These few ornamental algae species can be kept as aquatic plants
Generally speaking, aquatic plant hobbyists keep their distance from algae, but there are a few special algae species that can be kept in a planted tank just like ordinary aquatic plants. They not only have a beautifying effect, but can also absorb large amounts of excess nutrients and prevent other algae from growing rampant, achieving two goals at once.
These few algae species include: the green algae ball of the family Cladophoraceae, the water star of the family Characeae, and the dark red moss of the family Delesseriaceae
Green algae ball
Alias: green ball algae
Difficulty: easy
Light requirement: medium
Plant type: algae
Family and genus: Cladophoraceae, Cladophora
Growth rate: slow
Suitable water quality: PH 6.0-8.5, GH 2-18
Suitable water temperature: 5-28 degrees
Whether CO2 needs to be added: NO
The green algae ball is an algae species of the family Cladophoraceae. It is green, grows in clustered filaments, and mostly forms loose spherical shapes or irregular clumps that sink to the bottom. The filaments are slender and flexible, densely packed like down. It can adapt to a wide range of water quality, light intensity and temperature changes, and can be grown without adding fertilizer or CO2; fix it to the surface of driftwood or rocks at the bottom of the aquarium, rotate it regularly, or gently rub the surface of the algae body with your hand when changing the water, and its spherical appearance can be shaped. It does not spread much and does not need trimming. This product is a rare algae that can be used to decorate aquariums, and is produced only in Japan and Northern Europe. Some merchants also split it apart to make a rectangular green carpet for keeping high-end ornamental shrimp, or tie it to driftwood for aquascaping.
Water star:
Difficulty: easy
Light requirement: low
Plant type: algae
Family and genus: Characeae, Nitella
Growth rate: fast
Suitable water quality: PH 5.0-8.0, GH 2-18
Suitable water temperature: 18-28 degrees
Whether CO2 needs to be added: NO
Water star is a relatively rare plant species. What people talk about most is that its shape is just like the baby's breath used to decorate gift bouquets. The branches are slender and semi-transparent, with many nodes, and at each node there is a "Y"-shaped branch. It has no leaves, and the branches are soft and fragile, easily broken. Cultivation difficulty is not high, and it is suitable for small shrimp and fry to hide in, especially for keeping crystal shrimp. It can adapt to a variety of water qualities and tolerate temperatures near 30 degrees. Because this plant has no roots, it is easily washed away if the water flow is very strong. It has strong water-purifying ability and can quickly absorb nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates in the water.
Red moss
Alias: dark red moss
Difficulty: medium
Light requirement: low
Plant type: moss type
Family and genus: Delesseriaceae, Caloglossa
Growth rate: relatively slow
Suitable water quality: PH 5.5-6.8, GH 2-10
Suitable water temperature: 20-26 degrees
Whether CO2 needs to be added: NO
Red moss is not actually a kind of moss; it is a freshwater seaweed that usually grows in coastal mangroves. It can firmly fix itself to mangrove roots or rocks with root-like hyphae, and it has a climbing nature like moss. The plant body is membranous and semi-transparent, dark red or reddish-brown in color, and may also be deep purple. It does not have high lighting requirements and can grow under weak light, and its survival ability is very strong. If kept in a planted tank for a long time, it will be very difficult to completely remove unless the tank is torn down and redone. Because it mostly grows at river estuaries, it can tolerate relatively high salinity, and can be grown without additionally adding CO2.
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May every aquascaping enthusiast have a tank with an aquascape that they truly love~