Duckweed
 

I've had duckweed growing on the surface of my aquariums for about 7 years,
ever since I used it to diffuse light for some red-bellied piranha I had at
the time. It seems to keep nitrates in check and really limits algae
growth. My Cichlids seem fond of eating it (usually when I'm out of town
and my roommates overlook feedings). I was wondering if there were any
hazards to the fish from consuming this handy plant. Also, I was going to
put some java moss in the tank. Will they eat this too? Preferably they
would eat it enough to keep it under control, but not eat all of it.

-Ed

Ed VanDyke wrote:
I've had duckweed growing on the surface of my aquariums for about 7 years,
ever since I used it to diffuse light for some red-bellied piranha I had at
the time. It seems to keep nitrates in check and really limits algae
growth. My Cichlids seem fond of eating it (usually when I'm out of town
and my roommates overlook feedings). I was wondering if there were any
hazards to the fish from consuming this handy plant. Also, I was going to
put some java moss in the tank. Will they eat this too? Preferably they
would eat it enough to keep it under control, but not eat all of it.

-Ed


Duckweed is fine for fish to eat. Sort of a veggie live food. ;-) I
can't keep it in my current tank - my lambchop rasboras consider it a
delicacy and cleared out the little bit that came into the tank on other
plants while I was away for four days. The only hazard I can think of
is if an omnivorous fish that needs protein were to be fed only duckweed
for a long time.

I have less experience with java moss - this is the first time I've been
able to get it to grow well. It didn't like the water back East. So
far, none of my fish (rasboras, betta, ram cichlid, loach, white clouds)
seem to eat it.

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__ Elaine T __
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