Hornwort plant: species, maintenance and breeding in an aquarium

For aquarium enthusiasts, hornwort is a popular and adaptable plant that can thrive in a variety of water conditions and has lush, feathery foliage. This plant is a favorite among aquarium enthusiasts of all skill levels because it enhances the aesthetics and usefulness of any setup.

In this post, we’ll look at the various kinds of hornwort, talk about how to take good care of it, and offer advice on how to successfully breed them in your tank. Knowing hornwort will help you maintain the health and vibrancy of your aquatic environment, whether you’re setting up a new aquarium or looking to improve your current setup.

Description

The hornwort plant is a member of the rhizomeless family. rises to the surface and dwells in the water column. It occasionally uses stem shoots, or rhizoids, to cling to supports and absorb elements from the silt that are essential for growth. The sections of dissected leaves are separated into plates that resemble spruce branches. Any size aquarium can look good with it.

Tiny teeth are visible through a microscope. Every cell on the surface of the plant, which is coated in a film resembling fat, feeds itself. hue ranging from pale green to brown. tolerates temperatures between 6 and 30°C.

0.2 cm long, petalless corollas that, when ripe, resemble nuts, adorn the blooms. has a tannin content that makes it taste bitter, so those who enjoy algae shouldn’t touch it.

Types

In nature, there are a few dozen different species of hornwort, and each one has a unique leaf apparatus structure and color.

In home aquariums, the following species are frequently found:

• Submerged hornwort. A characteristic difference is dark green foliage. The stem is long, branching. Feels good in slightly alkaline moderately hard water. Under natural conditions, the perennial lives in the water column up to 9 m deep. High degree of survivability, is able to clean water well from dirt.
• Semi-submerged hornwort. The color of the "needles" ranges from light green to red. Delicate and fragile, grows on a long stem. Looks impressive in an aquarium, planted along the back wall. Under normal conditions, it can grow up to 20 cm in a week.
• Cuban hornwort is very decorative due to the fluffiness of its dark green leaves and bright red stem. It has an unusual color combination and a shape that resembles a bunch of grapes. Prefers good lighting, which helps it create short internodes and a dense leaf brush. Having reached half a meter, it begins to branch. With insufficient lighting, the growth rate decreases. Valued for strong shoots that are not prone to breaking.
• Mexican hornwort is one of the most unpretentious. Similar to the classic dark green (submersible) hornwort. The stem is painted dark brown, and the lateral shoots grow in pairs. Each plate is bifurcated. In a free form, it floats on the surface, can be fixed on the bottom.

Take note! Because of its fragility and difficulty in transportation, the semi-submersible one with light green leaves is the least common one available for purchase.

Benefits for an aquarium

In an aquarium, hornwort functions as a continuous biological filter in addition to being a beautiful ornamental plant. gathers and treats dead organic matter, the waste products of aquatic life. Its primary advantage is this.

It is advised to cultivate the plant for the following reasons:

• Excellent "draws out" nitrates, which are the end product of the nitrogen cycle.
• Thanks to its ability to release oxygen, fish feel better, fry develop quickly.
• Caviar sticks well to the needle-like leaves of the algae, which contributes to successful throwing.
• Tiny aquarium inhabitants feel safe in dense branches.

This helpful aquatic plant speeds up the biological balance adjustment process and greatly enhances the aquarium’s condition.

Since hornwort lacks a root, nutrients are absorbed across its whole surface. Thus, it makes no difference what kind of soil it is. The plant is modest in appearance, but you should allow it to completely carry out its cleansing purpose rather than trying to outsmart it. It’s crucial to give the plant warm water and ten hours of daylight without direct sunlight.

How to care

Situations where aquarium hornwort is most comfortable:

• It is advisable to put large driftwood or stones on the bottom and fix the plant.
• It will not die at 5 ° C, but active development and bright color can be expected at a temperature of 20 … 24 ° C.
• The size of the aquarium should correspond to the degree of growth, since the plant can quickly fill the space. Recommended volume – 100 liters.
• Aggressive sun rays are harmful to most aquatic inhabitants, including hornwort.
• With artificial lighting, the power of the fluorescent lamp should be 0.4 W / l.
• Aeration and filtration can be used at medium or low power, the flow can be directed in the other direction.

The hornwort greenery’s state is influenced by the amount of nitrates present, but additional fertilizer is not required. A fifth of the water volume needs to be replaced once a week. By doing this, the pH is kept at 5.5.

This is fascinating! Snails enjoy eating algae, but they are repulsed by the bitter taste of hornwort.

Reproduction

It’s not hard to breed. You must break off a young shoot and allow it to float freely in order to obtain a fresh "seedling." The stems can split apart at times. Cuttings are one method of propagating hornwort. The main stem must be divided into sections. If you use room temperature water, each segment will grow on its own. When the aquarium’s shoots are growing vigorously in ideal conditions, the owner must make sure they don’t overflow the container.

How to fix hornwort in an aquarium

Stuck to the bottom plants have a more attractive appearance. For this reason, even though the plant itself doesn’t require it, aquarists attempt to grow hornwort in the shape of a bush that emerges from the ground. Hornwort can be "planted" in the following ways:

• wind the stem on a transparent rod, fix it at the bottom with a tourniquet;
• use stones with holes as "anchors";
• fix it to snags with a fishing line.

Hornwort can be planted in an aquarium in any manner you choose, but it’s important to understand that it will grow quickly. As a gardener, you must work and modify the composition. Occasionally, the plant’s lower rod is severed when it becomes bare and turns yellow.

Why it turns yellow and does not grow

In certain cases, the hornwort in the store has spread to cover the whole aquarium, and it sheds its leaves or turns yellow when it moves to a new location.

The following could be the cause:

• large differences in the parameters of the aquatic environment in the new and old aquariums (temperature, acidity, hardness);
• direct sunlight;
• unsuccessful transportation (long move with no moisture, hypothermia);
• too low nitrate levels.

Consider the conditions of its upkeep before introducing hornwort into an aquarium. Carefully move the plant in a water-filled container, shielding it from chilly temperatures.

What to do if the hornwort is sick

The plant hardly ever becomes sick. When a fungal infection appears in the aquarium and poses a risk to the health of the fish, it is removed and cleaned under running water. After that, it is moved into a different container and given a manganese solution treatment. Remain there until all dangerous microbes have been removed from the aquarium. Cut off any yellowed stems from the sun.

A tough and adaptable plant that can do a lot for your aquarium is hornwort. It is a great option for both inexperienced and seasoned aquarists due to its capacity to flourish in a multitude of conditions. You can establish a lush and healthy aquatic environment by learning about the various species of hornwort and their unique requirements.

Hornwort is relatively easy to maintain in your tank. It is a low-maintenance choice for introducing greenery to your aquarium because it needs little attention. Maintaining regular trimming and making sure it receives adequate light are the primary cares you’ll need to perform to make it thrive.

Since hornwort usually reproduces by fragmentation, breeding it is also relatively simple. This means you can share your aquatic garden with other hobbyists or grow it larger by just cutting and replanting sections of the plant.

All things considered, adding hornwort to your aquarium can both improve its visual appeal and aquatic ecosystem’s overall health. It is a useful addition to any tank setup due to its hardiness and ease of maintenance.

The adaptability and low maintenance requirements of hornwort make it a popular aquarium plant. We’ll look at various hornwort species in this post, along with maintenance advice for your tank and breeding strategies. Understanding the requirements and advantages of hornwort can improve the health and appearance of your aquarium, regardless of your level of experience.

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