...duck weed? - Aquarium Advice

Puriti · 11-13-2006, 05:30 PM

I went to a new LFS and got a couple mollies and the guy appologized for giving me duck weed when he caught them... Is there something wrong with duckweed or was it just there because and it has no purpose but being annoying?

Lonewolfblue · 11-13-2006, 05:58 PM

There's nothing wrong with duckweed. In fact, it can help with nitrate problems, as they absorb nitrates. If the tank is high in nitrates, the duckweed will multiply very fast, and eventually cover the surface. But if low nitrates, they will fade away and disappear. When I had high nitrates, I was scooping the stuff out every few days. But with fast growing plants now and high light, I have to add nitrates for the plants, and the duckweed has disappeared completely.

Puriti · 11-13-2006, 06:50 PM

^^ okay! He kinda made it seem like it was a bad thing...I've never had live plants so I didn't really know what to do with it ^^;

Lonewolfblue · 11-13-2006, 07:03 PM

Well, there's some people who don't want anything else added to their tank, like duckweed, snails, etc. That's probably why he did it. Just some picky people out there, lol. Everybody is different, and he's just covering his tail.

JeffreyL · 11-13-2006, 07:21 PM

Some folk just go berserk about the appearance of "that weed!!!!". My g/f wanted it in a 30 gal, so I did. One month later she was netting it out weekly. lol It can get out of hand. But honestly, I do not mind a bit. Looks sort wild & natural, like a modest growth of algae. If it does not bother you, leave it. Live plants never hurt a tank. If it starts to bug you, just start netting all you can when you do a PWC. Eventually you will get it all. Have fun and enjoy 'that weed".

Puriti · 11-13-2006, 07:23 PM

I haven't put any in yet, or at least tried not to lol cuz I didn't know if I should or not. The tank that the fish I got were in had a crap load of it and it was just sitting there doing nothing... I might put some in my betta breeding 10 gal so they have something else for making a bubble nest in or somethin

GlitcH · 11-13-2006, 07:45 PM

Be warned......lol........I've been trying to get duckweed out of my tank for months now.
Every time I think I've gotten it all out.......more of it pops up a few days later.

I don't mind the look of it and like LWB says it is useful to a point but when I go and spend and hour picking out every little piece of something I expect it to stay gone. With duckweed ......this is just not the case.

Although in a 10G it shouldn't be as much of a problem as in my 92G.

**Zagz** · 11-13-2006, 10:20 PM

Duckweed can multiply quickly and many aquarists find it annoying. I had one leaf of the stuff and it went crazy! That was before I was able to keep my nitrate under 15ppm. Now it isn't a problem.

Puriti · 11-13-2006, 11:51 PM

Well.... I'm sure my fish'll like it lol. If it becomes a bother I'll find SOME way of getting it out I guess. o.o a couple pieces went into my 20 gal putting the mollies in it .____.;; uh oh lol

Mosaic · 11-14-2006, 07:54 AM

The only problem I had with duckweed is it clogged my HOB filter. That was indeed annoying. But I put it in my betta tank and it's lovely in there.

11-13-2006, 05:30 PM	#1
Puriti Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,596	...duck weed? I went to a new LFS and got a couple mollies and the guy appologized for giving me duck weed when he caught them... Is there something wrong with duckweed or was it just there because and it has no purpose but being annoying?

11-13-2006, 05:58 PM	#2
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	There's nothing wrong with duckweed. In fact, it can help with nitrate problems, as they absorb nitrates. If the tank is high in nitrates, the duckweed will multiply very fast, and eventually cover the surface. But if low nitrates, they will fade away and disappear. When I had high nitrates, I was scooping the stuff out every few days. But with fast growing plants now and high light, I have to add nitrates for the plants, and the duckweed has disappeared completely. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

11-13-2006, 07:03 PM	#4
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	Well, there's some people who don't want anything else added to their tank, like duckweed, snails, etc. That's probably why he did it. Just some picky people out there, lol. Everybody is different, and he's just covering his tail. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

11-13-2006, 07:21 PM	#5
JeffreyL Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2006 Location: Charlotte, nc Posts: 300	duckweed Some folk just go berserk about the appearance of "that weed!!!!". My g/f wanted it in a 30 gal, so I did. One month later she was netting it out weekly. lol It can get out of hand. But honestly, I do not mind a bit. Looks sort wild & natural, like a modest growth of algae. If it does not bother you, leave it. Live plants never hurt a tank. If it starts to bug you, just start netting all you can when you do a PWC. Eventually you will get it all. Have fun and enjoy 'that weed".

11-13-2006, 07:45 PM	#7
GlitcH Aquarium Advice FINatic Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: RI Posts: 618 Images: 4	Be warned......lol........I've been trying to get duckweed out of my tank for months now. Every time I think I've gotten it all out.......more of it pops up a few days later. I don't mind the look of it and like LWB says it is useful to a point but when I go and spend and hour picking out every little piece of something I expect it to stay gone. With duckweed ......this is just not the case. Although in a 10G it shouldn't be as much of a problem as in my 92G. __________________ 92G Corner Planted Community - 46G Bowfront -90G behind my bar - 20G Planted Shrimp Tank

11-13-2006, 06:50 PM	#3
Puriti Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,596	^^ okay! He kinda made it seem like it was a bad thing...I've never had live plants so I didn't really know what to do with it ^^;

11-13-2006, 07:23 PM	#6
Puriti Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,596	I haven't put any in yet, or at least tried not to lol cuz I didn't know if I should or not. The tank that the fish I got were in had a crap load of it and it was just sitting there doing nothing... I might put some in my betta breeding 10 gal so they have something else for making a bubble nest in or somethin

11-13-2006, 11:51 PM	#9
Puriti Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,596	Well.... I'm sure my fish'll like it lol. If it becomes a bother I'll find SOME way of getting it out I guess. o.o a couple pieces went into my 20 gal putting the mollies in it .____.;; uh oh lol

11-14-2006, 07:54 AM	#10
Mosaic Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 646 Images: 3	The only problem I had with duckweed is it clogged my HOB filter. That was indeed annoying. But I put it in my betta tank and it's lovely in there. __________________ I just want my planted tanks to be perfect. Is that so much to ask? 55g: (Mostly) African riverine species: Alestes Chaperi, breeding pair of Kribs, and rhino pleco 30g: Newly established reef tank 10g: Planted but fishless 5g: Unplanted with various snail species 2.5g: Heavily planted with betta.

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