How much light does Carolina Fanwort need?

Medium light, around 40–60 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ of PAR. Watts are not comparable between fixtures; PAR is. If the manufacturer does not publish PAR, pick one band lower than the tank depth suggests.

Does Carolina Fanwort need CO₂?

It is recommended. Marked "recommended": it survives without, but visibly stalls, lengthens between nodes and loses colour.

What water does Carolina Fanwort want?

18–26 °C, pH 6–7.5, 2–10 dGH. At 8 dGH wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.

How fast does Carolina Fanwort grow, and where does it go?

Growth rate: fast. Placement: background. Substrate: substrate required, reaching about 30–60 cm. Difficulty: moderate.

G-02 / 14Freshwater

Carolina Fanwort水盾草

Cabomba caroliniana · Cabombaceae

Fine feathered whorls that shed needles at the first water-quality wobble, which makes it an indicator plant.

Illustration to come

G-02 / 14 · Carolina Fanwort Cabomba caroliniana

SpecificationsPlant atlas

Name: 水盾草
Scientific name: Cabomba caroliniana
Family: Cabombaceae
Origin: Still lakes and slow water of South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay)
Light: Medium light
PAR: 40–60
CO₂: Recommended
Hardness: 2–10 dGH
Growth: Fast
Placement: Background
Substrate: Substrate required
Height: 30–60 cm
Level: Moderate

Water requirementsFreshwater

Temp.18–26 °C

pH6–7.5

Hardness2–10 dGH

Alkalinity1–6 dKH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Growing notes

1The needle leaves are brittle and usually drop from the base for a week or two after planting; once settled the plant re-thickens from the top.
2It prefers cool water of 18 to 24 °C and stops growing and falls apart if kept above 28 °C.
3Old lower leaves drop once shaded, so bury at least five centimetres of stem and replant the tops every three or four weeks.
4Without CO2 the internodes stretch and the whorls thin out, and added carbon densifies the plant within two weeks.
5Broken shoots drift into the filter wool, so fish them out after trimming or they rot and push ammonia up.

Frequently asked questions

How much light does Carolina Fanwort need?: Medium light, around 40–60 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ of PAR. Watts are not comparable between fixtures; PAR is. If the manufacturer does not publish PAR, pick one band lower than the tank depth suggests.
Does Carolina Fanwort need CO₂?: It is recommended. Marked "recommended": it survives without, but visibly stalls, lengthens between nodes and loses colour.
What water does Carolina Fanwort want?: 18–26 °C, pH 6–7.5, 2–10 dGH. At 8 dGH wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.
How fast does Carolina Fanwort grow, and where does it go?: Growth rate: fast. Placement: background. Substrate: substrate required, reaching about 30–60 cm. Difficulty: moderate.