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Duckweed multiplyin uncontrollably

M

maverick786us

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6 Nov 2024
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478
Location
Columbus, GA
I bought these duckweed way back in December. Initially it looked like they were struggling to multiply. But since past couple of weeks there is a sudden population explosion. Do I have to worry, about them blocking the oxygen for other inhabitants? Some of these I moved to my other tank.

1744297214512.jpeg
 
It may not block oxygen so long as it’s a relatively thin layer but it can substantially block light. Left to its own devices it can become a near solid raft some 2cm thick & do it faster than seems possible.

It needs to be harvested regularly.

Before she passed on from what I believe was old age, my giant apple snail regularly feasted on my duckweed thinnings. I very much want to get a few more of the snails so they could feast on it because I hate having to dispose of it - no compost heap on the 11th floor 🙂.
 
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Hi all,
maverick786us said:
I don't want to get rid of it completely as long as its it helpful in absorbing excess of nitrate and other toxin.
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That is it. When you <"harvest the Duckweed"> you are <"exporting all the nutrients"> it has taken up from the tank. It is a fantastic nutrient sponge <"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653519302413">. Control, not elimination, is the aim - <"Duckweed. Friend or foe">.
maverick786us said:
will adding frog bit a good option?
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Amazon Frogbit is a slightly better behaved version, but it does the same job <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?">.
dw1305 said:
Lemna minor (Lesser (Common) Duckweed), PITA & prejudice.
The <"problems with Lemna minor"> were that it doesn't like very soft water (it stays yellow, even when nitrogen levels are high), it needs reasonably high levels of nutrients, and <"it is a PITA to harvest">. It also has a poor reputation among aquarists.

The Perfect Duckweed - <“I love you more than you will ever know”>.
After some experimentation I found that there was a "Duckweed" that didn't have these limitations, and it was Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium (Hydrocharis) laevigatum). So “Frogbit Index” would be a better name, but <”I think that ship may have already sailed”>.

Amazing Amazon Frogbit.
It will survive on low nutrients in very soft water and in very hard water, but it will also show very fast growth when light, nutrient and warmth are freely available.
Limnobium_Phyllanthus_Castle.jpeg

Some happy Amazon Frogbit
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cheers Darrel
 
While I like duckweed for the undoubtedly helpful impact it has on tanks, the worst thing about it is doing maintenance, when it will absolutely cover any arms or equipment!

The good news is from the looks of your tank, since you appear to have emergent wood etc, you'd likely be able to eliminate it quite quickly with routine checks. It will re-appear from the smallest bit though, so it really is a case of continued attention until you're satisfied its gone.
 
Aqua360 said:
While I like duckweed for the undoubtedly helpful impact it has on tanks, the worst thing about it is doing maintenance, when it will absolutely cover any arms or equipment!

The good news is from the looks of your tank, since you appear to have emergent wood etc, you'd likely be able to eliminate it quite quickly with routine checks. It will re-appear from the smallest bit though, so it really is a case of continued attention until you're satisfied its gone.
Click to expand...
I bought duckweed as natural floating plants, eliminating them completely was never ky intention, yes I can easily remove them from the surface
 
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