An affordable, live, serene freshwater plant that allures your aquarium; Yes! MoneyWort is all of that.
The reason why this is one of the most talked-about aquarium plants is its maintenance. Being a perfect choice for beginners that doesn’t press a single nerve, Moneywort Plant is worth all your money.
Having the capability to grow both partial and full submersed, Moneywort creates an elegant look with its lime green shade (you do need specific lighting to unleash that beauty).
If you are watching for such freshwater plants, we believe we have the right choice for you. From Moneywort’s looks, placement, care, life, propagation, perks, limitation, and tank mates, we will cover it all for you. Be with us as we unfold this gem of an aquatic species.
All about the Species
| Quick Species Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bacopa Monnieri |
| Other Common Names | Brahmi, Wandering Jenny, Wandering Sailor, Running Jenny, Water Hyssop |
| Family | Scrophulariaceae |
| Origin | North & South America |
| Height/Size | 10 – 30 centimeters |
| Aquarium Type | Freshwater |
| Availability | Bunch |
Summary: Is Moneywort and Creeping Jenny the same?
A first look at Moneywort will literally get you thinking, is it Creeping Jenny? Well, it’s not. Though they are often used interchangeably, these still have a difference in making.
Moneywort and Creeping Jenny are two very similar plants that tend to get confused.
What makes them Similar?
Both are low-growing ground covers that spread quickly and easily. This makes them an ideal choice for gardeners who want to fill in bare spots and smother weeds.
These two plants are classified as perennials in their native regions, meaning they come back year after year if left alone.
They both grow best in shady areas with moist but well-drained soil, which allows them to spread quickly and prevents them from drying out during the dry summer months. They can be used both as a carpet and floating beauty.
How to Differentiate One from Another?
Now let’s understand the differences between them in the hopes of dispelling any confusion over these hardy ground covers.
- Name
For starters, the scientific name for the former is Bacopa Monnieri, and that for the latter is Lysimachia Nummularia.
- Size
They both tend to grow between one inch and three inches tall, although some varieties of Creeping Jenny can reach up to six inches high.
- Flowers
Subsequently, they both have different colored flowers. Moneywort has white flowers, while creeping jenny has yellow. This basis of distinction is sufficient for anyone to know which flower he is picking.
- Leaves
Looking at their leaves, creeping jenny has rounder, roughly oval-shaped, unevenly distributed, golden-greenish (apparently yellow) leaves, while Moneywort leaves are tear drop-shaped and bright green in color. Creeping Jenny is also known as golden Moneywort because of its golden hue.
Moneywort’s lobed leaves grow in pairs, while Creeping Jenny’s leaves tend to be singular and lance-shaped.
History, Origin, Natural Habitat
Native to North & South America, Moneywort has its roots extended to parts of Asia, Africa, and Australia. Growing around and in between the rocks, this is also called the Creeping Plant.
Their natural habitat revolves around wetlands, inside brackish areas, where there are freshwater marshes. Expanding rapidly so that a thick mat covers the whole mudded, sandy area, blooming plants amidst April-September, this plant gets the title of an invasive species.
When in an aquarium setting, this species would love it if you somehow mimic the original surroundings. If not precise, you can still go to lengths in adjusting temperature, hardness, and pH according to the plant, though it demands minimal changes.
Appearance and Color
The appearance of it is one thing that turns the eyes of aquarists. Under bright light, its leaves appear lemon green contrasts with the blue wallpaper in most aquariums. Moneywort has long stems with rounded green leaves growing on alternating sides, and the measurement of leaves falls anywhere around 1 inch in breadth.
The stem is usually thick and capable of withstanding amidst moderate-high currents. Together, the leaves and the stem make the plant gather 2 inches in width. Vertically growing upwards, Moneywort, as mentioned, is suitable for floating and planting.
The next comes the flower. With white petals having a pinkish hue, these flowers look stunning in the aquarium. In the wild, they grow around the rainy season, while in your tank, they can repeat the behavior if you offer the right surroundings.
Time for Fact: Though Moneywort’s stem grows vertically amidst water, once it reaches the top, it expands horizontally, starts creeping, and hence, is titled ‘Creeping Plant.’
Growth Rate
The growth rate of this plant makes it both favorable and unfavorable for aquarists. It is generally slow, and the maximum height, which is 12 inches approx., can take months to unfold.
On one side, it is favorable for aquarists since they do not have to trim the plant frequently. While on the other, it is unfavorable for some who are not very good with patience.
Either way, Moneywort has got people turning their eyes towards the aquarium. You can expect your plant to grow around 1 inch in 3 to 4 weeks. And that too if your light conditions are ideal (We all know how essential the lighting is). Further, you can expect better results if you keep the nutritional quality high.
Benefits of Adding These to Your Aquarium
There are half a dozen benefits this plant will offer your fish’s home. A few of them are:
A Home Inside Home:
Moneywort has one benefit that makes it even more special. It is a safe home for small fishes, especially fries, and it can carpet the bottom as well create a dense floating shelter for the new fry inside.
Adaptability:
Moneywort does not require strict conditions to thrive in the fish tank, and that is why we find diverse conditions listed as ideal for this. This allows your fish to have the right surroundings, leading to a healthy life.
Flexibility in Placement:
Though we are advised to keep this as a background plant, it can also be placed in the middle ground to create density amidst shorter plants. If not anywhere, you plant them as a carpet that grows tall and covers the tank.
Minimal Hindrance:
If you are a beginner and do not like to hinder any parameters, then this is your choice. It requires no additional fertilizer or CO2 supply, and it can grow positively without impacting any of the life inside the tank. Therefore, your tank is safe.
Quick Fact: Moneywort has been used for its medicinal purpose. It still continues to be a favorable option for treating human ailments and is included in remedial measures.
Moneywort Care
Planting in Aquarium
Here comes the real talk, how to plant bacopa monnieri in an aquarium? Much has been said about the flexibility this species offers while being planted.
Using it as a background, a middle ground, a carpet, a dense floating plant, everything is possible. Its roots must reach a depth of at least 0.5 inches in the substrate. Further, keep stems spaced; 2.5 inches is sufficient. Use of aquarium tweezers is recommended as it keeps them tight and intact.
For it to float, you need not be going through any trouble. Simply put the separated stems over the aquarium and let these float freely on top. They will eventually start growing upon receiving light and nutrition. This is not just limited to stems. Plant cuttings will also do the job quite well.
Pro Tip: If you are hoping to keep it as a floating plant, make sure you think of other plants that come underneath it. There are all the chances of light being blocked by this, and it may become difficult for small bottom plants to grow.
How to Propagate Moneywort?
Propagating bacopa in the aquarium is not going to be problematic. Generally, there are a couple of ways suggested for this process.
The first one is stem propagation. Under this, you let the lead nodes develop white roots up to 1 inch in size. At this point, you can cut the stem below the root, say 1.5 inches and plant it in the gravel.
The second propagating method is letting those clippings float. They are capable of enhancing themselves to a great extent. On the contrary, if you have planted this species, you can watch its roots grow horizontally or sideways.
It develops the same kind of roots as its leaf nodes. Cut these and put them in the substrate a couple of inches away. It does fine.
Conditioning and Trimming
Trimming bacopa plant in an aquarium significantly depends on their positioning. Here is how you maintain it:
In the Background
You can let it grow till it looks like wallpaper. The best part is that the plant starts to grow horizontally when it reaches the brim. After that, it is just a matter of preference. Trim, raise, cut short, and everything is up to the needs of creatures living below.
In the Middle
On the contrary, if you keep it in the middle alongside short plants, you must trim the stems so they do not suffocate others. This has to be done on odd days to maintain a clean look.
As a Carpet
When kept as a carpet, Moneywort won’t be asking for frequent trimming. Since it would be growing horizontally, it looks like it is still in shape. However, there is a need to look at it once a while, say two weeks. If found scattered, trim to shape.
Talking of its conditioning in the aquarium, Moneywort won’t be asking much from you. Regular light, nutrition, and grooming are all needed, and no extra CO2 is required if you aim for steady growth.
Fertilization
As mentioned, this species won’t require additional supplements to grow. Fertilizers and Carbon-di-oxide, when supplied, can enhance its growth by a fair margin like other plants, but Moneywort can thrive well without it. All you need is a bit of ‘Patience.’
Common Issues
A Problem in the Neighborhood
Most plants will feel an issue with Moneywort being put as their neighbor. Its transformation into thick/dense mats chokes all the supply to native plants within. Thus, limiting their growth, nutrient supply, and probably life. That is why it is essential to catch hold of Moneywort’s planting instructions.
Quick fact: It has been known to do the same in Concord’s wetlands, where it hampers the growth of native vegetation through its outrageous growth. Remedial measures are taken at regular intervals.
A Game of Patience
Again, your impatience is your biggest enemy with this plant in your aquarium. This is not for you if you are an aquarist who wishes to have rapid blooming plants. Though you can enhance the speed by fertilization and CO2 supply, it still won’t be up to your standards. This is one issue faced by many.
Trouble Sticking it to the Substrate
Moneywort can get troublesome when you try to stick it inside the substrate. They keep on floating, and once they do, you have to use anchor weights and aquarium tweezers to keep them intact. Rocks are also a great tool to keep them down to the substrate.
Melting
This is a common issue that harms several aquatic plants. Under this, the leaves lose both their opaqueness and color. Conclusively, you might find them lying rotten in there, and the only solution is to remove them at first sight of melting.
An Unwanted Guest
Using extra light as a mechanism to enhance the growth of Moneywort can give an invitation to an unwanted guest; Algae. Once this develops, you have a problem in the tank. Therefore, one needs to make sure they are limiting the resources for the magical development of this plant. Regular water change is advised.
Tank Recommendations
| Quick Tank Facts | |
|---|---|
| Minimum Size | 11 – 14 Gallons |
| Water Temperature | 75˚F – 80˚F |
| CO2 Need | Not Necessary |
| Water Hardness | 6 – 18 dKH |
| pH Level | 6.5 – 7.5 |
| Placement | In The Background Towards The Middle |
Ideal Tank Size
We all know how quickly a plant can occupy the space inside the tank, which soon becomes problematic for creatures swimming inside.
This goes the same with bacopa monnieri. You need a 10-gallon aquarium at a minimum. Since it is a stem plant capable of growing densely, it can soak in the leftover space for fish. Hence, 10-gallons is needed to ensure the wanderers inside can roam freely.
Substrate
One who knows how to plant Moneywort in an aquarium definitely knows why substrate is critical to its growth. Hungry for nutrients, this aquatic plant requires a substrate that can feed it to the core.
That being said, you may want to have a fine gravel substrate (only if you can keep the plant from floating) with fertilizers (if you find them necessary), and of course, tweezers to keep the roots stuck inside the gravel.
Pebbles are always welcomed, but only if they are lightweight, capable enough to hold the plant tight but not limiting it from soaking in nutrients.
Lighting Requirement
Like every other plant, Moneywort has its own need for light, and it does well when there is medium lighting reaching at the very end of the aquarium. To catch a sight of flowers, you might have to switch to intense lighting, and with that comes the issue of overgrowth.
At that point, trimming and shaping become a necessity. Hence, you should be very careful while setting the light source for the moneywort plant in the aquarium.
Talking of numbers, you have to have a minimum of 2 watts/gallon of light for 13-14 hours a day.
Water Parameters
Moneywort, being favored for its adaptability in various dimensions/parameters, still needs something according to its own will.
The first one is a BALANCE. Yes, you heard that right. You may want to have intense light flowing through the aquarium, but it pushes the algae growth too. It all comes down to a battle of nutrients, and algae can outplay Moneywort in soaking nutrients first. Therefore, a balance between nutrition and lighting is a must.
Talking about other parameters, make sure the nitrite level stays close to 0, temperature around 25°C, hardness close to 15 dKH, and pH sticking to neutral. Aquarists have been trying to provide limited nitrates and phosphates through tap water to ensure healthy growth. Either way, you must ensure that the water is rich in nutrients needed for this plant to thrive.
Best Tank Mates
Most live plants have a compact list of compatible tank mates, but not Moneywort. It is a plant that keeps both the owner and the pets inside lively. The list of ideal tank mates includes:
- German Blue Rams
- Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids
- Bettas
- Goldfish
- Barbs
- Tetras
- Danios
- Angelfish
- Pearl Gourami
- Shrimps
Pro Tip: Keeping this plant away from fishes that disrupt the gravel and feed on live plants is necessary. The list includes aggressive ones like flowerhorn cichlids, African Cichlid, and Buenos Aires Tetras.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Goldfish a Suitable Tank Mate for Moneywort?
Although goldfish tend to have a nip of live plants yet, Moneywort, being unpleasing in taste, does not necessarily invite goldfish for a meal. Hence, it can be a suitable character to fit in the tank with Moneywort in it.
Is Moneywort a Costly Plant?
One of many reasons that make it an ideal live plant for a tank is its cost. It is pretty affordable, and a bunch would hardly cut $7-$8 from your pocket. It is a reasonable investment with features such as low maintenance, steady growth, and adaptability.
Is Melting an Issue with Moneywort?
Yes, melting is indeed a common issue with Moneywort. One primary reason for that is the non-availability of light deep down the stem. First signs of melting are found at the stem only. At such a point, remedial measures should be adopted.
Does Moneywort Grow Flowers Throughout the Year?
No, Moneywort does not necessarily have blooming flowers all year long. In the wild, it is usually the months of July and August that you see flowers on top. Some years, they do not develop any. It all depends on the conditions you offer to your plant (mentioned above) that trigger flower growth.
Do I have to Apply CO2 Injections to this Plant?
No, CO2 injections are not necessary as long as you keep the conditions or surroundings close to standards set. However, extra CO2 can always add to the growth of a plant, and the same happens with Moneywort.
How is Moneywort Different from Pennywort?
Moneywort versus Pennywort is often an issue that most people need answers for. To differentiate between the two, you look at their leaves. The former has round small leaves while the latter has leaves up to 3.5 inches in diameter. Pennywort’s leaves are like lily-pad and usually float above the water surface.
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, this plant is worth all your money. It does not pose any threats to creatures living inside, does not require an individual standing on the head to ensure it is receiving perfect treatment, and does not even drain a hole in your pocket.
We seriously cannot think of any reason why you shouldn’t be keeping this species in.
