Straight Vallisneria
Vallisneria spiralis · family Hydrocharitaceae
- Light
- Medium
- CO₂
- Not required
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
- pH
- 6.5–8
- Hardness
- 5–19 °dGH
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Height
- up to 50 cm
- Placement
- Background
- Root feeder
- Yes
Pros and cons
- Builds a dense background curtain within 1–2 months
- Doesn't require CO₂
- Spreads by runners — covers the tank quickly
- Heavy nitrate consumer — natural biological filtration
- Sensitive to copper in the water (algicides can kill it)
- Melts down completely under sudden parameter changes
- Can become invasive — runners pop up where you don't want them
Description
Vallisneria is the classic background plant. It reproduces rapidly via substrate runners, building up a 'curtain' of ribbon-shaped leaves.
Sensitive to copper in the water (some algicides) and to sudden parameter swings.
Care
Planting
Plant the roots into nutrient-rich substrate, but do NOT bury the crown (where roots meet the leaves). Feeds mainly through the roots.
Propagation
By substrate runners. Transplant the daughter plant once 3–4 leaves have formed.
FAQ
- Why does my Vallisneria melt after planting?
- It's adapting to the new water. Old leaves can die back during the first 2–3 weeks; new ones grow in healthy. Don't pull it out!
Goldie editorial team
Practising aquarists with a combined 30+ years of experience · Biologists and editors, fact-checking against FishBase and Seriously Fish · Every piece is reviewed by a qualified ichthyologist before publication
Scientific board — ichthyologists and veterinarians
Ichthyologists and veterinarians with university degrees · Reference FishBase, Seriously Fish and peer-reviewed literature · Sign every reviewed article with their credentials shown
Sources
- Vallisneria spiralis — Tropica · Tropica · 2026-05-22