If you're looking to set up a planted shrimp tank, hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) is one of the plants you might consider. This easy plant is perfect for the beginning plant lover and will be appreciated by all types of shrimp.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about growing hornwort in your aquarium!
Hornwort is not too difficult to grow and this plant is actually known for its very fast growth. It will adapt to almost all water values and tolerates a wide range of temperatures, which makes it a great plant choice for unheated shrimp tanks.
Added Co2 and fertilizer aren't necessary, although hornwort does appreciate these and will respond by growing faster and fuller. Use medium light to keep this plant healthy. Very high or low light conditions can cause shedding and result in a rather ugly plant.
When planting hornwort, keep in mind that this is naturally more of a floating plant. Although it can be planted in the substrate, it might start losing its bottom leaves after a while, which doesn't look great. You can prevent this by just letting it float free or by cutting off and replanting the full tops once the bottom of the stems start looking too bare.
Although hornwort leaves are very fine, they are quite hard and not very easy to eat. This prevents the plant from falling prey to most herbivorous fish.
Hornwort has many uses in the aquarium. Its feathery leaves and bright green color make it a decorative addition to planted tanks, but there's more!
Propagation : Propagating hornwort is not difficult at all. As with many other stem parts, any part of the plant can be cut off and regrown. This means stem tops can be reused after pruning and you can also remove side shoots or any other part of the plant to propagate it.
Guppy grass (Najas guadalupensis) is pretty similar to hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) in terms of looks, but they're not that closely related. In terms of identification, guppy grass tends to be messier than hornwort, and it also has broader individual leaves. The leaves on hornwort almost look like pine needles!
The growth rate for any plant is highly dependent on its environment. However, hornwort is a pretty quick grower! In ideal conditions, you can expect it to grow up to 5" a week.
The Shrimp Farm sells Ceratophyllum demersum and ships it right to your doorstep. You can order hornwort online from The Shrimp Farm here !