Azolla caroliniana – Floating Aquarium & Pond Plant

🌿 Azolla caroliniana – Floating Aquarium & Pond Plant

Description: Azolla caroliniana, also known as Carolina Mosquito Fern, is a small, fast-growing floating plant that thrives in both aquariums and outdoor ponds. Its tiny, fern-like leaves float on the water’s surface, forming dense mats that provide shade, nutrient absorption, and natural algae control. In outdoor settings, its reddish tint under strong light adds a unique splash of color. Azolla is also known for fixing nitrogen, making it highly beneficial for pond ecosystems.

Care Information

• Care Level: Easy
• Lighting: Moderate to High (reddish tint under high light)
• CO₂: Not required
• Placement: Floating plant (surface)
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Temperature: 60–85°F (15–29°C)
• pH: 6.0–7.5

Benefits

• Provides shade and surface cover for aquariums and ponds
• Competes with algae by absorbing excess nutrients
• Helps reduce mosquito larvae in outdoor ponds
• Fixes nitrogen, improving pond ecosystems
• Safe for fish, shrimp, and snails

❓ FAQ

Q: Is Azolla good for aquariums?
A: Yes, though it’s more commonly used in ponds—it can work in aquariums if thinned regularly.

Q: Will it block light to plants below?
A: It can form dense mats, so thinning is recommended for balance.

Q: Is it safe for shrimp tanks?
A: Absolutely! Shrimp will graze on biofilm that forms on its roots.

Q: Can it survive outdoors year-round?
A: In temperate climates it thrives during warmer months but may die back in winter unless overwintered indoors.