Hi,

I think I know the answer from reading a couple of posts, but it was not answered directly so if someone could just confirm it for me...

If you take a plant from a local lake and it does really well in your tank, is it because the water parameters are very similar to your tap water or is it because it's more weedlike and like algae, it's just much less demanding than your typical aquarium plant?

I had to laugh at what I noticed last couple of days. While kayaking in shallow waters the other day, I plucked off a small plant mid-stem. (Kinda looks like brazilian pennywort but less attractive). Just stuck it in my gravel and it's easily the fastest grower in my tank! Appears to grow about 3-4"/day.

Trivr

Hi,

I think it could be any combination of what you suggest.

I would say that it is still a higher water plant and works the same insofar as nutrient uptake and less like algae.

1. Is the lighting/nutrients better in the tank than the river? was the plant more shaded and now in more direct light?

Any plant can be a "weed" when it's causing problems. Many aquarium species are considered noxious weeds when they escape into local waterways (Cambomba, Egeria, Hygrophila, Myriophyllum....).

www.iisgcp.org/products/iisg0122.pdf

Many exotic species could look pretty “weedy” if you found them growing in the wild (covered in sediment, algae, spindly growth). I challenge everyone to change their perception of exotic species as more desirable.

I think it's great that you are willing to experiment with local plant species. You might want to start them in a quarantine tank before introducing to your main tank to avoid introducing snails, hydra or other unintended guest.

Jerry - My guess was that the water parameters may help somewhat but I think it's probably just the type of plant it is. The lake that supplies my tap water is nearby, this one is for the nuclear plant! Maybe that's why? I've got one nuclear plant in my aquarium. lol. I doubt the light or nutrients factor in. This lake is clean and healthy with plenty of sun beating down along that part of lake.

Thanks Neal. I wasn't too concerned about uninvited guests as I've got clown loaches and others to take care of that kind of stuff. I didn't mention that I also grabbed a tiny little tuft of what looked like hairgrass and my clowns went crazy digging it up to get at whatever was there. This piece that I just pinched off was about 8" long and now it's moving across the surface of my tank. I could fill my tank with this one piece, but I don't think I will as I've got 4 pennyworts on the way. It's nice to know that I've got this very simple, free option though. It would have been more temping a month ago, but I've gotten a little better with the more difficult, exotic ones. BTW-If I get rid of any exotic plant, it gets flushed...I'm guessing that's what most people do?

Trivr