Wild elodea from Lake Union Wa = Aquarium plant?

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

knifegill

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
Sep 19, 2005
8,782
113
120
43
Oscar Tummy
I grabbed a floating head from the boat dock at lake Union and noticed the water was very cold. I've acclimated it to room temps and have it in a large bottle, but my tanks are tropical to neotropical, 78 in one and 82+ in the other.

Oh. How long, really, should I quarantine this thing and can it live in the bottle for awhile? I gave it one sinking carnivore pellet for ammonia and nitrites as food....this works well for my house plants so I thought I'd give it a try.

Fits descriptions for Elodea canadensis, but this thing is massive. Will its new growth be smaller in aquaria?
 
Bleach dip it like you would other aquarium plants. Instant quarantine.

I've found that elodea grows differently depending on the amount of nutrients in the tank. Lot's of nutrients = thick heavy growth. Lack of nutrients = thin spindly growth.

Also it's difficult to plant in the substrate. The stem tends to rot! Mine does well floating.
 
Beware of Hydrilla. Not sure if it's gotten to WA, but it's a big nuisance here that looks similar to Elodea.
 
Hey, either way it should use up nitrates and provide hidey spots for fry.

After comparing the two, I have determined that I am no botanist and cannot tell which I have.
 
Hmm. Probably not the hydrilla, then. There is only a white line. But this thing is already about six inches long from the two inch piece I brought home. Looks like it will do well in my tanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom