How to grow Duckweed/keep it alive

[airdog44]

Hey all, I recently added duckweed to my tank and I have a few questions.

1. I'm worried my flow is too fast. I have a sponge filter and it's honestly not that bad but the duckweed is constantly moving, it's never still. I only have a couple of pieces so once they grow in (hopefully) the problem could get solved. Is this fine or should I slow the flow down a bit? (and how would I do that)

2. Do they need fertilizer? I'm assuming yes because they are a plant but I was hoping I didn't have to add any because the moment I do I get major algae outbreaks.

Thanks!

 

[NeonTetra1]

Duckweed doesn't really grow in fast moving water. It likes still or calm water. Now, to slow the water flow, I'm not sure how to do that (That's where the experts come in) since I've never had a sponge filter before.
Duckweed grows the fastest with fertilizer. I use the Aqueon liquid plant fertilizer. It's available on Amazon, and is only 8 bucks for a 4 oz bottle, and it has all of the micro and macro nutrients.
As for the algae, when you do get an algae breakout, shrimp (amano shrimp especially) and snails are great at eating algae.

Hope this helps!

 

[TClare]

Rather than reducing the flow you could make a corral for the duckweed to keep it way from the main water disturbance. Use a piece of airline tubing with suction cups on either end to stick on the glass so you can make a half circle or bigger, the duckweed inside this corral should not move around much. If the tank is stocked, I don't think you will need any additional fertilizer for duckweed.

 

[ruud]

Also, fertilizers don't cause algae (otherwise all the high tech planted tank people would have quite their hobby a long, long time ago), fertilizers only 'worsen' the algae biomass you already have.

 

[idkausernamesoyeah]

Duckweed grows VERY fast, and doesnt need fertilizer however it will help. It has grown for me with and without fertilizer, i use aquarium coop easy green. Its a pest for me, but there is not a lot of surface agitation in my tank. I personally use a sponge filter with an airstone inside of it, and on my hob i have a thing that breaks the waters momentum. I will attach a picture, but you could also just use airline tubing and make a protected area for the duckweed, either way would work but the hob thingy is much more efficient. I bought it on etsy

 

[airdog44]

Rather than reducing the flow you could make a corral for the duckweed to keep it way from the main water disturbance. Use a piece of airline tubing with suction cups on either end to stick on the glass so you can make a half circle or bigger, the duckweed inside this corral should not move around much. If the tank is stocked, I don't think you will need any additional fertilizer for duckweed.

Alright I try to figure something out to stop the flow. The tank is a 10 g currently stocked with 8 ember tetras. I’ll look into some Amano shrimp. Thanks for all the responses!