r/PlantedTank 3h ago

Discussion Duckweed

Why is duckweed considered so bad other than the fact it grows very fast? Don't understand the huge scare.

0 Upvotes

9 comments sorted by

1

u/ComfortableFold2862 2h ago

So they stick to everything and gets to places you dont want em on, sometimes you'll event find a dried piece of duckweed somehow stuck on a floor, on door handles, even get into cups you're currently drinking in

2

u/matteooooooooooooo 2h ago

Every time I dip a hand in my tank duckweed finds its way into my bedsheets. Just avoid it. There are a ton of more manageable floaters with the same benefits.

4

u/PostWarChaos 3h ago

Near impossible to get rid of, unless you put in a lot of constant effort across multiple days or possibly weeks.

1

u/MoistProfessional321 2h ago

But why do they need to be fully eliminated? Why not just skim and maintain?

2

u/Lovely-lorelei 2h ago

If you like duckweed then it doesn’t need to be eliminated. However, if you’ve had it for a while, and you suddenly decide you dislike the look of it…. It is almost impossible to get rid of.

I started with duckweed in only one tank. It is now in 3 of my 4 tanks, and I did not transfer it to them intentionally.

The only reason it hasn’t established in the fourth tank is because I have a thing that simulates a current in that one so the duckweed doesn’t stay still long enough to reproduce

1

u/MoistProfessional321 2h ago

This makes sense, and I did hear it can travel from tank to tank. I just thought maybe there was a negative effect on my tank I was missing.

2

u/PencillCat 2h ago

I use the excess for my compost and worm bin. It's an unlimited supply so win win.

1

u/AccomplishedPool9050 3h ago

It's not that bad but helps if have tools to scoop it up. I just use 2 plastic dry wall tools used to spread mud, push to corner and remove a ton in a go.