New (to me) plant

[Jennet8 66]

I have just bought some Riccia fluitans from Amazon, as it said it can be left floating or tied to wood or other decoration in the aquarium. I wanted something other than the frogbit that I have, and the red plant that looks like frogbit is not doing particularly well under my light. I have since read that the riccia can grow very fast. Does anyone know how fast this can grow please.

I am also wondering if I am getting too many plants in there. I do give them a daily feed as my LFS advised, but I would like your advice if you don't mind.
Thanks.

 

[connorlindeman25 25]

I'd steer clear of that plant. Some say its faster than duckweed.

 

[TwoTankAmin22]

Jennet, here is an excellent site for great plant related info.

Tropica Aquarium Plants is a privately owned Danish company, based in Egå near Aarhus. The company was founded by Holger Windeløv in 1970. In 2004, the company was sold to JPS Clemens, due to a generational change and the new owners established a new nursery garden in 2007 as the base of a long-term strategy.

Tropica Aquarium Plants aims to increase the joy and experience of having having an aquarium as a hobby. The company develops, produces and sells aquarium plants, fertiliser and aquarium equipment. We deliver on a daily basis to retailers all over Europe, Asia and North America.

https://tropica.com/en/

I have used their ferts for well over 2 decades now.

 

[anewbie]

yea another thumbs up for tropical also their website has a wealth of information on plant species (at lest the ones they sell).

 

[GaryE27 142]

Riccia won't grow here for me. It's a lovely plant I used for fry cover in past set ups with different water. If I can get it again, I'll use liquid fertilizers on it and see if that makes a big difference. My tap water is missing something a number of floating plants need.

It's unlike duckweed in that of you don't like it, it's simple to remove. The pieces almost lock together to form clumps.

If you aren't breeding fish, it might be a less useful plant for most set ups. Fry get into the maze created by the interlocking plants and find food and safety. In a community, it can be accused of blocking the light for rooted plants.

 

[Jennet8 66]

I liked the idea of it because it seemed more clumped up, a bit like java moss but on the 'ceiling' of the aquarium so to speak.

I had already ordered it, and it arrived yesterday, approx 3cm square, with hopefully no snails in it. Will get some green beans in if any do turn up, as I dislike snails and slugs etc. I know they are brilliant in the garden, but don't want them indoors.

Thanks for the above information, will have a look at it later.

 

[OldFishKeeper1]

I found it does best with higher light levels, low flow and co2 injection. Avoid pH extremes and give it liquid ferts. It can take over but, if it does, cut back on some of those things.

 

[Jennet8 66]

It would appear that may have I bought it from the British arm of Tropicana or at least from someone who sells their plants on, as it is in one of their 1-2 grow cups.

 

[Essjay27 142]

as it is in one of their 1-2 grow cups.

In that case you won't have any unwanted hitch-hikers

 

[Jennet8 66]

Ooops, well I do have one, but it did have the 1-2 grow logo. Perhaps they don't sell on amazon uk.

 

[Innesfan26 10]

I like Riccia a lot. As do the fish. I've never had a problem with it getting out of control. I think it's handsome, adds an interesting texture to the scape, provides green food for the vegetarians and omnivores, and is just about the best natural refuge for fry there is.

 

[Jennet8 66]

Thank you Innesfan. I do quite like the look of it and it is my hope that I will be able to use some of the cover of this plant in order to shade one side of the aquarium in order to grow at least one live red plant successfully. I like reasonably high light, as it is only this, and one other lamp in my room near where I sit with my laptop, that provides light in the evening.

I do not have a television in my lounge, as I prefer to read than watch television.