bhcaaron

I went to azgardens and saw that they sell riccia by the tea spoon.

I am wondering how much will that actually cover. I am hoping this means that the teaspoon is clumped up and if spread it will actually be more than an inch squared... or will it take a few hundred dollars to cover an aquarium floor?

Chief_waterchanger

A teaspoon of riccia is just the size it looks, it doesn't spread out into some magically larger portion. It however is quick growing when provided with the proper conditions, it would take a while to cover an aquarium from a teaspoon of it, but it also sells really well. So once the aquarium is covered you can propogate portions to sell easily.

bhcaaron

Never thought of selling it, thanks Chief. As for magically spreading, I'm sure you know that's not what I meant. I have read of people buying a plant of some kind that came clumped together or describing the size of some moss as a certain amount when clumped together and a different amount while spread.

bhcaaron

I don't suppose you've heard of Asiam Ambulia being illegal in the US, have you?

Chief_waterchanger

hehe, the magically spreading was an attempt at humor, but I forgot to put '' after it, my bad.

Yes, Asian Ambulia is illegal in states where it is warm enough to propogate. Pretty much all of them south of (including) Tennessee, all the way west to California.

bhcaaron

Will I EVER get a break in the things I choose for aquariums!?!?!? UGH!

Another question: How many similar type plants (cabomba, ambulia etc) would it take to make a two foot line with them? (as in to cover the background densely)

Isabella

I think Riccia is a high light and rather demanding plant. If given high light and proper nutrition, as well as CO2, it should spread quickly, as any plant with CO2 will.

Dino

We grow it here with natural light, low fertilization and no co2.

Isabella

You mean in direct sunlight? Natural sunlight is certainly better for plants than even the best and highest output lightbulbs, because the sun light is ... well, it's natural, lol

Chief_waterchanger

lol. Yep sunlight. (I can't say 'natural sunlight' without more attempts at humor.)

Isabella

Yup. So I think growing Riccia under low aquarium lighting (not direct sun lighting) is not a good idea: http://plantgeek.net/plantguide_viewer.php?id=183

Jake

Riccia will do ok in medium, medium-low lighting, but it'll have to be as a floating plant. That is what it is, after all. When you attach it to things and force it to sit on the bottom of the tank, it drastically changes the lighting requirements.

I usually get riccia as a hitchhiker. I had a low light shrimp tank totally mired with the stuff at one point.

I wouldn't buy riccia from an online retailer. There are too many hobbyists with gobs of it sitting around that would send it to you for the price of shipping. Check out some planted aquarium sites and post in the classifieds.

Isabella

Hey Jake! Great to see you on Fish Lore ! Hope you come here more often!