lakeshore plants ID and if aquarium safe?

[HelplessNewbie]

These were collected at a sandy lake shore littered with driftwood. Will someone be able to identify them and help determine if safe for my freshwater aquarium?

If no way to identify, I was thinking of placing it for 2 weeks in a plant quarantine of sorts with a couple of endlers (I have lots). Do you suppose this is a good test?

We also have these branches and root. One piece looks like an antler, I don't know if that is aquarium safe.

[Tlindsey]

On 4/18/2024 at 11:18 AM, HelplessNewbie said:

These were collected at a sandy lake shore littered with driftwood. Will someone be able to identify them and help determine if safe for my freshwater aquarium?

If no way to identify, I was thinking of placing it for 2 weeks in a plant quarantine of sorts with a couple of endlers (I have lots). Do you suppose this is a good test?

We also have these branches and root. One piece looks like an antler, I don't know if that is aquarium safe.

I don't know what kind of plant that is but when you quarantine observe the plant and the container for unwanted critters. The wood branches should be ok and lol I would toss the thorny looking branch. @HelplessNewbie

[HelplessNewbie]

On 4/18/2024 at 12:27 PM, Tlindsey said:

I don't know what kind of plant that is but when you quarantine observe the plant and the container for unwanted critters. The wood branches should be ok and lol I would toss the thorny looking branch. @HelplessNewbie

Cool beans! Will do and will report back if anything interesting happens.

[clownbaby]

First and foremost, look up your county / state / country's common aquatic plants and aquatic noxious weeds. Then simply compare and contrast between common species!

Otherwise, these look like various species of hygrophila and ludwigia. You may also want to compare & contrast these between Elatine americana (and other waterworts), Persicaria hydropiper (water pepper), mentha aquatica (water mint), and various watercress species.

Overall, quarantining is the best practice even if you do identify these! Do this whenever getting plants from the wild. 🙂

[Pepere]

Soaking the plants overnight in seltzer water would kill off any hitchhiking organisms.

[HelplessNewbie]

@Pepere I wanted to ensure they convert to submersed first before reverse respiration soak. I placed each plant in a gallon jug (with top cut off) of dechlorinated water and substrate, then placed them outside. Will also fertilize after a week.