duckweed question

[akagochi]

So I thought it would be cool to add some floating plants to my 55 gal. community, so I nabbed some duckweed from the LFS. This stuff grows and spreads like something from the Sci-Fi channel!
Anyway, what how has duckweed affected your tanks, meaning your other plant's growth? It seems to want to cover the entire water surface area. Do I need to start tossing some of this stuff?

thanks,

55 gallon, , eheim 2215 cannister filter. aqueon 30, co2 regulator w/ 10 lb tank. coral life 54 watt T5 High output, Geisham DDO 54 watt aquaflora.
natural plants:anubias, amazon Swords, green cabomba, onion plant, hair grass, wisteria, duck weed, vallisneria, striped dragon plant, bamboo plant.
substrate: sand & gravel combo
community fish:
plattys-2
mollies-4
bristle nose pleco-1
pleco-1
neon tetras-10
cardinal tetras-5
glass cat fish-2
bala sharks-2
male beta-1
zebra danios-6
rummy nose tetra-5
silver tip tetra-4
dwarf gouramis-2
Siamese algae eaters-4

 

[aqua_chem]

In a high light tank without co2 and ferts, its a monster pest. It will eat a lot of the ferts from the water column, and block some of the light, which may or may not be desirable.

 

[akagochi]

hmmmm. I run Co2 and ferts.....Do you have any recommendations for other floating plants? My fish love them, especially the gouramis, but geez, I think I may have to start dumping this stuff. For the plants I have should I worry about the light blockage?

 

[bruinsbro1997]

Duckweed is just that, a weed. I saw some in a display tank at an LFS once, it just basically covered the entire surface and the only thing that could live in the tank was java moss.

Red root floater is a good one.

 

[aqua_chem]

Water lettuce is a nice one too.

 

[jetajockey]

I like water lettuce also, it stays small indoors but I noticed when I put it outside in container ponds it gets huge.

Frogbit, azolla, red root floaters, there's several different options for floaters.

Duckweed can be a menace, I have it in some tanks, but not in others, some fish eat it readily. My angelfish eat it faster than it can grow.

 

[Morgie]

I have some in my 10 gallon tank because I like the look of it in small amounts.
When it starts to get out of hand I toss most of it in my 55 gallon and my angelfish and odessa barbs eat it like it's candy.
Even if you think you've removed all of it from a tank, in a week it will be making a comeback haha

 

[Donkey Gun]

I shiver at the sound of duck weed. My parents have a 1/2 acre pond at their house and a couple years ago it became infested with duckweed. The one year I was back visiting, we easily scooped a half ton of this weed off the surface only to find out it had regenerated overnight.

It's been a problem in their pond ever since.

 

[Sisserydoo]

Is it beneficial at all, cleaning the water the way other plants do?

 

[Mumma.of.two]

I had one tiny bit sneak in from some where now I have two tanks infested with the stuff! I would never choose to introduce it to a tank.

 

[Viperchaos]

Duckweeds a devil, you either want it or you dont , taking small portions out wont help, its probably depriving your other plants of the correct spectrum of light.
IMO take it all out.

 

[akagochi]

I have it in both tanks now. I don't mind it in my 16 gal since the plants in there are plastic minus one moss ball, but in my 55 gal. this stuff has to go. I will just have to start scooping and tossing it out weekly; there are worse problems to have I guess.....

Thanks for all the awesome replies.

It is really nice to feel heard.

 

[tommyr]

I would go with Amazon Frogbit instead. Duckweed can be a REAL PAIN. Frogbit is easier and grows almost as fast.