types of semi aquatic plants?

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abominus

Redtail Catfish
MFK Member
Jan 27, 2023
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i am looking a few types of semi aquatic plants that would seriously suck some nitrates out of water and grow like weeds. The reason i am looking for semiaquatic plants is that i am tired of changing 300 gallons of water twice a week and setting up new filters. Also, semi aquatic plants have there leaves out of the water, making it impossible for pacu to take them as a snack
 
How will you stop the pacus from getting to the roots? Also pothos is a great plant for what you’re looking for.
 
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Water lettuce, water hyacinth

Grows fast and produces massive roots. Way better than pothos imo
 
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Water lettuce, water hyacinth

Grows fast and produces massive roots. Way better than pothos imo
They are good choices I do agree with you however they also require more a lot more surface area and if I remember correctly they require calmer waters, yes? If so then that would mean that chances might have to be made for them to survive and/or thrive.
 
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I have used papyrus (umbrella palm), the root ball below is about the size of a basket ballIMG_8636.jpeg.
The stems and leaves need to be above the surface, and roots work well below water.
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Below, a different Papyrus plant in a 6 ft tank.
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Below a Papyrus plant in an above tank planted refugium.
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Some other semi-aquatics I am using in my sump refugiuma are Mangrove trees, where roots are below water, with stems and leaves above the waters surface .
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These were planted in sand filled lengths of hollow bamboo branches.
After about 2 years, the root systems are splitting the hollowed bamboo, but are are still in the tank.
I pulled them just for these photos to show, how they have grown.
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