Azolla

[Reville]

So if duck weed is so great

what about Azolla?

its a fern that pairs with a cyanobacterium that fixes its own nitrogen

perhaps thats not so important in a system where nitrogen is sometimes in excess but its still protein.

So do fish eat it?

[GaryD]

Hi Reville,

Duckweed is a very useful plant for aquaponicists. Azolla is also a useful aquatic plant and some fish do eat it.

GaryD

[Reville]

thanks

im just thinking along the lines of different plants having different amino, fatty acid and mineral profiles

so having a mixed diet might be good

Azolla, lemna, wolfia, spirodela etc

[GaryD]

I agree.

GaryD

[MarkEinOz]

G'day Gary,

So what are your thought re azolla and duckweed mixed together? I grabbed a new supply from a fish supply thinking (on lazy inspection) that it was only DW when within days I found there was a hitchhiker. I am concerned that AZ will outgrow DW?

[GaryD]

Hi Mark,

Although people report that fish will eat Azolla, I prefer my duckweed straight.

The stuff is so prolific that, if you can manage to isolate even a dozen plants, you'll be able to grow it Azolla-free.

In my early experiments with duckweed, I sought to validate some of the growth claims for the plant. I counted out several plants and counted them each day for a week. Aside from confirming that the duckweed multiplied at the rate that had been suggested (in ideal circumstances it will double its mass every 24 - 48 hours), I then went on and grew tanks full of the stuff......from those few initial plants.

Gary