Echinodorus grisebachii Bleherae - Large Amazon sword

Cryptocoryne wendtii Braun Cryptocoryne wendtii Brown (formerly Cryptocoryne wendtii Tropica) max. growth height - cm Country of origin Sri Lanka Suitability Community aquarium, NanoCubes and aquascaping Type Rosette plant family  Araceae Genus  Cryprocoryne Propagation  Stolons Growth rate  medium pH 5-8 Water hardness very soft to very hard Notes   The brown colour variant of Cryptocoryne wendtii is also very popular and can be used in many planted landscapes. Its leaf edges are slightly wavy; in some cases, the leaves are also bullous in shape. The leaf colour is green to brown, sometimes with brown streaking. With good lighting, its leaves become deep dark brown. In combination with other green cryptocorynes, this creates a very striking contrast. Like almost all Cryptocorynes from Sri Lanka, it grows well in harder water and is therefore ideally suited for cichlid aquaria.

Nymphaea red - Red tiger lotus as a forcing tuber max. growth height - 50 cm Country of origin Africa Suitability Discus aquarium, community aquarium Type family Nymphaeaceae genus Nymphaea Propagation Seeds, daughter plants from the tuber Growth rate fast pH 5 - 8 Water hardness 0 - 20 °dh Notes The Tiger Lotus is widespread in tropical Africa and colonizes a wide variety of waters there - temporary ponds and lakes on the one hand, but also flowing waters on the other. It has a tuber as a storage organ with strong floating leaves. The most beautiful thing about this plant, however, are the submerged juvenile leaves, which do not reach the surface of the water. Of the two color forms, the red tiger lotus is the most popular among aquarists; however, its green color form is rarely found in the trade. Tiger lotus are quite undemanding, older and larger leaves are always removed at the base of the tuber.

Vallisneria spiralis (smooth-leaved marsh screw) max. growth height - 100 cm Country of origin Tropical cosmopolitan Suitability Perch aquarium, discus aquarium, community aquarium Type  Rosette plant family Hydrocharitaceae Genus Vallisneria Propagation Stolons Growth rate fast pH 6 - 9 Water hardness 10 - 30 °dh Notes   Vallisneria spiralis is also one of the classics in aquaristics. This undemanding aquatic plant forms ribbon-shaped leaves between 0.8 and 1.5 cm wide. Sometimes leaf lengths of up to 1 metre are achieved. It is easy to care for and cultivate and is ideal for creating a green, living back wall. Runner shoots that grow into the front area should be removed in good time. The species name "spiralis" does not refer to the leaves, but to the spirally twisted flower stems. It is also an ideal plant for perch aquaria.

Echinodorus Jungle Star No. 2 / Sword Plant Little Bear max. growth height - 25 cm Country of origin Cultivated form Suitability Perch aquarium, community aquarium Type  Rosette plant Family Alismataceae Genus Echinodorus Propagation Adventive plants on the flower stalk Growth rate medium pH 5 - 8 Water hardness 0 - 20 °dh Notes   The 'Little Bear' variety has been on the market since 1995 and is still one of the most popular red-leaved varieties. In the aquarium, the plant forms a compact rosette with a rust-red to deep dark red colour. Older plants reach a height of up to 25 cm. As with many Echinodorus varieties, emersed and submerged leaves differ enormously. The 'Little Bear' is bright green in the greenhouse and produces its first red submerged leaves after just a few days in the aquarium. Always a fascinating spectacle!

Duckweed / Duckweed PortionDuckweed (Lemna minor L) Floating plant suitable for the aquarium also suitable for garden ponds and biotopes Duckweed – a natural floating plant for aquariums, ponds and feed productionDuckweed, also known as water lettuce, is a hardy, fast-growing floating plant suitable for freshwater aquariums, ponds and small rearing tanks. The small, green plants float freely on the water’s surface, reproduce very rapidly under favourable conditions and offer numerous benefits: They remove excess nutrients from the water, provide shade, improve the natural balance and are readily eaten by shrimp, snails, goldfish, ducks and other animals.Breeding and propagationCultivating duckweed is very simple. The plants are placed directly on the water’s surface and require no planting, no substrate and no CO₂ system. With sufficient light, calm water and enough nutrients, they reproduce by division. Under good conditions, the population can increase significantly within a few days. A small container, a nano-aquarium or a plastic tub is sufficient for targeted cultivation. We recommend at least 5 to 10 litres of water, for a more stable and productive culture 20 litres or more. The water should be as still as possible, as duckweed does not tolerate strong currents, splashing water or leaves that are permanently submerged.Optimal conditionsDuckweed is highly adaptable and grows reliably in many freshwater environments. An ideal water temperature of around 18 to 28 °C. Temperatures of approximately 10 to 30 °C are generally tolerated, though growth slows significantly in cooler conditions. The water should be nutrient-rich, for example through the presence of fish, prawns, snails or very sparing use of liquid fertiliser. A pH value in the slightly acidic to slightly alkaline range is suitable; approximately 5.5 to 8.0 is not a problem for most cultures. Water hardness usually plays only a minor role. Above all, sufficient light and a calm water surface are important. A lighting duration of around 8 to 12 hours a day promotes vigorous, green growth.Care instructionsSince duckweed grows very quickly, the population should be thinned out regularly. A completely closed plant canopy can block too much light from reaching other aquarium plants and restrict gas exchange at the water’s surface. You should therefore remove some of the plants using a fine-mesh net or spoon if necessary. To maintain a healthy culture, it is advisable to carry out partial water changes regularly and to remove dead or yellowing plants. In aquariums with strong surface movement, a filter outlet directly at the water’s surface or very nutrient-poor water, growth may be slower.Benefits at a glanceDuckweed is easy to care for, fast-growing and versatile.They help break down nutrients, provide shelter for young fish, naturally shade the aquarium and are ideal as a supplementary food for many aquatic animals.This makes them ideal for aquarists, pond owners and anyone wishing to create a simple, natural plant culture.The delivery consists of a starter batch of live duckweed for further propagation.Please note: Duckweed can spread very rapidly and should not be released into natural water bodies.

Vallisneria spiralis Torta Large screw - swamp screw max. growth height 30 - 50 cm Country of origin Africa, Asia Suitability Perch aquarium, community aquarium Type  Rosette Family Hydrocharitaceae Genus Vallisneria Propagation Stolons Growth rate medium pH 6 - 9 Water hardness 10 - 30 °dh Notes   A very decorative variety of Vallisneria spiralis with a twisted growth habit. It is also known commercially as ‘screw vallisneria’. With a height of 30-50 cm, the leaves remain significantly shorter than those of the stem form. It is also undemanding in cultivation, only the light intensity should be slightly higher than for the normal V. spiralis. The ‘Torta’ variety is suitable for the middle ground of small aquaria or the background of larger aquaria.