Looking for an easy-to-grow plant that will help keep your tank healthy and vibrant? Look no further than hornwort! This plant is also known as coontail, and it’s a true cosmopolitan that can be found all over the world.
Hornwort is a beautiful aquatic plant that is quickly becoming a favorite among fish tank and pond enthusiasts. With its fluffy, bright green stems and fast growth, it’s easy to see why! But what exactly is hornwort, and how do you care for it? Let’s take a closer look!
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Light | Medium to High |
| Temperature tolerance | 4 to 30°C (39.2 to 86°F) |
| Optimum temperature | 10 to 30°C (50 to 86°F) |
| Carbonate hardness | 5 to 24°dKH |
| pH value | 6 to 9 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | 5 to 40 mg/l |
| Nitrate (NO3-) | 10 to 50 mg/l |
| Phosphate (PO43-) | 0.1 to 3 mg/l |
| Potassium (K+) | 5 to 30 mg/l |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.01 to 0.5 mg/l |
| Growth | Very Fast |
| Propagation | Fragmentation, Cuttings |
| Can grow emersed? | No |
| Suited for outdoor cultivation / ponds | Yes |
| Aquarium suitability | Yes |
| Usage | Background, Plant for spawning, Midground, Water surface |
| Difficulty | Very Easy |
What is Hornwort?
Hornwort, scientifically known as Ceratophyllum demersum, is an aquatic plant that is native to nearly every continent except Antarctica. In the wild, hornwort can grow up to 3-10 feet (1-3 meters) tall and is often found floating at the surface of still or slow-moving bodies of water. In a fish tank or pond, hornwort can be kept floating or planted in the substrate, where it will create a dense underwater bush-like appearance. The bright green, rigid leaves of hornwort are similar in texture to pine needles and provide excellent cover for baby fish and shrimp.
Hornwort is a rootless, free-floating plant with a stem can be soft or hard and is often branched. The leaves are arranged in a circular pattern and can grow up to 1.57 inches (4 cm) in diameter. They’re medium to dark green, but sometimes they can have a reddish tint.
The plant is monoecious, which means it has both male and female flowers. The flowers are small and unisexual, and they’re more or less sessile. The male flower has many stamens, while the female flower has one carpel, an epigynous ovary, and a long style. The fruit of the plant is a solitary nut and it can have 0, 2, or 3 spines.
Interesting Fact: Hornwort is a model organism for studies of plant physiology and has even been used in biological life support systems for space flights.
Tank Requirements
Hornwort is comfortable in a range of temperatures and can tolerate a pH range from 6.0 to 9.0 and a hardness range from 5-15 dGH. It needs high light intensity and clear water to grow, so make sure to keep the water clean by performing regular partial water changes.
It can grow rapidly, so make sure to have a minimum tank size of 15 gallons (57 L) to prevent it from getting out of control. If it’s kept with other plants, it can quickly deplete the tank’s supply of nutrients, so consider adding fertilizer each week to maintain supplies. With enough light and nutrients, hornwort can grow up to 1-4 inches (3-10 cm) per week!
Does Hornwort Clean Water?
Hornwort is one of the best aquatic plants for “cleaning” water in a fish tank or pond. This is because hornwort can quickly consume waste compounds such as ammonia, nitrates, and phosphates, which are produced by fish waste and excess food.
How to Care for Hornwort
Hornwort is a hardy plant that can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, from 50-85°F (10-30°C). It grows best as a floating plant, but can also be planted in the substrate or attached to hardscape. It is important to prune hornwort if it starts to grow out of control, as it can block light or limit gas exchange if left unchecked. Hornwort prefers gentle flow and can grow in low to high light conditions, but it may need regular dosing of liquid fertilizer if it is draining the water of all its nutrients.
To Plant or Float?
Hornwort can be planted in the substrate or left to float at the water’s surface. It makes excellent shelter for small fish, and many species use it as a site to reproduce and keep fry safe. Consider the preferences of your fish when deciding whether to plant or float the hornwort. Surface-dwelling fish would appreciate floating hornwort, while fish in the mid to lower levels would prefer it to be planted.
Floating hornwort provides shaded areas in the lower levels, giving fish space to escape the light and bringing out their colorations. It also adds a pleasant aesthetic to an area that is often devoid of attraction. Just make sure to avoid planting it close to a filter inlet so that it does not get blocked by any plant debris.
Why is My Hornwort Shedding Its Leaves?
Hornwort may shed its leaves if it is exposed to a major change in water parameters, strong currents, not enough light, a lack of nutrients, or dosing of certain chemicals like liquid carbon. However, don’t worry if this happens! The plant will quickly recover and begin growing new leaves and shoots.
How to Propagate Hornwort
Propagating hornwort is easy! Simply trim off a side shoot or the top of a tall stem and let it float at the surface or plant it in the substrate. Hornwort can also be obtained by asking around and seeing if any local hobbyists have extra trimmings to give away.
Caring for Hornwort
Hornwort is an easy plant to care for and it can be used in garden ponds, cold-water aquariums, or tropical aquariums. It likes medium-hard to hard, alkaline water with temperatures up to 86°F (30°C). It also needs moderate light. If you’re growing Hornwort in an aquarium, you can let the shoots float on the water surface or plant them in a bunch for a more decorative look. However, be prepared to trim the plant regularly because it grows quickly.
Hornwort is a great plant to have in an aquarium because it competes with algae for nutrients. But be careful when adding chemical additives to the water, as it can cause the plant to decay. The hard leaves of the plant make it a great choice for cichlid aquariums.
Invasive Status
While Hornwort is hardy in an aquarium, it can become invasive in the wild and is declared as such in Tasmania, Australia, and New Zealand. Its fast growth rate and tolerance to a wide range of conditions make it an unwanted plant in some areas, such as New Zealand where it’s outcompeting native plant species and disrupting hydroelectric power generation.
Why Choose Hornwort?
Aside from its stunning appearance, Hornwort has many benefits for your aquarium. As a plant, it photosynthesizes, producing oxygen, which helps oxygenate the water for your fish. It also provides shelter for fish and can even be used as a nursery for fry. On top of that, Hornwort helps improve water quality by consuming waste and nitrogen compounds, making it easier on your filter. And if you’re worried about blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), Hornwort’s allelopathic abilities can inhibit their growth.
Cost
You can usually purchase a few bunches of Hornwort for $5-$10, depending on the retailer and the amount you buy.
Hornwort in the Wild
In the wild, Hornwort can be found in stagnant and slow-moving waters, and sometimes in brackish water. The plant can vary greatly depending on where it’s growing. For example, in some African lakes, the Hornwort has a hard leaf structure that’s adapted to its environment. But in an aquarium, it may not grow the same way.
Hornwort can also be found in lakes, ponds, and quiet streams with summer water temperatures of 59-86°F (15-30°C) and a rich nutrient status. It can be found in the entire US and Canada except Newfoundland.
Conclusion
In conclusion, hornwort is a beautiful, fast-growing aquatic plant that is perfect for fish tanks and ponds. With its fluffy stems and ability to consume excess nutrients, it’s a great addition to any underwater environment. And with its hardy nature and ease of propagation, there’s no reason not to give it a try!
Taxonomy
Hornwort, scientifically known as Ceratophyllum demersum, is a species of aquatic plants belonging to the Ceratophyllaceae family. This species is a cosmopolitan and can be found in various stagnant to slow-flowing waterbodies worldwide. The taxonomy of Hornwort is complex, as it is a collective name for a number of different species, which can only be distinguished from each other by the number of spines on their fruits. However, in the aquarium, these fruits do not usually form. Despite the complexity of its taxonomy, Hornwort is an easy-to-grow species that has been popular in the aquarium hobby since its inception.
| Rank | Description |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae – Plants |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta – Vascular plants |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta – Seed plants |
| Division | Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants |
| Class | Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Nymphaeales |
| Family | Ceratophyllaceae Gray – Hornwort family |
| Genus | Ceratophyllum L. – Hornwort |
| Species | Ceratophyllum demersum L. – Coon’s tail |
Tim Priest, a renowned aquarium expert with over 15 years of experience in aquatic gardening and fish education, is dedicated to helping enthusiasts create stunning and thriving aquatic environments. As the founder of LearnTheAquarium.com, Tim shares his wealth of knowledge, passion, and expertise through engaging articles, educational resources, and personalized advice.
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