Waterweed develops many useful properties in the aquarium. It provides lush vegetation, is a sought-after hiding place for small fish and limits the growth of algae with its hunger for nutrients. However, it takes work to keep their enormous urge to spread in check!

Waterweed is a fast-growing plant

plant waterweed

You can choose between different Elodea species for planting in your aquarium. Since the plant is not protected, you can also take it from the wild for propagation. A small section is enough, even without roots, for a new plant to develop from it.

Basically, you can plant the waterweed in the substrate or let it swim in the water. However, for better control of the planting, it is advisable to plant the waterweed at the back of the tank.

Suitable substrate and temperature

The waterweed is flexible with regard to the water temperature, but this should be about the same in every area of the aquarium.

  • ensure water movement and an even temperature
  • use underfloor heating with integrated flow
  • this also improves the nutrient supply of the waterweed

Do not use garden or pond soil. In the long run, only a special substrate with clay minerals and quartz sand (15.85€) is really suitable for aquariums.

Needs-based lighting

In the aquarium, natural light is only available to a limited extent and may have to be replaced or supplemented by artificial light sources so that the waterweed can thrive optimally. These lighting conditions are ideal for waterweed:

  • no direct sunlight
  • in a bright location, indirect lighting is sufficient
  • in the event of a lack of light, by the hour with LED lamps or similar. illuminate

fertilizer and CO2

In the water element, fertilization must be carried out with great care, because the nutrients reach all the plants in the aquarium. For this reason, the waterweed is only fertilized if its external appearance indicates a deficiency. For example, by making the leaves paler in color.

  • do not use garden or flower fertilizer (€1.95).
  • Use water-soluble aquarium fertilizer

CO2 must also be available in sufficient quantities in the aquarium for the growth of waterweed. The gas must be added to the water in a targeted and regular manner. For this aquatic plant, the CO2 value is ideally between 10 and 20 mg/l. Under no circumstances should the value fall below 5 mg/l.

tips

Use a daily fertilizer that you can dose in a targeted manner until the deficiency symptoms disappear. In this way you avoid over-fertilization and the associated risk of unwanted algae blooms.

Cut diligently

If the living conditions in the aquarium are optimally adapted to the waterweed, it will soon spread extensively. Regular trimming is therefore a part of care that should not be neglected. This ensures that the waterweed's urge to spread does not get the upper hand and take away the necessary habitat for other aquarium plants or shade them too much.

Category:

Vegetable garden