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The Hornwort Aquarium Plant: A Complete Guide and Care Tips
Are you a fan of aquariums? If you are, then you might have heard of the hornwort aquarium plant.
This plant is known for its unique appearance and great benefits to your aquatic pets.
What is Hornwort Aquarium Plant?
Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) is an aquatic plant that’s commonly found in North America but has also spread throughout the world.
It’s sometimes called coon’s tail or hornweed because of its appearance, which looks like a long green tail or antler.
Hornwort has become popular among aquarists because it can provide several benefits to your fish, shrimps, and other aquatic animals.
Besides being aesthetically pleasing, it can create an environment that mimics their natural habitat while also providing shelter and food sources.
Why Should You Consider Using Hornwort in Your Aquarium?
- Natural filtration: One significant advantage of having hornworts in your aquarium is that they act as natural filters by consuming excess nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates that promote algae growth.
By removing these excess nutrients from the water column before they get broken down into ammonia or nitrite by bacteria, it helps keep the water clean and clear at all times.
- Oxygenation: Hornworts are oxygenators; this means they absorb carbon dioxide from the water during photosynthesis while releasing oxygen back out into the tank for fish to breathe.
As such, having them around will help improve overall oxygen levels within your tank ecosystem.
- Aquarium landscape: The bushy nature of hornworts makes them ideal for creating an aquarium landscape.
They grow quickly and can fill in empty spaces, making your tank look more beautiful and natural.
- Shelter for aquatic animals: Hornwort plants provide an excellent hiding spot for smaller fishes, shrimps, and other aquatic animals that might require a break from their larger tank mates.
This is especially important for breeding or shy species as they can use the plant’s leaves to shelter their offspring or hide away during stressful situations.
Hornwort Aquarium Plant Care Guide
If you’ve decided to add hornworts to your aquarium setup, here are some tips on how to care for them:
- Lighting: Hornworts are low-light plants; therefore, they don’t require intense light conditions.
Place them near the filter’s outflow spot or on the shaded side of your tank where they can get enough indirect light.
- Fertilization: Hornworts absorb nutrients from water column naturally; hence it doesn’t need any fertilizer supplements that may contain harmful chemicals toxic to aquatic life.
- Temperature & pH level: Ideally, hornwort needs a temperature range of 59-86°F (15-30°C) and a pH range between 6.0–7.5.
However, it’s versatile enough to withstand different temperatures as long as it doesn’t drop below 50°F (10°C).
- Growth rate & pruning: Hornwort grows rapidly under favorable conditions; therefore, regular pruning is necessary to prevent overgrowth within the tank ecosystem.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, hornwort aquarium plant is an excellent addition to any aquarium setup looking at improving the aquatic ecosystem while also enhancing visual appeal.
It’s low maintenance, suitable for different types of fishes and aquatic animals, and provides natural filtration – an eco-friendly alternative to chemical filtration products that can harm your pets.
With proper care, hornwort can provide a conducive environment for healthy fish growth and breeding while also keeping the water clean and clear.
So why not start incorporating this versatile plant into your aquarium setup today?
