🌱 After trying countless #aquariumplants in my Walstad tanks, I've found that some are better at natural water purification than others. Here are my top 5 picks for Walstad tanks that keep water parameters stable and safe for fish! 🧵👇
Limnophila Sessiliflora 🌿 This is my favorite submerged plant for #Walstadmethod tanks! It grows fast, uses up plenty of ammonium and nitrate, and provides surface area for beneficial bacteria. Plus, it’s easy to propagate by replanting trimmed stems! 🪴 One drawback of Limnophila? It can grow so fast that it starves itself of nitrate, leading to browning. Feeding fish a bit more should help fix this as fish waste feeds #aquaticplants.
Salvinia Auriculata ☘️ Floating plants like Salvinia are great for a Walstad #aquarium since they get CO2 from the air. My tanks have seen noticeable nitrate drops after adding it. Plus, its leaves change size based on nutrient levels, giving a visual cue for tank health! A pro-tip with Salvinia: keep it in a floating ring to control light levels for your submerged plants. And be ready for regular maintenance—I remove handfuls from my #fishtank every week! 🌊
Rotala Rotundifolia, I keep this in 6 tanks and it's great for a #natureaquarium! It’s a slightly slower-growing stem plant, which means less trimming, about every 3-4 weeks. For those seeking low-maintenance plants, this is a perfect choice that helps stabilize tank parameters. Rotala is also easy to find and cheap. Unlike Limnophila, it doesn't get leggy in low light making it perfect for a #lowtechtank. For me, Rotala and Salvinia are the dream team in Walstad tanks. 💪
Pearlweed💧 New to my tanks, but I’m loving it so far! Despite being labeled as "advanced," it's doing well in both medium and low-light tanks. A liquid fertilizer may be needed in low-bio tanks like a #shrimptank. Fun fact: “pearlweed” can refer to several species, causing confusion. I’m using Micranthemum Glomeratum and, though growth is slower at first, it speeds up after 2-3 months! 🕒 It uses up a lot of nitrogen compounds making it perfect for #dirtedtanks
Hygrophila Polysperma and the Rosanervig variant🌿 They are solid choices for any #plantedtank especially Walstad tanks. They grows in random directions, making them less ideal for aquascapers. But it’s great for tank health if you don’t mind the wild look. Hygrophila Polysperma Rosanervig has a virus that limits chlorophyll production causing beautiful pink leaves on fresh growth making it a great plant for an #aquascape too. While all these plants work well, Rotala Rotundifolia and Salvinia Auriculata are my ultimate duo for keeping Walstad tanks thriving. 🌿 What plants have you tried in your own Walstad tanks? Let me know your favorites and check out my video on the topic.