Type: floater
Max Height of plant:
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Minimum Lighting for growth: low
Growth Speed: fast
Propagation: Will divide by itself
Color:
Duckweed is a hardy floating plant that reproduces very fast; it can easily cover the surface of almost any aquarium within several days. Regular (weekly) removal of excess plants is necessary to prevent total coverage of the water surface. It is quite attractive when it occurs among other floating plants. Most aquarists acquire Duckweed as "hitchhikers".
It is a high nutrient-requirement plant, thus particularly useful in new aquaria and "natural" filtration of water; if this plant does not grow well, it is a certain sign of nutrient deficiency in the water.
This plant tends to be easily dragged into the filter by the current.
Type: Floater
Max Height of plant:
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Minimum Lighting for growth: Low
Color: green, deep green, red
Growth Speed: fast
Propagation: Will divide by itself
This plant is a federal noxious weed (USA), it is illegal to move it outside of your tank.
Fast grower, occasionally sports red undersides. Photos ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
Water Spangles
Salvinia minima ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
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Type: Floater
Max Height of plant: N/A
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Minimum Lighting for growth: Low-med Growth speed: fast Color: light green, green
Propagation: Will divide by itself
Salvinia is a floating fern. This floating plant grows furry little leaves along a central stalk. the leaves does well to repel water off the plant as the plant will die if submerged.
I have salvinia minima as well and I found that it didn't really start growing until I upped my lighting from a 10watt 6500k CFL bulb to a 14watt 6500k CFL. I also started dosing Tetra Florapride (in addition to Flourish once a week) on a regular basis in that tank at the same time so I don't really know which really helped. Point is, after I made those adjustments, the top of my five gallon was literally covered in about two weeks.
Type: Stem plant
Max Height of plant: 12'' +
Max width of plant:1in
Leaf size:
Minimum Lighting for growth: Low
Growth speed: fast
Color: dark green, green
Propagation: cut a piece in 3in+ segments, each segment will grow a new plant.
A fast growing cold water plant. Elodea has been observed to melt when introduced to warmer environments without a transitioning process. Otherwise, once established it is a great addition to the aquarium and an ample nitrogen sink. The rapid and often messy growth of this species makes it undesirable in neater aquarium scapes.
Type: Stem plant
Max Height of plant: 12'' +
Max width of plant: 3in
Leaf size: 1in
Minimum Lighting for growth: Low
Growth speed: medium-fast
Color: light green
Propagation: cut a node/multiple nodes and replant. each piece will grow a new plant
The Brazilian Pennywort is a interesting species that send out large round leaves along a central stem. This species prefers to the grown floating, and does not root easily in the substrate. Floating pennywort plants will produce leaves with a more pronounced frilled edge.
Type: Stem plant
Max Height of plant: 12'' +
Max width of plant:
Leaf size:
Minimum Lighting for growth: Low
Growth speed: fast
Color: dark green, green/brown stem
Propagation: cut 3in+ segments and replant. each piece will grow a new plant
A very hardy stem plant, this species has a tendency to grow in an odd angled slightly zig-zagging formation. Therefore, straight upward growth is impossible for this plant. This is a great plant to leave floating in order to provide cover and hiding places for fry, shrimps and other fish.
Type: Stem plant
Max Height of plant: 12'' +
Max width of plant:
Leaf size:
Minimum Lighting for growth: Low
Growth speed: fast
Color: -
Propagation: -
Hornwort is a stem plant but one that always floats and never grows roots. The stems may be grouped together and anchored to form a background plant, but portions of the stem buried in the substrate will die and the plant stems will float unless weighed down. Stems can reach a length of more than one metre (3.3 feet). The plant may form rhizoids that are not true roots but do serve to anchor the stem.
Green Myrio
similar to myrio, but the "needles" are singular and it is a darker green color. This plant cannot be planted in the substrate because it will rot. It has to be floating or tied to something. In low light, it lives but doesn't grow quickly.
Water Wisteria Hygrophila difformis ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
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Type: Stem plant
Max Height of plant: -
Max width of plant: -
Leaf size: -
Minimum Lighting for growth: Low - medium
Growth speed: medium fast
Color: light green
Propagation: can be propagated from one leaf, or replanted from a trimming.
A beautiful beginner's plant. This plant has rather humble leaves when grown emmersed, but once under water will bring out beautiful submersed frilly leaves. this plant does prefer some good light, but will do fine in low lighting. A variegated version is also circulating in the aquarium hobby. Photos ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
Type: Rosette plant
Max Height of plant: -
Max width of plant: -
Leaf size: -
Minimum Lighting for growth: Low - medium
Growth speed: medium
Color: light green - green
Propagation: can be propagated by separating a baby plant from the mother plant One of the most common aquarium species of sword plants and one of the most hardy and beautiful. Mid-green leaves numbering anywhere up to 30 arise from the crown and grow out in a fan formation. A deep substrate is needed (minimum 3-4 inches); the root system is large, and will spread vertically and horizontally through the substrate far from the plant.
Echinodorus plants are heavy feeders, and require regular fertilization with a comprehensive liquid fertilizer and/or substrate fertilizer. If the leaves develop yellowing or transparent patches, it is a sign of insufficient nutrients, sometimes but not always iron, as several nutrient deficiencies will cause these conditions. A balanced comprehensive fertilizer is much more preferable to iron fertilization.
E. bleherae will produce an inflorescence (flower stalk), sometimes two or three at the same time and up to six or seven each year, which grow to the surface but underwater develop plantlets from the nodes. It does not send out substrate runners. The plantlets may be detached as new young plants once they develop sufficient roots and leaves, usually within 2-3 months.
-contributor: Byron Photos ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
Amazon sword- There seem to be a few different types. I have one in my 10 gallon tank that only grew to be about 4 inches, but one in my 55 gallon tank is over 24 inches. I have 2 other plants that were called "Amazon Sword", but the leaves are shaped slightly differently. They are easy to take care of, and do okay in low-light.
Dwarf Sag Saggitaria Subulata ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
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Type: Rosette
Max Height of plant: 8in+ (some stay at 3-4in)
Max width of plant: -
Leaf size: -
Minimum Lighting for growth: low
Growth Speed: fast
Propagation: Will send out runners to form new plants
Color: green - dark green
A hardy rosette plant that needs very little care. Sagittaria, once established will thrive on absolute neglect. This species propagate via runners, and if the given conditions are optimum, it will tank over the substrate rapidly.
Type: Rosette
Max Height of plant: -
Max width of plant: -
Leaf size: -
Minimum Lighting for growth: low-med
Color: red or green Propagation: divide by splitting rhizome on mature plant with many leaves. The rhizome segment should have its own roots
The tiger lotus has a green-leaf and a red-leaf form, known as the Green cultivar and Red cultivar respectively, and these are naturally occurring. Both the red and green cultivars have the same requirements in the aquarium, though the red will have brighter coloured leaves in stronger light.
This species grows well in a plain sand or fine gravel substrate. With an enriched substrate, the plant will produce more leaves and have stronger growth. Flowering may occur with good nutrition and brighter light, provided the floating leaves are allowed to form. These can easily cover the surface, shading the lower plants. The flowers only open at night.
Very pretty pink and green plant with large leaves. It grows VERY quickly and shoots up about 4 lily pads per week. I have to prune it often so that the lily pads aren't blocking the light. I always keep about 5 on the plant, though. I think it would outgrow smaller tanks. my tank it a 55 gallon and the lily pads grow all the way to the top and longer.
Water Sprite Ceratopteris thalictroides ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
General info ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
Type: Rosette
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Water sprite is a floating/rooted aquatic fern. It is probably the easiest aquarium plant to grow when left floating. Due to its rapid growth it quickly assimilates nutrients including ammonia/ammonium and is therefore quite useful in new tanks. It absorbs nutrients primarily through the leaves rather than the roots.
Type: rhizome
Max Height of plant: varies with species Max width of plant:
Leaf size: varies with species
Minimum Lighting for growth: low
Propagation: by splitting rhizome with a sharp blade. each piece should have a few leaves on it.
Color: light green (new leaves), dark green(mature leaves)
Anubias is a great beginner plant. All species in the genus have dark green, thick and usually broad leaves. This plant is a good choice for "difficult" situations. It prefers low light and does very well even when shaded by other plants. Most herbivorous fish will not eat Anubias.
Anubias should not be planted in the substrate with the rhizome buried or the plant will deteriorate. Similar to Java Fern, the rhizome should be affixed to wood or rock, the roots should attach the plant in a few weeks.
Algae frequently attaches itself to the leaves of this plant, especially brush algae; keeping it in low or subdued light will help to prevent this.
General info ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
Type: rhizome/fern
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Growth rate: slow Minimum Lighting for growth: low
Color: propagatiion
Java Fern's hardiness and ease of growth make it a good plant for beginning planted tank enthusiasts. It's ability to root on rock and wood means it can be grown where ordinary plants cannot.
The plant grows leaves and roots from a stem called a rhizome; this must never be buried or it will rot. Thread may be used to initially affix the rhizome to a piece of wood or rock, and the roots will attach the plant securely.
This plant assimilates nutrients from the water via the fronds and the roots; black areas on the fronds is a sign of nitrogen deficiency (ammonium and nitrate). Areas of transparency in the fronds means the plant is receiving too much light. This plant does very well under subdued and diffused light. The plant grows slowly, and older fronds that become tattered and blackened may be removed.
Once established, Java Fern reproduces by adventitious plants at the tips of the fronds (leaves). The plantlets may be pulled away from the frond when they have a few fronds and roots; if left, the frond tip will eventually darken and the daughter plant will break away and drift until the roots are able to attach themselves to an object. The plant may also be propagated by cutting the rhizome (ensuring there are a few fronds and roots attached to each piece) and affixing it elsewhere. - contributor: Byron Photos ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
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