Neptun
Cladophora globularis was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It lives behind the glass of aquariums also since time immemorial. This is facilitated by both the unpretentiousness of the plant, and the original appearance, and if you cut it, you can get an amazing green mat, which can cover part of the bottom, thus creating a green underwater lawn.
It’s also called egagropyla, Cladophora aegagropila, Aegagropila sauteri, Cladophora sauteri.
Habitat.: Widespread enough. Inhabits clean fresh standing and slightly flowing water bodies of Asia and Europe.
Cladophora globularis Description
It is a colony of green filamentous algae. Their filaments are arranged radially, thus forming a fluffy ball. Aquarium conditions restrain the size of this ball at the level of 5-6 centimeters. In nature, it can reach 20 centimeters in diameter.
It grows quite slowly – about 5 – 10 mm per year. Inside the ball, algae die off, forming a cavity. It is not attached to the ground. Freely moves along the bottom. Illuminated by daylight algae begin to produce oxygen, the bubbles of which give cladophora spherical positive buoyancy. The balloon rises to the surface. At night, photosynthesis stops and the plant, having got rid of oxygen bubbles, sinks to the bottom again.
Aquarium keeping
It is desirable to keep in a cold-water aquarium. When the temperature rises egagropila begins to grow rapidly, and after two to three months there is its fragmentation. Each of the fragments caught in favorable conditions, can give rise to a new colony and form a new ball, but the formation of a new egagropila representing a ball is very slow. Usually this process takes about a year.
Volume of water body
Not significant. Therefore, it can be recommended as a plant for growing tanks with fry. You can even with increased temperature. Short-term cladophora globular can withstand temperatures up to 26 degrees Celsius.
Soil
Eggagropila doesn’t need soil at all. It’s rarely anchored to it. More often than not, it is due to the efforts of the designer.
Water parameters
As already indicated, to keep egagropila in the form of a ball, it is necessary to maintain water temperatures no higher than 22 degrees Celsius. Short-term it is possible to decorate with this plant and a tropical underwater landscape or increase the temperature to accelerate its growth. But if the elevated temperature is longer than two months, the colony may disintegrate.
Therefore, it may be suggested to keep it in a tropical body of water, if your design without it is not possible, not longer than a month and a half. Then transfer it to a cold-water aquarium for 1 – 1.5 months, to stabilize the colony. Decay cladophora spherical promotes as hard and alkaline water. It is desirable to keep the hardness at a level of no more than 8 – 10 °dH. pH 6.5 – 7.
Cladophora globularis Lighting
Natural specimens are found at fairly great depths (up to 30 meters). At such depths, relatively little light penetrates. But in the aquarium should not strive to create a deep-sea dusk. Sufficient average illumination of your underwater garden provided by fluorescent lamps with a total power of about 0.5 W / L.
Aeration
The need for additional artificial aeration is determined by the needs of other aquarium inhabitants.
Filtration
Cladophora globularis likes clean, clear water. Therefore, it is highly desirable to provide an external or internal filter, which would clean the water from turbidity and fine suspended particles. Even with
If a filter is present, the sponge formed by the algae filaments deposits the smallest turbidity on itself, thus acting as a natural filter. Therefore, from time to time cladophora globular should be taken out of the reservoir and washed under a gentle stream of tap water. Then lightly, gently squeeze it out, after which it can be put back in its original place.
Cladophora globularis Compatibility
Does not conflict with anyone, does not shade anyone, does not claim anyone’s place in the sun. It can be kept practically with any other species with similar conditions.
Cladophora globularis Nutrition
Cladophora globularis responds favorably to CO2 fertilization, but develops quite satisfactorily without it. Feeding mineral fertilizers – unnecessary. Egagropila is quite enough nutrients that get into the underwater garden with food for fish and with a weekly change of one-fifth of the water.
Cladophora globularis Breeding
Cladophora globularis reproduces by colony division. Fragmentation can occur as a result of temperature above 22 degrees Celsius, hardness above 10°dH, active medium reaction above 7.5.
If you want to propagate this plant, you can simply tear it into several fragments with your hands. After that, you should place the fragments of egagropila in suitable conditions for it and in about a year you will have some nice green balls.
Additional information
As already indicated in addition to cold-water pond, this algae can be short-term decorate and tropical aquarium. It is only necessary to be prepared for its decay or to transfer it in time to normal conditions for it to stabilize the colony.
It will also be a welcome plant at the bottom of spawning grounds of spawning fish. Between its threads like to live various microscopic organisms, which can sometimes fill all the needs in the starting food of newly born fry.
In addition to its usual use as a ball, it can be used as a pillow or mat. To do this, the ball should be cut neatly with scissors and unfolded. The resulting mat is wrapped with threads or fishing line to a rock or snags. After some time, algae grow, thanks to which the thread becomes invisible, and on the bottom you get a picturesque mat of greenery little inferior to its decorative properties similar mats of riccia.
Cladophora globularis is an algae, but this algae is not harmful like most of its brethren, but very useful and pretty. Its use for decorating your underwater kingdom opens up great opportunities for you. It itself has a rather unusual and original look, and its use to cover the ground as a pillow or mat can turn the bottom of your aquarium into a picturesque lawn.
