Care specifications
| Type | Floating |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Light | Medium (30–60 µmol PAR) |
| CO2 | Not needed |
| Fertilizer demand | Medium |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Max height | 1 in |
| Spread | 4 in |
| Placement | Floating |
| Attaches to hardscape | No |
| Snail & shrimp safe | Yes |
| Temperature | 68–84 °F |
| pH | 6–7.8 |
| Color | Green |
| Trimming | Regular |
| Styles | Jungle, Biotope, Nature |
Get Salvinia Minima
Propagation
Chains of paired leaves divide on their own; lift out handfuls to thin, and any fragment keeps growing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Salvinia better than duckweed or frogbit for a small tank?
For most people, yes. It controls nutrients and shade like duckweed but comes out by the handful when you want it gone, and it tolerates surface agitation and lid condensation better than frogbit. Its roots are shorter than frogbit's, which some prefer visually.
Why are my Salvinia leaves browning or sinking?
The usual causes are nutrient-starved water (floaters depend entirely on liquid fertilizer in a lightly stocked tank), water constantly splashing onto the leaf tops, or overcrowding so severe the mat shades itself. Thin the mat weekly and calm the surface where it floats.
Go deeper
Salvinia Minima appears in
- Aquarium plants for medium light
- Floating plants for aquariums
- Aquarium plants that don't need CO2
- Aquarium plants that stay under 3 inches
- Aquarium plants for nano tanks
- Snail-safe aquarium plants
- Fast-growing aquarium plants
- Aquarium plants for beginners
- Aquarium plants for betta tanks
- Plants for jungle-style aquascapes
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