PlantLab › Plants › Hornwort

Shrimp Bites

High Calcium Shrimp Food

AquaBoost Bites →

Floating · Beginner friendly

Hornwort

Ceratophyllum demersum

1 / 4

✦ DIFFICULTY Easy

A forgiving choice for newer planted tanks.

☀ LIGHT Moderate

Around 10 hours is a useful starting point.

≈ CO₂ Optional

Injection is not normally necessary.

↗ GROWTH Fast

High trimming needs.

PLANT OVERVIEW

About Hornwort

A rootless, fast-growing floating or stem plant.

Hornwort is incredibly hardy and grows rapidly. It doesn't form true roots and is best used as a floating plant or anchored to hardscape.

Shrimp friendly Nano suitable Low-tech suitable High-tech suitable Fry cover

CARE PROFILE

What this plant needs.

The useful numbers and practical notes, grouped around how you actually keep the plant.

□

TANK FIT

Placement + size

Primary placementFloating

Typical height10–30 in

Typical width4 in

Suggested minimum tank5 gal

Suggested tank height32 in+

☀

LIGHT + CO₂

Energy demand

Ideal lightModerate

Photoperiod range8–12 hr

Approx. PAR15–100

Injected CO₂Optional

CO₂ benefitVery Low

●

NUTRITION

Where it feeds

Root feedingVery Low

Water-column feedingVery High

Overall fertilizer demandModerate

Iron demandLow

MicronutrientsLow

≈

WATER

Useful parameter range

Temperature59–86°F

pH6–8

GH4–20 dGH

KH2–15 dKH

PLANTING

How to plant it.

Substrate: None

Hardscape: Can be attached to rock or wood.

Anchor or float.

GROWTH + PROPAGATION

What to expect after planting.

Propagation

Stem cuttings

Acclimation

Sheds needles if shocked.

COMMON PROBLEMS

What usually goes wrong.

Can shed needles, creating a mess.

KEEP EXPLORING

Plants with similar growing conditions.

Matched from the PlantLab database using light, CO₂, difficulty, feeding demand and placement.