Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Aquarium Plants > Rosette Plants > Duckweed

Duckweed

• Puzzles
• Postcards

Duckweed Lemna minor Photo © Animal-World

   Duckweed is an extremely easy floating plant to keep! It is readily adaptable, hardy and fast-growing.

   Because duckweed is such a fast-growing plant it often is considered a pest because it can completely take over an aquarium in as little as a week if given good care. It has no specific care requirements, and just needs basic care such as some light and proper nutrients present. Duckweed has oval leaves that are light green in color and about 0.12 inches or 3 millimeters long.

  Duckweed is often chosen as a good ornamental plant for the surface of an aquarium, especially if kept with other floating plants. Thinning it regularly is recommended so that it does not completely take over the aquarium. Giant Vallisneria do well in a mixture of fine sand with a medium light level.

For more Information on keeping a planted aquarium see:
About Planted Aquariums, Adding Aquatic Plants For a Healthy Aquarium

Water conditions:
   Temperature: 50-86° F (10-30° C)
   pH: 5.5 - 7.5
   dCH: 2 - 12

Lighting:
   Light level: minimal

Propagation:
   Duckweed propagates by simple division of existing plants.

Availability:
   Duckweed is readily available.

Add your comment here!
Latest Comments
Very pretty plant. Does seem to interfere with feeding though. Julia 2008-01-29
lots of people think it makes for untidy looking aqaariums, but i love the charm. If it is happy, it will spread like mad, but is easily scooped out if it gets out of control. It will also shade out plants below it, so plant high light demand plants in areas where surface is disturbed by a filter, which will also push away the duckweed. The fish will appreciate the shade, but duckweed tends to gather in the stillest water of the tank surface, which is also where many people choose to feed their fish. also, unfortunatley, it gets fried in high light situations. my final advice would be to buy some, and you will find out quickly if this is the plant for you. Barbara 2006-02-14

Back to Rosette Plants

Author: Jasmine Brough