Mary Allen
Waterweed is a popular species of plant in aquaristics: the plant grows quickly, produces a lot of oxygen, and inhibits algae growth. Since the waterweed does not place high demands on water values, it is also suitable for newcomers to aquarists and newly established tanks. The only drawback: Due to the rapid growth, the waterweed multiplies rapidly in the aquarium – hence the name. With regular care, you can keep growth in check. This is how your underwater world benefits from the many advantages of the waterweed.
This Waterweed is Suitable for Aquaristics
There are an estimated six different species of waterweed. The Canadian waterweed (Elodea canadensis) and the (dense-leafed) Argentine waterweed (Egeria Densa) are often found in aquaristics. The dense green of the plants looks beautiful and offers ideal hiding places for shy fish, shrimp, and small crabs.
This is How Waterweed Affects the Biological Balance
The waterweed grows about ten centimeters a week – that’s remarkable. It gets the nutrients it needs from the aquarium water. If, for example, the nutrient content is too high, which promotes algae growth, the waterweed can compensate for this. The waterweed also excretes antibiotic substances that can act against blue-green algae (bacteria). The waterweed can thus contribute to improved water quality.
Plant Waterweed in the Aquarium
If you want to plant the waterweed, it is better to bring it in in the background because of its rapid growth. In the middle and foreground, it would simply block too much of the view. Waterweed grows floating or planted in cold and warm water. So you have the choice of planting the plant in the ground or cultivating it floating. However, the temperatures in the pool should not permanently exceed 28 °C.
Regular Care of the Waterweed
To curb growth, you should trim the plant shoots regularly – whenever you notice that the shoots are taking up too much space. Uncut, they often reach a length of half a meter or more. Regular pruning also promotes the growth of the side shoots and the waterweed gets a bushy shape.
If you notice that the leaves are getting lighter and the tendrils are thinning, this is an indication of a nutrient deficiency. It is then necessary that you increase the fertilizer dosages slightly. With more light, you also get the leaves of the waterweed to grow more densely.
This is How You Multiply the Waterweed in the Aquarium
Once you have cultivated the waterweed in your aquarium, it is easy to multiply. Waterweed is multiplied by head cuttings. To do this, cut off the shoots with a length of about 20 centimeters and simply use them in a new place. With large-leaved plant species, mosses, ferns, and roots, the waterweed looks particularly decorative in the aquarium.