertaining. :wink:

[vdub]

Does anyone know how fast duckweed can grow? I just got some, about a thumb sized portion and I've dumped it into my aquarium which I've placed on my window sill. So the sun is basically my light fixture. Do you think it will double in a weeks time?

[Melody]

I've only had overhead light with duckweed, but it can easily triple in a week or so if it's happy. The more light it gets, the faster it multiplies. I have copious amounts of the stuff and would be happy to give you a bunch if you are ever in North Delta.

[CACAdmin]

Duckweed is something people usually either love or hate. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground... or is there?

I've added a poll to find out. Take a moment to let us know how you feel about this little plant.

[Pamelajo]

I have not voted as I love and hate it at the same time. I love the look of it til it gets into filters etc. I am actually thinking of adding it again now that I have sponge filters.
:yes::nah::yes::nah::yes::nah:

[fishclubgirl]

My wild bettas like a low light tank and duckweed helps out with this. I got some ivy duckweed and some frogbit on the weekend so I'll see how those do too. My high light tanks seem to have too much current for the duckweed to take off.

[brnttoast]

i hate the duckweed cause it starts to block the light in my tank cause it grows so quick, its also annoying when it gets stuck all over your arm reaching into the tank

however... my snails love it, so i let it grow in the planted tanks and just scoop it out twice a week for the snails

[Ursus sapien]

Duckweed is sort of like snails. In the right pace, useful and decorative. In the wrong place, an on-going aggravation, or worse.

[Pamelajo]

Duckweed is sort of like snails. In the right pace, useful and decorative. In the wrong place, an on-going aggravation, or worse.
:yes::laugh:

[blainep]

Duckweed is sort of like snails. In the right pace, useful and decorative. In the wrong place, an on-going aggravation, or worse.

:yes:

[Ruadh]

That Ivy Duckweed looks interesting.
All my regular type duck weed died off for an unknown reason.
Where did you get the ivy duck from? I'd like to try some in my tank.

Rick

My wild bettas like a low light tank and duckweed helps out with this. I got some ivy duckweed and some frogbit on the weekend so I'll see how those do too. My high light tanks seem to have too much current for the duckweed to take off.

[fishclubgirl]

I got the ivy duckweed from Bearberry Creek nurseries near Sundre. It's zoned for this climate but is doing well in my betta tank. Has plenty of competition from regular and giant duckweed and frogbit too. If I can ever find your moss balls, I'll send you some!!

[Ruadh]

Well there ya go. When I get home I'll have to e-mail them for a price on the ivy.

I used to get snakes from a lady in Sudre but it's too far to go for weeds.

Those moss balls aren't too popular here are they?::(:

Thankx
Rick

I got the ivy duckweed from Bearberry Creek nurseries near Sundre. It's zoned for this climate but is doing well in my betta tank. Has plenty of competition from regular and giant duckweed and frogbit too. If I can ever find your moss balls, I'll send you some!!