Anyone have any experience with water weed (elodea)

I’ve read conflicting things about water weed (Elodea) requirements and such.. I have a gravel substrate with the bright white LED lights that my 55 gallon tank came with. (Wide spectrum is how they are described on the product info)

I really want to fill my tank with plants and I love watching them grow.. however I am not willing to spend the extra money on big expensive lights or CO2 injections.

I already have Java fern and Anubias.. they both grow sooooo slow….. I’m wondering if there’s anything else that might work with my setup? I’m working on filling my tank with plants for the well-being of my fish and having tons of places to hide
I’ve recently picked up Christmas moss and that’s a whole different discussion on my last post… but I realize I should have gotten Java moss since it grows quicker? Might pick some of that up too…
I’ve been reading into water weed and I’ve read it can do well in lower light situations and adapt well… but then I’ve also read that they absolutely need 11 hours of lots of light.

Can anyone offer any insight?

Also, has anyone had any good experiences with buying live plants from amazon??? Some have really good reviews and decently priced… but I usually only trust my LFS… it’s just more expensive

 

I would try Vallisneria, its hardy and grows faster than Java Fern and Anubias.

 

I only have a gravel floor so unfortunately there’s no soil underneath to plant the Vallisneria in

 

I only have a gravel floor so unfortunately there’s no soil underneath to plant the Vallisneria in

They grow just fine in gravel

 

The elodea/anacharis would probably be a good fit for you. I grow it in a tank that uses the built in little LED lights that came built into the hood, no co2, and rarely dose fertilizer. It does great for me and I actually get enough to sell to other local hobbiests. I actually have better luck with letting it float and not planting in the substrate. When it gets big enough, it will naturally sink and put down roots. I've found it tends to rot if you plant fresh cuttings in the substrate. I got mine from a big box pet store

 

They grow just fine in gravel

This is exciting news to me! Will my normal LEDs be sufficient lighting tho? Is this sort of the same deal with amazon sword as well?

 

Standard lights are fine, don't know about swords tho.

 

Standard lights are fine, don't know about swords tho.

The jungle Vallisneria is the same thing right? I’m in love with the look of it.. my Bolivian rams would probably love it

 

I have had thin Val and some I collected myseft that I would probably call Giant Val. The leaves keep on growing once they reach the top, you just trim them when you think they need it.

 

Love it, thank you so much

 

I have had thin Val and some I collected myseft that I would probably call Giant Val. The leaves keep on growing once they reach the top, you just trim them when you think they need it.

You have to trim the too long leaves at the base not near the top as the trimmed leaves die. As I learned by experience...

I have had experience with Elodea a long time ago but only in ponds and coldwater tanks where it always did well. I don't think it is too well suited to warmer tropical temperatures. I agree on Vals, I have them growing in just sand in all my tanks and have to trim and thin them out frequently. There are other fast growing stem pants that would be suitable as well, eg Limnophila, Hygropila, Heteranthera, pearlweed...

 

I've had elodea fill an aquairum with no light on it (did get a little adjacent sun light); i never plant it - just float it and it does well...

You have to trim the too long leaves at the base not near the top as the trimmed leaves die. As I learned by experience...

I trim my leaves at the top and they keep growing.... so not sure why your died. I have some leaves over 8 feet long now - kind of annoying.

 

I've had elodea fill an aquairum with no light on it (did get a little adjacent sun light); i never plant it - just float it and it does well...

I trim my leaves at the top and they keep growing.... so not sure why your died. I have some leaves over 8 feet long now - kind of annoying.

They don't die quickly, the cut end gradually goes brown or yellow and the leaves become weak and easy to break. I don't think they grow once they have been cut. And in one tank I have some BBA on the wood and it attacks all the leaves that have been cut but not the intact leaves. On the other hand in the big cichlid tank I don't have a choice, the Uarus do it for me.

 

They don't die quickly, the cut end gradually goes brown or yellow and the leaves become weak and easy to break. I don't think they grow once they have been cut. And in one tank I have some BBA on the wood and it attacks all the leaves that have been cut but not the intact leaves. On the other hand in the big cichlid tank I don't have a choice, the Uarus do it for me.

Don't know maybe different type of val; mine continue to grow after i cut them near the top... because of the cover they make once every few months i take some scissors to them and just cut them all and a few months later repeat. I mean my tank is only 4 feet wide and in the back i have some reaching nearly 8 feet even with trimming

 

My experience with elodea is that it does not need bright light. In fact, it doesn't even need a substrate. It is perfectly happy just floating beneath the surface.