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Freshwater   Plants

Crystalwort
(Riccia fluitans)

Crystalwort

Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)

  • None

Names

Scientific name
Riccia fluitans

Common name
Crystalwort

Origin

what are his countries of origin?

Origin: Northern France, Europe, America, Asia

Ideal fertilization

how to fertilize this plant?

CO2: 10-40mg/l
Nitrates (NO3): 10-50mg/l
Phosphates (PO4): 0.1-3mg/l
Potassium (K): 5-30mg/l
Iron (Fe): 0.01-0.5mg/l

Group

which group is this plant?

Ricciaceae

Kind

what is the type of plant?

Floating Plant
Foam
Fern

Parameters

What are the Water parameters for the maintenance of this plant?

T°: 10 to 30°C or 50 to 86°F
pH: 5 to 8
Hardness: 1 to 10°dGH

Difficulty

difficulty

Easy

Lighting

what brightness is needed?

Strong

Size

what is the maximum size of the plant?

3 cm (1.2")

Plantation

in which area of the aquarium install this plant?

Everywhere

Growth

how fast does this plant grow?

Fast

Presentation

Who is the Riccia fluitans?

Presentation

Who is the Riccia fluitans?

It can serve as a refuge for small fry and allow to have a supply of infusoria that develop tremendously in this foam. It is also very successful in shrimp aquariums or breeding tanks. In addition, it will perfectly and naturally decorate your spaces between roots and rocks.

Curiosity of this plant: it is at the same time a floating plant, moss and fern! It is very adaptable and will arrange according to your desires! Thus, it can be planted directly on the ground of the aquarium to form a beautiful round fern, or be used to shade the surface fish like a floating plant or be attached to the decoration and hang on it like foam. It is therefore ideal for aquascaping (we can sometimes see beautiful bins just with the decoration and this plant!). Very rustic, it can also be installed in paludarium.

Riccia fluitans is an interesting alternative to Java moss.

Planting and maintenance

How to plant and maintain the Riccia fluitans?

Planting and maintenance

How to plant and maintain the Riccia fluitans?

The temperature of the water is an important criterion for the good maintenance of the plant: it must constantly be around 14 to 25°C or 57 to 77°F.

A contribution of Co2 is also essential for the survival and growth of Riccia fluitans. To do this, use a Co2 diffuser. However, if the plant is used as a floating plant, you do not need Co2 because it will absorb it in the air.

By the way, if you use it as a floating plant, pay attention to the current of your aquarium. Indeed, the foam breaks up under the power of the current and eventually disappears. So, very little surface current is required. To remedy this, for example, you can direct the cane of the filter to the edge of the aquarium to «break» the current without reducing the power of filtration.

In paludarium, this plant will remain submerged. It will therefore be used as a surface or bottom plant in the submerged zone. The advantage is that it is not very high and can grow in small volumes.

Farming

How to farm the Riccia fluitans?

Farming

How to farm the Riccia fluitans?

The reproduction of Riccia fluitans will be faster and more efficient as a floating plan.

To optimize its multiplication, it is important to make an iron contribution, either thanks to frequent water changes or thanks to fertilizing products (attention however to the use of these if there are fish in your aquarium).

In good conditions, this plant grows very quickly. It must therefore be ensured that it does not overshadow fish or plants when it is used as a floating plant.

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Small curiosity: if the Riccia fluitans flourishes in the aquarium thanks to good maintenance conditions (lighting, iron), you will see small bubbles of oxygen appear at the tip of the leaves. It’s a sign of good health!

Yours photos!

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