Difference between Duckweed and Frogbit

[Jeanxavier]

Hi all,

May I know how can I differentiate between duckweed and frogbits? I currently have a bag of where it can be either. Tried googling for a picture but they both look pretty same to me.

Kindly advise please.. thanks!

[winston77]

Duckweed = very small, propogate like a weed

Frogbits = bigger size than duckweed, propogate slower

[Jeanxavier]

Thanks for your pointers, winston77.

Hmm.. Since I have not been paying much attention during my secondary school days.. I cannot remember for the life of me how duckweeds look like, ie. their size.

Is there any other differences besides size? like longer roots..?

[kemp]

frogbits have really long roots.

[brianclaw]

You're looking at leaves that are a couple mm in size compared to leaves that are a couple cm in size. It's really hard not to be able to tell the difference.

[kemp]

jeanxavier, maybe you can try taking a picture of what you have now, some of the bros here might be able to help identify it for you

[Shadow]

is it true that duckweed and frogbits can be used to control algae? because the absorb lots of excess nutrients?

[Jeanxavier]

jeanxavier, maybe you can try taking a picture of what you have now, some of the bros here might be able to help identify it for you

I should have done this earlier!



Just abit off the topic, are these plants suffering from nutrient defficiency? There seem to be new plantlets growing everyday so I am not sure if it is just old age.

[Jeanxavier]

is it true that duckweed and frogbits can be used to control algae? because the absorb lots of excess nutrients?

From what I understand, duckweeds/frogbits are able to absorb excess nitrates.. but as for the link between lower nitrate value and algae growth, we would have to see if any experts can advise us here

[kemp]

jeanxavier, i can't see your picture neither on my office laptop or my home laptop. Maybe can you reattach it again?

[Jeanxavier]

jeanxavier, i can't see your picture neither on my office laptop or my home laptop. Maybe can you reattach it again?

Opps sorry.. here goes the picture again..

Salvinia.jpg

[brianclaw]

That is frogbit.

[ranmasatome]

i second that

[Jeanxavier]

Thanks for the ID

[kemp]

i third that too! picture speaks a thousand word, should have shown us the picture earlier

[vinz]

Frogbits are much larger... we're talking at least 2 to 3 cm diameter for an adult leave. Leaves are more circular.

Duckweeds... there are several kinds. The ones that you normally get in a planted tank situation are TINY. The leaves are ovalish and about 2mm long. These grow really fast and are very hard to eradicate once they have doen their jobs. However they are a lot hardier.

Another kind of duckweed, the ones we used to study in school yionks ago, have much larger leaves, about 1.5cm long. They are also 'hairy' on the top of the leaves, and concave.

Frogbits on the other hand are usually convex and are smooth on the top surface.

Duckweeds are hardier. The larger kind are easier to get rid off because it's easier to pick them out. The tiny ones... near impossible because you can almost never find every single piece.

Forgbits tend to turn yellow and die really fast once the ammonia and nitrates in your tank are depleted. And the rotting leaves can make a mess in the tank if not removed early. But they are really easy to remove when you want to.

[Jeanxavier]

Forgbits tend to turn yellow and die really fast once the ammonia and nitrates in your tank are depleted. And the rotting leaves can make a mess in the tank if not removed early. But they are really easy to remove when you want to.

I see.. and I thought they are dying off due to lack of light. Am not too worried about the rotting leaves as I observe my cherry shrimps going for them.

Thanks for the detailed explanation!

[vinz]

...

Thanks for the detailed explanation!

Yeah, I noticed this thread was a little thin. I've been away too long.