Hi All

I've got some kind of infestation in my tank. It's a small clover like plant that only floats on the surface and it's taken over. I'm pretty sure it's hijacked on one of my other plants. It's forming a carpet on the top of the tank.

I've done my best to remove it with a tea strainer but there's no way I can get all of it.

What is this nasty and how do I kill it?

I've got loaches (amongst others) and my tank has val and tiger lotus in it.

Ideas so far:

Turn off the lights?

Dismantle the whole tank (not the best option) remove everything and douse in something that will kill it.

The worst part is, its a planted tank, so it's quite high in nutrients etc, so this stuff is growing like topsy.

Help me kill my nasty floaters!

Thanks in Advance Al

Further investigation reveals it's duckweed.

Perhaps a fish that eats it would be good? any suggestions?

Further investigation reveals it's duckweed.

Perhaps a fish that eats it would be good? any suggestions?

how bout a duckling or two? :lol:

a few cichlids will do :bounce:

i had duckweed in my tank at one stage and i had a few power heads so it went everywhere, its easy to get out just requires alot of scooping.

Any other (smaller) fish that eat it? All help much appreciated

just keep scoopin

My boyfriend's spotted metynnis cleared a 4ft tank of duckweed. Mind you, they'd eat all your other plants too.

If you make sure you get every little piece out it won't grow back. Bit tedious though.

My boyfriend's spotted metynnis cleared a 4ft tank of duckweed. Mind you, they'd eat all your other plants too.

That's the problem - if they'll eat the duckweed, they'll eat all the other plants too. My rosey barbs used to be plant-gobblers. I could distract them from the plants by putting lots of other greenery in there (peas, courgettes, spinach) but if I left them for a few days without greens they would start on my plants

So think very carefully about a plant-eating fish... what will it eat when all the duck weed is gone?

how bout putting all the pants you want to keep into another container while the fish clean up whats left

I've managed to clear it out of planted tanks in the past. Scoop long and hard and scoop daily. Even when you think you've cleared it all, keep on looking. If you THINK it might be a piece of duckweed, scoop it too. Blast your nets and buckets that touched the stuff afterwards to make sure it doesn't make it back in the tank. Lower your water level while scooping and leave the water level down overnight to kill off any that are lurking in nooks and crannies at water level. Lastly, scoop again 8)

unless you like duckweed 8)

I keep a few pairs of Moenkhausia oligolepis (LAMPEYE TETRA'S) for breeding, but if the dreaded "Duckweed" shows up they get put in the tank and soon move it.

Only one problem; if you have "Valuable" and "Tender" plants in the tank keep a very watchful eye on them , as they will get devoured as well.

Not that I have tried it but apparently duckweed needs a still water surface. Massive water flow at the top may slow down the growth.

Unfortunately though the only successful method I have used is removing it with a net - pretty much daily removal to avoid it taking over again.

i have duckweed in one of my tanks and it has never really been a problem, although im sure either my discus or lemon tetras eat it.Ive never seen this but it doesnt ever get out of hand.

i do have reasonable amount of surface movement and assume that this prevents the rapid growth, it only lurks amoung indian fern(at surface) and in the back corners of the tank.

so until it becomes out of control its there to stay, and it looks neat from below the surface, me thinks

that was my ten cents worth , lol :lol:

all mine got killed off when i used algae fix :roll: