Water lettuce?

khombre

khombre

58
Jul 18, 2005
1,081
0
0
45
Quezon City, Philippines
Hello plant people, does anyone have information on water lettuce? It is a floating plant, the leaves are outside the water and the roots are submerged just beneath the water surface. It basically just hovers on the water surface. I'm kinda planning on putting some in a pond with tinfoil barbs. I wanted to have some plants to help a bit with the filtration / water quality. The problem is I can't get any plant in the water that the tinfoil barbs won't eat. So I'm thinking that this could be a solution of some sort. Thanks in advance for the help.
 
Salvinia natans is often referred to as water lettuce.
I don't know whether that's the plant you're referring to or not. Very nice little floater that I've been using to shade/balance my tanks when necessary.


Len
 
naps said:
http://www.iisgcp.org/EXOTICSP/waterlettuce.htm
it's illegal in some states...but pretty in the aquarium.
http://aquariumboard.com/forums/plant-picture-gallery/91-water-lettuce.html
Click to expand...

Yup, it looks pretty much like that. I'm not from the US so it isn't much of a problem on the "legality" side. But I read from another thread that goldfish tend to eat their roots. I'm wondering if goldfish can do that then so can tinfoil barbs. Hmmm... so I think its getting pretty bleak in terms of trying to get some plants to go with the tinfoil barbs in my pond. Maybe I'll try a few at first lol. Hope they last longer than expected. Thanks for the help. :duh:
 
Last edited:
Do the roots grow/regenerate fast? I just hope the barbs don't feast on the roots :hang:
 
All those floating plants are get nutrient absorbers. An tinfoil love to much on them but I'm wondering if something like a water Hyacinth would stand a better chance as their root stock is huge and any nibbling would probably stimulate further growth? Sounds like a good theory.

theplantman cometh.................
 
Last edited:
I second the hyacinth. how big is this pond? there are a lot more plants for ponds than just floating. One thing you need to be aware of is certain plants can grow in different depths; some are deep, most are shallow, then of course there are the floaters. I think (dont quote me) that deep starts at 2 feet. This would include lillies and lotus. Shallow plants are good oxygenating plants. I use floating plants as nutrient absorbers and for shade.
 
flyfly said:
I second the hyacinth. how big is this pond? there are a lot more plants for ponds than just floating. One thing you need to be aware of is certain plants can grow in different depths; some are deep, most are shallow, then of course there are the floaters. I think (dont quote me) that deep starts at 2 feet. This would include lillies and lotus. Shallow plants are good oxygenating plants. I use floating plants as nutrient absorbers and for shade.
Click to expand...

I know there are a lot more plants, the problem I have is that the tinfoils keep shredding them. I'm asking for floaters because i want to test if the barbs would still get them. Please read my original post.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom