daileene
Planted Tank Addict
I am selling stems of ceratopteris cornuta(water sprite or broad leaf floating fern). They multiply fast so you will have an abundant floating plants in no time.
Very easy to care. Just put them on the top of your tank under the lighting hood and they will spread out in a few weeks. I noticed that when you put them under a medium to high lighting, they will multiply much faster.
About the Water Sprite
Species Type: Freshwater Plants
Category: Floating
Care Level: Very Easy. Adaptable, will tolerate soft or hard water, low light, very minimal or no additional fertilization. pH 6.0 to 8.0 and GH up to 20 degrees/350ppm.
Origin: Tropical regions of Africa, Americas, Asia and northern Australia. Mainly confined to shallow waters, particularly swamps, pools and ponds.
Physical Description
This is probably the easiest aquarium plant to grow, at least when left floating, and because of its rapid growth it quickly assimilates nutrients including ammonia/ammonium and is therefore quite useful in new tanks. It assimilates nutrients primarily through the leaves rather than the roots.
The leaves, or more correctly fronds, since this is a true fern, can be somewhat variable in shape due to light, nutrients and water parameters. This makes identification of this species difficult, and it is often encountered in the literature under the synonyms Ceratopteris pteridioides and C. thalictroides, although both these are distinct species. C. pteridioides has blunt-lobed fronds (leaves), while C. thalictroides has fronds that are deeply pinate with tips more slender than the subject species.
Daughter plants are readily produced from the sporangia on the older fronds. When left floating, the fronds may extend up to 50 cm (20 inches) across, and will block light from entering the aquarium; this is particularly useful to provide a darker environment such as for spawning fish. In such conditions, suitable substrate plants are any of the Cryptocoryne species. Otherwise, the daughter plants can be separated and used as individual plants and the parent plant discarded in order to keep the water surface more open.
The dangling roots of floating Ceratopteris provide admirable shelter for fry, and are used by the anabantids that build bubblenests. Many fish including anabantids, characins, etc., will regularly browse the roots for particles of food.
Formerly there were five species recognized [some authorities only recognize four] in the genus Ceratopteris that was placed in the monogeneric family Parkeriaceae, thought to be unique because of its aquatic adaptations. Subsequent genetic analysis has shown the Ceratopteris species to be clearly allied with those in the genus Acrostichum, and Ceratopteridaceae is the family name for the clade that is now known to include these two genera. Some authorities place these two genera within the Pteridaceae family.
Ideal position in aquarium
Best used as a floating plant, but can be grown rooted in the substrate.
Lighting requirements
When left floating will grow well under any light that is not too bright; submersed plants grown in the substrate require moderate to high light.
Growth rate
Fast
Minimum Tank Suggestion
Suitable for any aquarium.
Ideal water parameters for Water Sprite
Soft to moderately hard (hardness up to 18 dGH), acidic to basic (pH 5.4 to 8) water, temperature 18-28C/64-82F. Does not like sudden significant changes in water parameters.
Group of 3 stems is $2.99.
I can ship via the following shipping method:
First class mail (for the first 3 stems in a bag with little water): $3.00
Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box: $5.35
Accepts paypal, money order, or cash.
I like to trade this stems for some java moss if someone is interested.
Thank you all in advance.
Very easy to care. Just put them on the top of your tank under the lighting hood and they will spread out in a few weeks. I noticed that when you put them under a medium to high lighting, they will multiply much faster.
About the Water Sprite
Species Type: Freshwater Plants
Category: Floating
Care Level: Very Easy. Adaptable, will tolerate soft or hard water, low light, very minimal or no additional fertilization. pH 6.0 to 8.0 and GH up to 20 degrees/350ppm.
Origin: Tropical regions of Africa, Americas, Asia and northern Australia. Mainly confined to shallow waters, particularly swamps, pools and ponds.
Physical Description
This is probably the easiest aquarium plant to grow, at least when left floating, and because of its rapid growth it quickly assimilates nutrients including ammonia/ammonium and is therefore quite useful in new tanks. It assimilates nutrients primarily through the leaves rather than the roots.
The leaves, or more correctly fronds, since this is a true fern, can be somewhat variable in shape due to light, nutrients and water parameters. This makes identification of this species difficult, and it is often encountered in the literature under the synonyms Ceratopteris pteridioides and C. thalictroides, although both these are distinct species. C. pteridioides has blunt-lobed fronds (leaves), while C. thalictroides has fronds that are deeply pinate with tips more slender than the subject species.
Daughter plants are readily produced from the sporangia on the older fronds. When left floating, the fronds may extend up to 50 cm (20 inches) across, and will block light from entering the aquarium; this is particularly useful to provide a darker environment such as for spawning fish. In such conditions, suitable substrate plants are any of the Cryptocoryne species. Otherwise, the daughter plants can be separated and used as individual plants and the parent plant discarded in order to keep the water surface more open.
The dangling roots of floating Ceratopteris provide admirable shelter for fry, and are used by the anabantids that build bubblenests. Many fish including anabantids, characins, etc., will regularly browse the roots for particles of food.
Formerly there were five species recognized [some authorities only recognize four] in the genus Ceratopteris that was placed in the monogeneric family Parkeriaceae, thought to be unique because of its aquatic adaptations. Subsequent genetic analysis has shown the Ceratopteris species to be clearly allied with those in the genus Acrostichum, and Ceratopteridaceae is the family name for the clade that is now known to include these two genera. Some authorities place these two genera within the Pteridaceae family.
Ideal position in aquarium
Best used as a floating plant, but can be grown rooted in the substrate.
Lighting requirements
When left floating will grow well under any light that is not too bright; submersed plants grown in the substrate require moderate to high light.
Growth rate
Fast
Minimum Tank Suggestion
Suitable for any aquarium.
Ideal water parameters for Water Sprite
Soft to moderately hard (hardness up to 18 dGH), acidic to basic (pH 5.4 to 8) water, temperature 18-28C/64-82F. Does not like sudden significant changes in water parameters.
Group of 3 stems is $2.99.
I can ship via the following shipping method:
First class mail (for the first 3 stems in a bag with little water): $3.00
Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box: $5.35
Accepts paypal, money order, or cash.
I like to trade this stems for some java moss if someone is interested.
Thank you all in advance.
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