Plant Profiles

Riccia fluitans

Live freshwater plant Riccia fluitans - Floating Crystalwort for fish tanks and aquariums Large bunch or portion of aquatic plant Riccia fluitans - Floating Crystalwort. Aquarium plant with fast delivery across Australia.
Riccia fluitans
Floating Crystalwort
$7.95

Riccia fluitans is a delicate aquatic plant with a distinctive look and a variety of uses in aquariums. It is a cosmopolitan species-complex, and is believed to be native to Australia, being widely recorded across the east coast. This moss-like plant is actually a liverwort, and it is incredibly versatile. It can be tied down to structures like driftwood, where it will attach itself and creep along, creating a beautiful green carpet. Alternatively, it can be left to float on the surface of the water, providing cover and a hiding place for fish fry and shrimp.

One of the advantages of Riccia fluitans is that it is very low-maintenance. It does not require any special substrate, and it does not need to be planted in the traditional sense. This makes it a great choice for both beginners and experienced aquarists who want to add a unique and attractive plant to their tank without a lot of extra work. Riccia fluitans also has the ability to form carpets on the substrate, or grow on the hardscape, growing as interesting-looking cushions in the aquarium. It can also be used to create floating islands on the surface. As a floating plant, it is quite low maintenance and doesn't require high light intensities, or additional CO2. However, when grown submersed it requires more light and does much better with CO2 supplementation. A high nutrient supply, including nitrate, phosphate, iron, and potassium, is also recommended for healthy growth.

Riccia fluitans is also quite adaptable to different water hardness levels, pH values, and temperatures. It can thrive in water that ranges from very soft to hard, and pH values between 5.0 and 8.0. It is also very cold tolerant, growing between temperatures of 4-30°C.

Overall, this versatile species is easy to use in the aquarium and is great for fish fry and shrimp to hide in, and even for fighting fish to use in bubble nests.

Requirements and information

Temperature:

TropicalWarmCold

Substrate type:

None

Substrate nutrients:

None

Water nutrients:

Medium

Light demand:

Medium

CO2:

Medium

Height:

Low

Growth rate:

Moderate

Growth habit:

Floating

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Native to: