Hornwort needles - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

hockeyplaya · 10-22-2009, 10:34 PM

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forums and I have a quick question about my hornwort plant. I bought this plant a couple weeks ago and I am not noticing that the needles are falling off it. I read somewhere that too much aeration is bad for this plant. It is true I have a lot of air bubbles and a strong current in my aquarium right now. I've tried to turn off the bubbles but then the hornwort just floats all over the place and sinks to the bottom. So my question is, is it true that too much water current will kill this plant? I really hope it doesn't die because it is doing wonders in my aquarium. I haven't seen any ammonia at all since I've added it.

Also, is it true that with hornwort, you do not really need to use an actual filter because it acts as one?

Thanks for everyone's help. Sorry if my questions sound dumb I'm a total newbie at all this.

Newman · 10-22-2009, 11:24 PM

I can say that for a really small tank (1gal-3 gal) with small inhabitants like snails, or worms, the hornwort or other floating plants can act like a filter.

In a tank with fish, i strongly suggest using a filter in adition to the plant.

no clue about areation but i dont see how it can harm it biologically. the only harm i see would be a strong current ripping the leaves off.

hockeyplaya · 10-23-2009, 09:26 AM

Hmm...

I was thinking about turning off my bubbles and powersweep. Just leave the filter on and let the hornwort oxygenate my aquarium. They only problem with turning off, both, the bubbles and powersweep is that it pins the hornwort in one corner. Is it ok to tie down hornwort, or weight it down so that it doesn't get everywhere?

Newman · 10-23-2009, 12:44 PM

wiegh it down with a plant weight, but put the weight around the stem in a loose way so that you dont crush the stem.

you can also tie it at the top in a corner with fishing line, so that it floats in that corner. ive done that to my anaharis seen at the left corner in my avatar.

hockeyplaya · 10-24-2009, 06:19 PM

So I went to my LFS today, I took my light and compartment in as well. I told the guy about my problem with the hornwort. He said it is probably my bulb, my bulb is most likely over 3 years old. So he gave me a T8 17 watt bulb, he said you should be replacing bulbs every year when you keep plants.

I also asked him if too much turbulence can kill of hornwort. He said it shouldn't because in the wild you cannot control the current of its water.

Anyhow, I'm really concerned about this plant, I bought the new bulb hoping now it'll start to sprout new needles.

Is there anymore advice I can get? The other thing I'm worried about is if it dies will my NH4, NO2, and NO3 start to spike? Ever since I've had this plant, I haven't seen anything at all.

Newman · 10-24-2009, 08:42 PM

You do not want that thing to die. itll shed all the needles and make your tank a mess. will probably affect your water like you said, but not too majourly.

Put the hornwort in a corner where there isnt too much flow.

what size tank is it? Yea you should be replcing the bulbs every year.

hockeyplaya · 10-24-2009, 10:19 PM

It's a 37 gallon. Should I jusy tight it off in a corner and turn off my bubbles and current?

Newman · 10-24-2009, 10:22 PM

yea tie it with fishing line in a corner, sorta like i've done in my avatar. no need to turn current or bubbles off. just make sure its in a calm corner of the tank and stays there.

epond83 · 10-25-2009, 02:43 PM

Depending how long your tank has been running it should be cycled, so if your plants die the only increase you should see is in nitrates and potassuim which is that dangerouse. And yes most flourecent bulbs loss about half there light output after a year and there for should be replaced once a year. When you do so you will probably notice a brighter bulb. Current shouldn't be a problem, i recently got a small peice and i have it anchored down well. it's growing very well and is in the direct current from the filter.

hockeyplaya · 10-25-2009, 03:19 PM

My tank has been running for about 4 weeks now. I started my tank off with a bunch of hornwort, a ball of java moss, 4 inch anubias, and a few small java ferns.

My hornwort is already in a corner, I really do not need to tie it to anything.

Btw, thanks of all the advice

10-22-2009, 10:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
hockeyplaya Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	Hornwort needles Hello everyone, I'm new to the forums and I have a quick question about my hornwort plant. I bought this plant a couple weeks ago and I am not noticing that the needles are falling off it. I read somewhere that too much aeration is bad for this plant. It is true I have a lot of air bubbles and a strong current in my aquarium right now. I've tried to turn off the bubbles but then the hornwort just floats all over the place and sinks to the bottom. So my question is, is it true that too much water current will kill this plant? I really hope it doesn't die because it is doing wonders in my aquarium. I haven't seen any ammonia at all since I've added it. Also, is it true that with hornwort, you do not really need to use an actual filter because it acts as one? Thanks for everyone's help. Sorry if my questions sound dumb I'm a total newbie at all this.

10-22-2009, 11:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Newman Large Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 815	I can say that for a really small tank (1gal-3 gal) with small inhabitants like snails, or worms, the hornwort or other floating plants can act like a filter. In a tank with fish, i strongly suggest using a filter in adition to the plant. no clue about areation but i dont see how it can harm it biologically. the only harm i see would be a strong current ripping the leaves off. __________________ AQUARIUMS: 40 Gal 1 Female Orange & Black Oranda GF 1 Female Blood Red Swordtail 5 Otocinclus 3 Swordtail Fry 3 Cherry shrimp 1 Gold Apple Snail Java fern, Anubias, Anacharis, Cabomba, Marimo Moss, Flame Moss, Dwarf Hairgrass 10 Gal 2 Otocinlus 20+ Swordtail Fry 4 Cherry Shrimp Dwarf Sag HC 2.5 Gal Christmas moss 1 Female Deltatail Betta Credit goes to Lludu

10-23-2009, 12:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Newman Large Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 815	wiegh it down with a plant weight, but put the weight around the stem in a loose way so that you dont crush the stem. you can also tie it at the top in a corner with fishing line, so that it floats in that corner. ive done that to my anaharis seen at the left corner in my avatar. __________________ AQUARIUMS: 40 Gal 1 Female Orange & Black Oranda GF 1 Female Blood Red Swordtail 5 Otocinclus 3 Swordtail Fry 3 Cherry shrimp 1 Gold Apple Snail Java fern, Anubias, Anacharis, Cabomba, Marimo Moss, Flame Moss, Dwarf Hairgrass 10 Gal 2 Otocinlus 20+ Swordtail Fry 4 Cherry Shrimp Dwarf Sag HC 2.5 Gal Christmas moss 1 Female Deltatail Betta Credit goes to Lludu

10-24-2009, 08:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
Newman Large Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 815	You do not want that thing to die. itll shed all the needles and make your tank a mess. will probably affect your water like you said, but not too majourly. Put the hornwort in a corner where there isnt too much flow. what size tank is it? Yea you should be replcing the bulbs every year. __________________ AQUARIUMS: 40 Gal 1 Female Orange & Black Oranda GF 1 Female Blood Red Swordtail 5 Otocinclus 3 Swordtail Fry 3 Cherry shrimp 1 Gold Apple Snail Java fern, Anubias, Anacharis, Cabomba, Marimo Moss, Flame Moss, Dwarf Hairgrass 10 Gal 2 Otocinlus 20+ Swordtail Fry 4 Cherry Shrimp Dwarf Sag HC 2.5 Gal Christmas moss 1 Female Deltatail Betta Credit goes to Lludu

10-24-2009, 10:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
Newman Large Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 815	yea tie it with fishing line in a corner, sorta like i've done in my avatar. no need to turn current or bubbles off. just make sure its in a calm corner of the tank and stays there. __________________ AQUARIUMS: 40 Gal 1 Female Orange & Black Oranda GF 1 Female Blood Red Swordtail 5 Otocinclus 3 Swordtail Fry 3 Cherry shrimp 1 Gold Apple Snail Java fern, Anubias, Anacharis, Cabomba, Marimo Moss, Flame Moss, Dwarf Hairgrass 10 Gal 2 Otocinlus 20+ Swordtail Fry 4 Cherry Shrimp Dwarf Sag HC 2.5 Gal Christmas moss 1 Female Deltatail Betta Credit goes to Lludu

10-23-2009, 09:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
hockeyplaya Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	Hmm... I was thinking about turning off my bubbles and powersweep. Just leave the filter on and let the hornwort oxygenate my aquarium. They only problem with turning off, both, the bubbles and powersweep is that it pins the hornwort in one corner. Is it ok to tie down hornwort, or weight it down so that it doesn't get everywhere?

10-24-2009, 06:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
hockeyplaya Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	So I went to my LFS today, I took my light and compartment in as well. I told the guy about my problem with the hornwort. He said it is probably my bulb, my bulb is most likely over 3 years old. So he gave me a T8 17 watt bulb, he said you should be replacing bulbs every year when you keep plants. I also asked him if too much turbulence can kill of hornwort. He said it shouldn't because in the wild you cannot control the current of its water. Anyhow, I'm really concerned about this plant, I bought the new bulb hoping now it'll start to sprout new needles. Is there anymore advice I can get? The other thing I'm worried about is if it dies will my NH4, NO2, and NO3 start to spike? Ever since I've had this plant, I haven't seen anything at all.

10-24-2009, 10:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
hockeyplaya Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	It's a 37 gallon. Should I jusy tight it off in a corner and turn off my bubbles and current?

10-25-2009, 02:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
epond83 Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 424	Depending how long your tank has been running it should be cycled, so if your plants die the only increase you should see is in nitrates and potassuim which is that dangerouse. And yes most flourecent bulbs loss about half there light output after a year and there for should be replaced once a year. When you do so you will probably notice a brighter bulb. Current shouldn't be a problem, i recently got a small peice and i have it anchored down well. it's growing very well and is in the direct current from the filter.

10-25-2009, 03:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
hockeyplaya Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	My tank has been running for about 4 weeks now. I started my tank off with a bunch of hornwort, a ball of java moss, 4 inch anubias, and a few small java ferns. My hornwort is already in a corner, I really do not need to tie it to anything. Btw, thanks of all the advice