Salvinia Minima 4oz Portion

4 oz portion is about a handful, as shown against the white background.

The easiest floater (other than duckweed) to get your tanks started.

Salvinia is a lower light plant that tolerates a wide range of tank conditions. These are among the faster growing types of aquarium floating plant, so many hobbyists use them as a nitrate control. Once they get established, you'll be scooping out weekly handfuls!

Sometimes called 'Cat's Tongue', Salvinia minima is similar to Salvinia Cucullatta, but a bit less neat, and with a rougher texture. They are much hardier as well! Neither appreciate water splashed on their leaves from a high flow filter output, so be sure to corral! I'll be honest with you though, Salvinia minima doesn't actually care all that much.

Leaves are oblong, with a tighter, elongated formation while under higher light. You can see this difference in the photos above. The handful I'm holding is grown under lower light, while most of the other photos are taken in tanks with higher light.

I grow these with minimal fertilizer and average light/ room temperatures. They grow in my unheated, unfiltered Walstad tanks as well, so you know they are hardy! Do note, however, that you can expect stronger growth and tighter habit when they live under better light.

For reference, I have Nicrew SkyLEDs on ten gallon tanks. Temps fluctuate between 65F in the winter to 80F in the summer. I grow these in my personal happy community tanks with colorful guppies, snails, shrimp, and of course, lots of plants! If you'd absolutely rather not have snail hitchhikers, It would be best to look up how to do a preventative bleach dip on the interwebs :) 

Growing requirements:

• 65-80 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Ph 6-8
• Low to High light intensity.
• Quick growth speed
• Low surface agitation needed

As I like to keep real ecosystems in my aquariums, there's always the possibility of harmless snail or dwarf shrimp hitchhikers!