Origin
Riccia fluitans grows world wide
Substrate
None needed – floats unless tied down
UsesForeground plant or baby saver. Good oxygenatorOther Use"Eats" fish waste productsGrowth RateGrows fast and easilyFertilizers
Usually not needed but are beneficial
Lighting
Gets lots of light at top
Threats
Duckweed, severums, apple snails, copper
Water
Very flexible on water needs
Crystalwort at surface of a mostly barb community.Introduction: You need no gravel or substrate to grow Crystalwort successfully. Since it floats, it rarely touches your substrate. , crystalwort grows like a carpet of weeds in some tanks and will not grow in others.
Baby livebearers try to hide in the impenetrable mass.Origins: Crystalwort grows all over the world under all types of water conditions. You often get the stuff accidentally -- clinging to a plant you actually wanted. When you want crystalwort, you usually have difficulty finding it commercially. Also called riccia (pronounced however you wish), crystalwort has lately surged in popularity due to its use by Amano-san (one great aquatic gardener and photographer). He did not discover it, he improved it. He turned this tiny, humble floating wort (plant) into an extremely flexible aquascaping element.
Crystalwort grows into a useful mat. It spreads rapidly. In well fertilized water, crystalwort grows in very thick layers. Little fish space left.Fertilizers: Amano-san uses fertilizers, CO2 injection, and high light to achieve unbelievable aquascapes in huge tanks. You can do the same thing in 10-gallon tanks. But remember that fertilizing your lawn means you need to mow more often. Ditto crystalwort. Slow growth is not necessarily bad.
Duckweed will grow faster than your crystalwort and take over.Suggestions: First, push your riccia down to let your duckweed float free. Net out that pesky duckweed or it will grow into a total light screen. Second, if you want faster growth, fluff up your riccia to let more light get to it. The more light it gets, the faster it grows. Third, make sure you also remove any plant eaters. Fourth, experiment with the stuff.
Grab a healthy handful of crystalwort for starters.Ready to Experiment? Grab a good duckweed-free handful of your riccia -- preferably a thick enough layer that it holds together. Get some very light fishing line. We recommend Trilene XL (extra limp) because we make it here in Iowa. Then round up some pre-sunk bogwood or rocks.
Round up your Trilene (look in your garage) and some pre-sunk wood.Make a Slip Knot : With a sharp knife, make a slit in the bottom of your wood. Wrap your mat around the wood. Slip your slipknot over the top of your wood then start wrapping the Trilene around and around and around ... When you get to the bottom, pull your Trilene thru the slit and snip it off. You may want to wrap your entire mat in both directions.
Mesh size: 5cm x 5cm