Feeding and Nutrition :: On Duckweed

[BullDog]

A question for anyone with duckweed in their tanks: Do you find the duckweed helps with nitrates?

I finally got up to the local koi/pond store this week and got a couple water lettuce, hyacinth, and duckweed (as a hitch-hiker). I gave both turts two small shoots of water lettuce, and a good spoonful of duckweed each. For once, Ralph didn't destroy the lettuce! Hurray! Frankie on the other hand, has eaten every last bit of lettuce, and has started on the duckweed. She goes after the roots of the plant first, so it has no hope of survival

If Ralph continues to ignore the lettuce, I bet his nitrate levels will stay low. But Frankie's nitrate levels are always higher, no matter how many partial water changes I do. I figured at least some of the duckweed will escape her vigilance, but I'm wondering if it'll make much of a difference in her nitrate levels.

[tammi]

I've never noticed it with my but the duckweed never last long in my tanks.

[marisa]

To me (and my turts) duckweed is for eating (and hiding under if there's a lot of it). With those small roots, I'd be surprised if there was much help with nitrates. I don't see much water lettuce being sold around here (and it's never looked that good so after an initial try I haven't bought it again), but to me, water hyacinth is best, especially if the tank/pond has a lot of them. (Anachris would help, but we all know how long that lasts in the tank.)