All My Azolla Died...

[nurglespuss]

Hi all,

I have my little whitecloud set up to keep me sane while away from home, and purchased some azolla to float on top of the tank.

Initially it did ok, but quickly started turning brown, and dying off enmasse (turning the water brown too).

I've since removed it totally. Funilly I had the same thing happen to some frogbit I put in when it was a planted tank (this turned white and died) - but then the tank was heated and the room was warm.

I want floating plant cover, but don't want to employ a heater.

Do you think I should try frogbit again now that the tank is unheated (and the room cold) or am I going to be limited to something like a bunch of Elodea (densa or crispa) floating on the surface?

Thanks!

Appreciate the advice (I have some java fern growing inside the tank with no problems).

 

[Carlovel1]

Don't know about Azolla but for an unheated tank, i would recommend using Duckweed. My local park (uk)has some in the local ponds and even during wintertime where the temps reach upto (-2C) and the Duckweed is always green and multiplying

 

[lljdma06]

Duckweed is always green and multiplying

This is not always a good thing...

Try some of the salvinia species. Minima is quite attractive as are others.

 

[myrtle]

Some of the larger floaters like frogbit can be surprisingly heavy feeders and with just the WCM perhaps there wasn't enough nutrients for them.

 

[JoshuaA]

Some of the larger floaters like frogbit can be surprisingly heavy feeders and with just the WCM perhaps there wasn't enough nutrients for them.

After 6 months of flourishing my frogbits have taken a turn for the worse. Most of them have just melted in 2 weeks and I'm down to the last few however the ones I gave to my girlfriend are picking up again. Strangely they're still trying to burst out new leaves but the older ones just rot away within a day. There is also no visible waste left from them.

I believe my Gouramis have completely ruined the roots though.

 

[myrtle]

Their leaves do seem to disappear very quickly when they die, almost as if they dissolve. If your Gouramis are eating the roots, then that'll kill them pretty quickly!

 

[Gill]

I keep Azolla In Variuos Temp Ranges, from Outdoors in Full Sun, Full Shade to Trop.
I have never found it to be That affected by Cold, even over winter.
The Only time it has ever turned black was during the mini heat wave this summer. when there was not much water in one of the water features.

What color was it when Bought, as it turns red/brown in the winter.

 

[Carlovel1]

My frogbit rotted away within 1 week, the bubbly stuff under the leaves disappeared, then the edges of the leaves crumbled away

 

[nurglespuss]

@Gill,

Hi there, Yeah I'm really at a loss as the java fern is doing so well... the fish haven't jumped out luckily!

Just out of curiosity, which country are you in? As you might not be aware that its illegal to keep Azolla outside (in any way) in quite a few

It arrived green and healthy enough, I really do like floating plants... hmmmmm...

 

[Gill]

@Gill,

Hi there, Yeah I'm really at a loss as the java fern is doing so well... the fish haven't jumped out luckily!

Just out of curiosity, which country are you in? As you might not be aware that its illegal to keep Azolla outside (in any way) in quite a few

It arrived green and healthy enough, I really do like floating plants... hmmmmm...

mmmm Really, I am in the UK and it's always sold in the pond section.

 

[nurglespuss]

Hi there, here's a couple of snippets off the BBC new website:

Gardening
Control

Yeah if you see garden centres selling it, its not unusual, I've seen ones selling parrots feather, and even potted japanese knotweed! best bet is to gently inform the manager, and email the environmental agency

 

[betta fish]

I have Azolla in an outdoor pond in the UK and it thrives so much so I have to keep scooping it out or it soon over takes! goes through the winter fine not affected by cold, whenever I have tried to grow it indoors it always seems to suffer, I've found most floating plants can't deal with too much condensation on their leaves so if your tank has a lid this will cause them to rot, they also need a fair bit of light, I think both duckweed and Azolla prefer cooler temperatures, in fact the colder the better and definitely no lid as they will rot in the excess heat and wet sitting on their leaves, so the tank should have no lid, cold water and good light, not ideal for tropical fish!