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Re: Duckweed!!




>>From: Katana98 at aol_com
>>Subject: Duckweed
>>
>>I have duckweed invading every inch of the top of my aquarium.  The bad news
>>is it's nact for mixing with the Riccia.  Anyone know how to get rid of
it or
>>should I get rid of everything on top including the Riccia?
>
>David,
>
>Sure you can get rid of duckweed. Take as much as you can out... use a net.
>Turn the filter off so it isn't swirling around anywhere. Then start
>picking out every little individual piece you see. You won't get them all
>but everytime you go into the tank, pick out any little piece you see...
>you have to get EVERYONE. I did it on two tanks. It works. Just be
>diligent. And if you reintroduce it... pick it out right away.
>
>Or you could get a duck! Goldfish will eat it too.
>
>Olga
>in Vancouver
>From: BErney1014 at aol_com
>Subject: Re:Duckweed
>
>In a message dated 11/4/99 3:54:29 PM, Aquatic-Plants-Owner at actwin_com
writes:
>
>>I have duckweed invading every inch of the top of my aquarium.  The bad
>>news 
>>is it's nact for mixing with the Riccia.  Anyone know how to get rid of
>>it or 
>>should I get rid of everything on top including the Riccia?
>
>A Goldfish will eat every last piece of duckweed. 

The above proposed solutions are fine for one or two ten gallon aquariums,
but fail to account for aquarium number, size, and the presence of riccia.
I have finally won the duckweed war w/o the backbreaking-nit-picking hours
it takes to BEGIN duckweed control.

These 2 "solutions" have major flaws IMHO:

1.	Solution(1); Using a net and nit-picking. This is at best a temporary
solution, at worst an excersise in futility. Even w/o the floating riccia,
missing just one bit  of DW stuck on the underside of a submersed leaf will
garrantee reinfestation or prolonged eternal vigilence. You will NEVER grow
surface riccia in that tank again if your vigilence is to be effective. God
help you if you have several LARGE aquariums!

2.	Solution(2);	Goldfish will likely eat your struggling riccia first
(since its closer to their greedy mouths) THEN eat the duckweed! 

Try these solutions instead:

1.	Solution(1);	"Scorched Earth". Grab a handful of relatively uninfested
riccia and nit pick out ALL traces of duckweed. Then, set the
decontaminated riccia up in a new Duckweed(DW) free aquarium. Take the
aquarium outside and fill it up and overflow for several minutes while you
reach in and gently swab the leaves of submersed plants w/ your fingers.
This will free stragglers to the suface where they will be flushed over the
side. Shed no tears for the lost DW riccia, you are better off.

2.	Solution(2); Install an "Easy Filter". For PERMANENT DW
control/elimination I've found nothing better than this design. For the
perpetual hours of continual dilegence you would need to to nit-pick
duckweed w/o the "easy", its better to stand the inconvenience of
installation ONCE, then forget it! Because it forms large interwoven
clumps, little riccia ever gets dragged into the 'easy'.  Find the 'Easy'
at my site http://www.mindspring.com/~boukmn/Boukmn_s-Homepage.html

In response to Karen's suggestion that I lose the bio-balls to reduce NO3
production; I agree. Bioballs are great, but only if you have a high fish
load (which I dont) to prevent a swift NH3+,N02- buildup. At lower fish
loads, plants will absorb NH3+,N02- to prevent N0+ from building up.

D.Chang;

"Those who know HOW will always have a job...
Working for those who know WHY."

See my (11/3) Plants and Driftwood  at; 
http://www.mindspring.com/~boukmn/Boukmn_s-Homepage.html