If you are looking for an aquarium plant that will make your heart beat faster, Ludwigia pantanalensis is an excellent candidate. Its leaves are a real play of colors: from a rich lime green at the base to bright orange and fiery red shades at the top. This plant will not go unnoticed and will become a living decoration for any aquarium.
However, you will have to fight for such beauty. Ludwigia pantanal has a reputation for being capricious and demanding. She will not tolerate being simply placed in a tank and forgotten. She needs a lot of attention and the right conditions to reach her full potential.
This article is an honest conversation about what awaits an aquarist who decides to get this beauty. We will talk about what kind of light, water, and nutrition it needs, what difficulties you may encounter, and for whom this plant will be a joy, and for whom it will be a source of disappointment.
It makes aquarium water higher quality and more beneficial for fish. This makes zeolite a useful tool in certain situations. For example, it can be a quick fix in a new aquarium until the biological balance is established, or it can help in case of sudden water poisoning. However, it is important to understand that this is not a magic crystal for all occasions, but a temporary solution with a number of nuances.
It makes the soil more porous and accessible to oxygen.
This species of Ludwigia grows naturally in only one place on Earth—the Pantanal tectonic depression, located almost entirely in Brazil.
Potassium zeolite is used in general aquariums. The use of sodium mineral is unacceptable, as it makes the water unsuitable for fish and mollusks. The best absorbent for aquariums is clinoptilolite. It is the best option for combating poor water quality, as it absorbs ammonium most intensively. However, preparations with a clinoptilolite concentration of 70-80% are not cheap. It is more profitable to use other minerals from the zeolite group, as they are also effective in purifying aquarium water.
O. Channels occupy up to 50% of the natural zeolite structure.
Growing this type of Ludwigia in an aquarium is not an easy task. It is not recommended for beginners and owners of small aquariums to attempt this. The plant requires knowledge, experience, and a great deal of attention.
Water parameters
In its native habitat, the Pantanal, the temperature remains at around 25°C all year round. However, many aquarists who have managed to tame it say that it thrives in a temperature range of 18-30°C.
However, it is not recommended to keep it at extreme levels for a long time. The same applies to temperature fluctuations: this plant prefers stability.
Other water parameters must also be constant. Pantanal prefers water that is sufficiently acidic, with a pH ranging from 5 to 7. It also prefers soft water, ideally no more than 6 dGh.
Specialized forums provide information that this plant also grows successfully in slightly harder water – up to 8 dGh.
Lighting requirements
The Pantanal is extremely demanding in terms of light. The formula here is simple: the more, the better. The minimum is 1 W per liter of aquarium. With less lighting power, the plant will completely lose its red pigment.
With a severe lack of light, this species of Ludwigia may even turn completely white.
If the amount of light is not increased, the plant will stop developing, begin to wither, and die after a short time.
Soil requirements
For active growth, the plant needs nutritious soil with a high peat content. Pantanal will thrive best in acidic soil.
Fertilizer
Regular feeding is essential for keeping Ludwigia pantanal. The plant consumes large amounts of macro- and micronutrients and constantly needs new portions of fertilizer.
The necessary elements are:
- nitrates;
- phosphates;
- iron;
- magnesium;
- potassium.
For successful growth, the nitrate concentration in the water should be 5-15 mg per liter of water. However, many aquarists exceeded this level, bringing the content to 20 mg per liter. According to them, Ludwigia responded to this with positive changes: it became brighter and began to grow faster.
The required amount of phosphates is 1-2 mg per liter of water. It is better to stick to the upper limit and even exceed it from time to time.
This plant also requires quite a lot of iron. When there is a deficiency, Ludwigia immediately loses its bright color.
According to the experience of avid aquarists, it is best to use divalent iron on an organic buffer to feed Pantanal.
The potassium content in water must be brought to 10-20 mg per liter. At lower levels, the plant may stop absorbing other macronutrients and die quite quickly.
Reproduction
In good conditions, Ludwigia pantanal grows very quickly and reproduces readily. To obtain a new plant, cut off the top about 10 cm long and plant it in the soil or leave it floating on the surface.
Ludwigia pantanalensis is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular aquarium plants. Its copper-red and orange leaves can become a bright accent in any underwater landscape. However, its beauty comes at a high price — not in money, but in attention and effort.
Common types of zeolite are clinoptilolite, thomsonite, natrolite, mordenite, stilbite, lomontite, and shabazite. Externally, the mineral looks like a crystalline structure with a shiny pearlescent surface.
So, if you are ready to provide it with almost greenhouse conditions, Ludwigia pantanalensis will be your pride and joy. If you are looking for a simple and unpretentious plant, it is better to pay attention to other, more hardy species. This beauty is really capricious and is intended for experienced aquarists who understand its character.
