Duckweed

[CJs Aquatics]

Hey all, how do I get rid of the duckweed but keep the red root floaters, manual removal would probably take a decade? 

[TheSwissAquarist]

On 10/15/2022 at 8:42 PM, CJs Aquatics said:

Hey all, how do I get rid of the duckweed but keep the red root floaters, manual removal would probably take a decade? 

@kevincanadahas recently posted a seemingly to good to be true cure for duckweed. Mine is to 🔥 it!

[AllFishNoBrakes]

I’ve had this same debacle. I haven’t found a good way. I’ve manually removed all the Red Root Floaters and painstakingly tried to remove the duckweed, but haven’t been able to eliminate it. I’m just stuck with my early decision to welcome duckweed…. I can keep it tame, but can’t eliminate it 

[AnotherHumanPerson]

Personally, I like to use lice combs to remove duckweed, but the red root floaters might pose a bit of a challenge. It will probably take quite a bit of attention, but you might be able to get rid of the duckweed.

[B7gwap]

I don’t have duckweed, but purposely cultivate giant duckweed because it is a mutant nitrate remover, and is easily scooped out with a net or by hand, and my hens love eating it. Maybe the giant duck will outcompete the tiny duck? Just an idea, not proven. 

[Pepere]

I eliminated duckweed from 3 tanks.  And if you are going to get rid of it, I would suggest getting rId of it from all tanks as it seems to transfer readily from tank to tank.  It is just to easy to transfer it between tanks mindlessly.  And transfer of just a single tiny plant… or missing just one when trying to eliminate….
 

I would remove a number of spangles of the floater first.  This will be your starter to reestablish a red root floater.  I would not try to save all of the floater, you would drive yourself nuts trying to check them all, and would be more likely to miss.

 

the Floater you save, set up three pots. One holding it, one to submerge and swish and another todeposit it.  I think I went back and forth about 4 times dumping the water after every run through.

 

then set it aside for 2 weeks with lighting to keep it growing.

 

in the meantime, remove everything left in the tank, at least so far as floating plants.  If a framed tank scrub any glass above water and under the frame.  Remove any wires or hoses entering the water, scrub inspect carefully replace.  If HOB filter, dissasemble it and clean it thoroughly inspecting carefully….

 

then once all is done, run the tank for 2 weeks with nothing floating.  Inspect it a few times every day.  If after 2 weeks no sign of duckweed in tank or in floaters, then replace the floaters.

 

I did this times three on three tanks.  No recurrence since then.  (Months…)
 

and I now check plants carefully when I buy them…

Edited October 15, 2022 by Pepere

[TheSwissAquarist]

On 10/15/2022 at 11:30 PM, B7gwap said:

I don’t have duckweed, but purposely cultivate giant duckweed because it is a mutant nitrate remover, and is easily scooped out with a net or by hand, and my hens love eating it. Maybe the giant duck will outcompete the tiny duck? Just an idea, not proven. 

Actually, I could feed it to my hens too… thanks!

[Tanked]

My omnivores handle the Duckweed problem for me, but they would probably eat the Red Root Floaters.  I would increase surface agitation, remove and thoroughly rinse the RR Floaters, and try the @kevincanada plastic mesh idea as a fence/skimmer.  

I've never tried it but it occurs to me that if you have a lot of DW you might remove it the same way your grandmother removed grease from the surface of soup:  With a paper towel floated on the surface.

Good luck.

[Cinnebuns]

here's my idea...

I recently got myself one of the ACO nets. I ended up using it right away and fell in love. I discovered an interesting 2nd use for it however. It's is AMAZING at scooping out duckweed!  Now the red root floaters will come with it but I also have an idea there. If you dunk the red root floater under water and shake it a little, the duckweed comes off of them. That's what I did with my water lettuce. 

Edited October 25, 2022 by Cinnebuns

[Robert Keeney]

Goldfish will eat duckweed. I occasionally have duckweed in my outdoor ponds. When this happens, I add some feeder goldfish. They will eat all the duckweed.