Duckweed - Useful?

Hollygirl

Hollygirl

Overfilter and Understock
Sep 3, 2007
2,681
1
0
Chicago, Illinois
I had some duckweed hitchhike on some plants that I purchased, and now I find myself netting it out of all 4 tanks to thin it out. I noticed that there is a lot less of it in the tank with the SAE's, and I think they eat it.

Is there any fish that will eat duckweed?

And no I am not planning on purchasing a fish to solve a problem, I'm just wondering if this stuff is of use to anyone in the hobby.
 
Sure it's usefull... it devours nitrogen out the water. Also lots of things eat it. Turtles, goldfish, some snails.


It's just a pain to get rid of if you DON'T want it. Plus a lot less attractive than most floating plants- and even harder to get rid of if you have floating plants you want mixed in with the duckweed you don't.


Ironically- my duckweed hitch-hiked in on snails! :( Didn't notice any until a week after a snail purchase.
 
Here's a scenario.

You have a paludarium or riparium- and want to provide good lighting for your plants- yet you have cory, pleco, tylo snails- or some other species that likes shade.

Have strong lights for your above water plants and leave duckweed on the surface to create shade for your dark-loving critters. (although there are other floaters I would perhaps prefer.
 
I like it, I think it helps protect fry and if I get too much I scoop it out and use it as houseplant fertiliser.
 
psyche said:
I like it, I think it helps protect fry and if I get too much I scoop it out and use it as houseplant fertiliser.
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That sounds better than tossing it in the trash - thanks for the tip!
 
When the duckweed I have starts to get too overzealous, it will be either houseplant fertilizer or it will end up in the compost bin. Either way, it doesn't go to waste. It sure does spread fast though! I had some come in on hornwort that I ordered, and it's already pretty well covered half my 75 gal tank. I only saw 10 or 15 of the duckweed plants on the hornwort in the first place - now there are thousands!
 
rainbowcharmer said:
When the duckweed I have starts to get too overzealous, it will be either houseplant fertilizer or it will end up in the compost bin. Either way, it doesn't go to waste. It sure does spread fast though! I had some come in on hornwort that I ordered, and it's already pretty well covered half my 75 gal tank. I only saw 10 or 15 of the duckweed plants on the hornwort in the first place - now there are thousands!
Click to expand...
That's how it started with my tanks. There was probably 12 or so pieces tangled in some wisteria, and since it looked interesting I left it alone. What a mistake!
 
What I hate about duckweed is doing water changes. It stirs up the duckweed, and it gets tangled in my java moss. My guppies and platies do love to nibble on the roots hanging from the duckweed, though.
 
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