Duckweed.....

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
T

toweraquaticservices

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 11, 2011
138
0
0
Florida
I have been doing some reading into the many uses of duckweed, including but not limited to: food for fish, livestock, birds, and humans, to biogas production and waste filtering. This stuff seems amazing to me.

I was wondering if any MFK'ers were harvesting duckweed?

I am very interested in Aquaponics and sustainable energy and materials. Particularly harvesting duckweed for biogas production. I am also planning and designing a backyard aquaponic system for our new property being developed this summer.
I am a Master Plumber, CPO certified clean water freak. I have been this way since my father threw(let me jump) off a 24ft platform when I was 4.

I live in the panhandle of Florida, if there are any MFK'ers that live near me, I would love to meet and discuss local operations and how to get started. I have only been fish/herp keeping since October 2011, but already have 3 tanks up and running, and am cycling a 112 gallon desk conversion I built from an old desk and plywood and the glass from a 29 gallon.

It is a passion that just wont let go, its like I HAVE to know how to do everything and how it all operates. Maybe its because the world economy sucks, prices are going up and I have a wife and 4 kids to feed.

So, lay it on me guys and gals.......what say you
 
I got some duckweed with my fish from a lfs in Indy, I just tossed a small amount, about the size of a quarter in my 265 and 500. Well, the Uaru ate all the duckweed in the 500 and I actually forgot all about the duckweed in the 265 with my eel till one day I was feeding him and just happend to look below the water line and saw roots, then looked on top and it was covered in duckweed. I leave the lights on 24/7 and theres nothing in the tank to eat it so it grew very well.

[video=youtube;aF5hJQeZ9JI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF5hJQeZ9JI[/video]
 
To most fish hobbyists, duckweed is a nuisance plant that clogs up most power filters and multiplies like crazy. Duckweed can be used to reduce nitrates in an aquarium, but there are much better plants to choose from. As far as food for fish goes, only certain fish will eat it (koi, goldfish, silver dollars, some african cichlids). Good food for turtles and plant eating apple snails. Never heard of any humans eating it. Duckweed salad anyone? LOL!
 
I had duckweed in a few previous tanks and all it did was cause problems with my filters.
 
i have a ton of duckweed in my 135 gal... it was such a waste to throw it out so after a while i bought a koi fish to eat it up. now he's sitting in my 10 gallon tank and i just transfer my excess duckweed over whenever it gets too thick (usually 3 days) i guess it is good for removing extra waste from the water...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom