When it comes to aqua cape, Bolbitis freshwater aquarium plants are a favorite. The Bolbitis water fern, more commonly known as the African water fern, is a popular rhizome and tropical fern species that can grow well in the warm liquid of a fish tank or aquarium. The fern is usually found in the streams and boggy areas all over Africa and the Congo river basin. You can find that this fern attach well to lava rocks or wood in water moving areas. The fern can easily attach and grow on a piece of wood or rock. It is a slow-growing plant and can grow as tall as 22 inches and as wide as 8 inches. It is mostly used as a bottom plant in aquascaping.
Aquarium size
The African fern may seem small at first and it grows slowly but in full growth, it is actually a large plant so it is not suitable for small aquariums or nano tanks. They are more suitable as a foreground plant in a medium aquarium or used as an accent plant in large aquariums.
How to grow Bolbitis
Growing the African fern is very simple. To do it in an aquarium, you have to attach it to a medium (rock or wood) with the help of a fishing line, cotton thread, or rubber band. Over time, the fern will self-attach on the medium and you can remove the fishing line or rubber band. Most aquascape professionals prefer to use cotton thread since it is softer and they can just leave it on because it will just dissolve over time. As for the growing conditions, the fern has a preference towards soft, slightly acidic water with a gentle current. Take note that this plant does not grow well in salty or brackish water – they should be grown in fresh water only. It also grows best in medium lighting although it has the capacity to adjust to brighter light. The best growth is said to be achieved when you place the fern near the current source or bubbler. Keep the water temperature between 20 and 26 degrees Celsius and the pH level between 6.0 and 8.5.
Maintenance tips
The African water fern is an easy plant to maintain as long as you make sure that the water and tank are always in good condition. Keep an eye out for algae because they can compete with the plant for nutrients and food and algae can also prevent your plant from getting enough light. If you want to use fertilizer especially on its initial planting, use a diluted liquid fertilizer once a week and infuse the water with CO2. However, if you have a low-maintenance tank, fertilizer is not really necessary since the fish waste can provide nutrients for the fern. When it comes to trimming and propagation, rhizome division should be applied. You have to use a sharp and clean blade to make a sterile cut then tie the new rhizome to a medium. You will find that the plant will fill in and produce another fern. Always trim or cut off unhealthy looking or dead leaves and sections so that the plant will only use energy on its healthy segments. Make sure to take out the dead plant matter since rotting leaves can spoil the water which would lead to health problems that can spread throughout the tank.
The Bolbitis is a very low-maintenance fern that is very easy to grow. It does not only make your aquarium look great but also serves as fish and aquarium shrimp food supplies so you do not have to worry about your aquarium pets going hungry when you are running late to feed them.