Description

🌿 Hornwort

– Scientific Name: Ceratophyllum demersum

📊 Plant Profile

– Difficulty Level: Easy

– Light Requirement: Low to Medium

– CO2 Requirement: No

– Growth Rate: Fast

🌡️ Water Parameters

– Temperature: 59-86°F (15-30°C)

– pH Range: 6.0-7.5

– Water Hardness: Soft to Hard

📈 Growth Characteristics

– Size: Up to 10 feet (3 meters)

– Placement: Floating or Background

📝 Detailed Description

Hornwort is a fast-growing, floating plant that is highly adaptable. Its needle-like leaves provide excellent cover and oxygenation. This plant does not produce any root structure but can be tied to rock or wood and sunk to imitate regular stem plants. 

🌱 Care Instructions

– Lighting: Low to Medium, 6-10 hours per day

– Fertilization: Regular iron and nitrogen fertilizers are the minimum, but regular comprehensive fertilizers will produce the most lush and dense growth.

– Water Maintenance: Regular pruning to control growth

🐠 Compatibility

– Ideal Tankmates: Goldfish, live-bearers, shrimp

– Habitat Enhancement: Reduces algae by out competing for nutrients

🌟 Benefits & Highlights

– Visual Appeal: Creates a natural, wild look

– Environmental Impact: Excellent oxygenator and nitrate absorber

– Growth Habit: Fast and invasive if not pruned

💡 Fun Fact

Hornwort can thrive in ponds as well as aquariums, this makes it a very flexible and undemanding plant, but also gives it the potential to be invasive. Always dispose of aquarium plants responsibly by allowing them to fully dry out before composting or throwing them away.