Canadian Elodea is commonly known as the "water plague." Such a name was attached to the plant due to its ability to extremely quickly multiply and grow.
Appearance
Elodea in the aquarium looks pretty attractive. The plant has thin long stems with bright curly leaves a few centimeters long. Elodea leaves form dense inflorescences in the form of rosettes.
The youngest shoots are distinguished by the brightest light green pigmentation. Accordingly, the old foliage has a darker color.
As for the length of the stem, then in the elodea they reach impressive sizes. Best Canadian Elodea grows in high volumetric aquariums. If there is a sufficient amount of free space and the most favorable conditions, the plant can fill the entire artificial reservoir. You can deal with the problem by replanting old shoots and cutting them.
Conditions of detention
Canadian Elodea feels equally comfortable both in room temperature water and in cold aquariums. However, it dies quite quickly in tropical ponds. The recommended temperature for keeping the plant is from 20 to 25 ° C.
If we talk about indicators of the rigidity of the aquatic environment, then for the elodea the criterion has absolutely no value. This moment becomes significant only when replanting a plant from soft water to more hard water. At the same time, the stems of the elodea literally lose their dense structure before their eyes, after which they gradually dissolve.
The design of the aquarium for the maintenance of elodea should include the possibility of creating the brightest lighting. You can use fluorescent lamps and ordinary incandescent lamps as a light source. It is recommended to focus on determining the sufficient amount of light on the location of the aquarium and the needs of other plants.
For breeding and active growth of Canadian Elodea requires the presence of natural light. Under natural conditions, during the winter off-season, the plant sinks to the bottom, preserving growth buds. Exposure to direct sunlight again returns the elodea to life and rapid proliferation.
The properties
Canadian Elodea acts as a powerful natural filter of ponds. Particles of turbidity and pollution, which are formed in the aquarium as a result of the life of its inhabitants, are collected on the leaves of the plant. Therefore, thanks to the cultivation of elodea, it is possible to achieve mirror-like purity of water.
Absorbing the nutrients contained in the thickness of the aquarium water, Elodea in significant quantities produces components with bactericidal properties. The presence of this property contributes to the active destruction of blue-green microscopic algae that pollute and stain water.
Thick, dense thickets of elodea are ideal for spawning small fish, especially for viviparous organisms. Between plexus of stems and leaves, plants are able to find protection not only recently born fry, but also grown fish.
How to propagate Canadian Elodea
Reproduction of Canadian Elodea occurs by cuttings. The length of the cuttings when planting individual stems of the plant should be about 20 cm. Only in this case, the elodea can almost instantly adapt to a new place and conditions of detention.
When separating the cuttings, Elodea in substantial quantities produces poisonous juice. To prevent the death of the inhabitants of the aquarium during artificial propagation of the plant allows its transplantation into a separate container. Among other things, Elodea juice does not have a favorable effect on the ability to live of other aquarium plants.
Finally
Perhaps all of the above will be enough for those who select the design of the aquarium based on the cultivation of elodea. It’s worth adding only that the above recommendations relate to the content of the main species - Canadian Elodea. Other varieties of plants that need to create other, specific conditions can be found in aquariums.