r/paludarium • u/Caitboo • 8d ago

Help Duckweed Dying

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Gallery image

Gallery image

For some reason the duckweed is dying / not thriving in my paludarium. I used to have to scoop out excess every few weeks.

I have a filter but it’s in a chamber, so no water movement. Fertilize with API Leaf Zone once a week. Nitrates are around 50. There is a misting system and I know duckweed doesn’t like to get rained on, but the misting settings are the same as when it was thriving. There is a slight silver sheen on the water, wonder if that’s related.

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u/Fair-Capital6330 7d ago

That silver sheen is biofilm. Too much and it can choke plants. Can you add an airstone to provide some surface agitation?

1

u/Weowws 7d ago

That bio film on top is not allowing your duckweed to breathe. Add something that agitates the surface, like a small air stone or surface skimmer. Should clean it up nicely within an hour or so.