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Hi

I have in my tank a mystery plant. It was labelled 'rock fern' at the shop. It resembles a java fern but it seems to only grow as tall as a crypticorne.

This plant is now pumping out millions of 'babies'. They consist of one small leaf about 2 to 3 mm and a tiny root that is about 5 mm.

The plant has grown quite a lot so I was wondering if I broke this plant apart, would it stop producing more and more offspring?

What sort of leaves does it have? Is it crested java fern? that always stays tiny for me and ends up looking like the barnacled bottom of a boat with all the daughter plants.

Nothing I did seemed to fix mine. I tried dividing it and I tried pulling off the babies but no such luck. Poor thing just would not thrive.

If it is that, maybe someone else has had more luck.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Troy

A photo would certainly help to identify it first.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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OK here is a shot of the suspect plant...

(Its only part of it. I have already devided it to see if things change.)



and here is a shot of the blanket of offspring I am dealing with...

Java fern and duckweed or are we looking for something more specific?

I cant keep enough duckweed in my tanks, the fish eat it like crazy. I actually paid $2 at auction for a small bag hoping to treat it like a starter culture but everyone keeps eating it before it grows in the tank so I think I'll have to set up a tank for just duckweed ! Nothing stops it growing AFAIK. Although if you have a tank with barbs or silver dollars they'll probably decimate it pretty quick .

The java fern, I've seen a lot of different types, usually the only name I see given to the shorter type is 'dwarf' I'm surprised that it's growing so well for you planted in the substrate, unless it doesn't have rhizomes like java fern and it's one of those annoying look alike plants .


^_^

Troy

You have two totally different plants there.
The large wide leafed is a Java Fern

The other is Duck Weed personally I think its a curse in any tank. In some cases it multiplies faster than you can collect it.

To remove it turn all your water movement off, then gently move your net through it, keep the net up high other wise it can push it deeper into the tank.

When it is practically all gone use a very small net to pick up whats left. You then will have to do this every 2nd or 3rd day to remove it all. Then its nothing but scooping up the odd one or two pieces.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

oh my gosh and here I was blaming one of my plants!

I didnt buy duck weed but I think it snuck in with some wisteria I bought ages ago.

Hi Troy,
Duckweed is actually an excellent plant that will
remove nitrate from the water and shade your tank
giving skittish fish comfort which will allow them
to swim in open areas without fear from predation from
above.
With the right light and conditions it can grow almost
overnight into a problem plant and many curse. However,
a swirl of a fish net across the surface will quickly
reduce its quantity. Don't dispose of the excess into
the water/sewage systems as it can (and has in places)
become a noxious weed.

The main problem with the plant is that it easily is
pushed under the surface where the tank currents will
carry it around and into the filter intakes where it will
clog them. If your filter returns are below the surface
that won't happen.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Spotted some duckweed still growing in a half frozen pond. That says something about how well it can survive!


Surprisingly I havent' had it sucked up by our AC as the intake is far enough down that even if it is pushed below the surface it doesn't make it to the filter. Granted it could be being consumed before then....which was the whole point in buying it.


^_^