Jeff232

I have duckweed in my tank it started from just a couple pieces and now it is almost covering the surface of my tank. I net it out and compost every now and then, but sometimes if i have to stick my arm in the tank it comes out looking like the "Swamp Thing" with duckweed tangled in all the hairs. Is there a benefit to keeping this stuff or should i just try to get rid of it? What sort of tropicals will eat it and get along with tetras?

ed seeley

I voted for "I love it", but really I would say I like the stuff, but it can be a PITA.

It's great in a new tank at removing nutrients and helping with algae and it makes a great fertiliser for terrestrial plants if you dump it on their pots or by them in the garden.

But it is an absolute swine to get rid of when you've had enough. Also quite a few people are allergic to it and get rashes up their arms when they come in contact with it.

It just disappeared from my tanks after a while, I used to harvest it with a net weekly or whenever it covered large parts of the tank. I hear most vegetarian fish will eat it, but they'll probably eat all your other plants too!

slickwillislim

I HATE DUCKWEED.

I don't know how I got a small amount maybe 4 leaves in my tank. It took me months to get rid of it because of my other floating plants.

I HATE DUCKWEED.

Aussie_hippie_2

Oh god, I love the stuff! The way the heads and roots bob through the water is damn near magical. Plus I find it's very good at reducing nitAtes and gives the tank a natural look.

I started off with 3 accidental leaves in my pond during summer, now my pond has a healthy amount of it, and it's in all 3 of my tanks.

Love the stuff!

wolfbane

I hate it. It's taken me months to get rid of it in my tanks, then I spotted 2 small pieces yesterday! I used to throw handfuls to my pond goldfish, they love to eat it, it never survives in my pond.

BryceM

I'm pretty sure it can spontaneously form in any open body of water the same way that a large pile of rags will spontaneously produce mice. If the earth ever get's fried by an asteroid or comet, duckweed will colonize all open water within 24 hours.

cs_gardener

I take it you don't like duckweed, guaiac. That rant left me in tears.

I voted "Duckweed?" as it doesn't like my tanks. Some came in on another plant and it all died in a couple days. I now have all sorts of other floaters, but the duckweed just didn't like my tanks. I guess I'm lucky, as the other floaters grow plenty fast and I've heard that duckweed reproduces even faster.

southernflounder

I like it, like Aussie Hippie said it helps w/ the removal of extra Nitrate and the ppl that see it floating in my tank like it. It does really multiply quickly though.

Bert H

Ranks right up there with Utricularia (sp?) in my 'definitely do not like' plant list.

247Plants

Just when I think Ive gotten the last piece 10 more show up.....