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Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)

Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)

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Amount: Bunch

Subtotal:

$6.00

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Aquatic Plants

Hornwort

A rootless, free-floating stem plant with needle-like whorled leaves and the fastest nutrient uptake of any plant in the catalog -- the most effective biological water quality support plant available.

Rootless -- No Planting Required Fastest Nutrient Uptake in the Catalog Exceptional Shrimplet Mid-Water Cover Tolerates Very Wide Temperature Range No CO2 Required Beginner Friendly

Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) is one of the most widely distributed aquatic plants on earth -- a rootless, free-floating stem plant with needle-like, whorled leaves that grows at exceptional speed under virtually any light condition and absorbs nutrients from the water column more aggressively than almost any other plant in the catalog. It has no roots and never needs to be planted: it floats freely in the water column, weighted loosely to stay at mid-depth, or anchored lightly near the background. Its growth rate is its defining practical quality -- in a tank with elevated nitrates, ammonia, or phosphate, a mass of Hornwort pulls those nutrients out of the water column faster and more reliably than any other plant available, including fast stem plants and floating plants. It sheds short needle-like leaves continuously, which requires a filter intake guard or regular net-cleaning, but in exchange provides unmatched water quality support, shrimplet cover, and biofilm surface area in a plant that requires nothing to set up and nothing to maintain. Fully safe with all Neocaridina, Caridina, and snails.

Not RequiredCO2
50-86FTemperature
Low-HighLighting
What to Expect

Growth, Behaviour and Water Quality Impact

Fastest nutrient uptake of any plant in the catalog -- measurable impact on water quality -- Hornwort grows at a rate that visibly outpaces all other plants in the catalog and the nutrient uptake associated with that growth rate produces measurable, rapid reductions in nitrate levels between water changes in stocked tanks. In a shrimp tank with regular feeding, a healthy mass of Hornwort provides biological filtration support that meaningfully extends the effective window between water changes by reducing the rate at which nitrates accumulate. Rootless -- floats freely, no planting required -- Hornwort has no root system and draws all nutrition from the water column directly through its stems and needle leaves. It never needs to be planted, does not disturb substrate when introduced, and can be added to any tank immediately without preparation. Weight loosely with a small stone to keep a stem bundle at mid-depth, anchor lightly to a piece of driftwood with a single loop of thread, or simply drop in and allow to float freely. Needle-like whorled leaves shed continuously -- filter guard recommended -- Hornwort is a needle-shedding plant: individual leaves detach from the stems continuously and float freely in the water column before being pulled toward the filter intake. The detached needles are harmless but can accumulate in filter intake slits over time and reduce flow. A pre-filter sponge over the intake, cleaned during water changes, manages this entirely without any other intervention. Exceptional shrimplet cover in the mid-water column -- the dense, three-dimensional mass of needle-leaved stems that a Hornwort bundle produces at mid-depth provides some of the most effective shrimplet cover of any plant in the catalog -- fine enough that shrimplets move through it freely, dense enough that they are physically concealed within it from any direction. In breeding setups, a weighted bundle of Hornwort positioned at mid-depth near the area where females release their broods produces noticeably higher shrimplet survival rates than setups without midwater cover. Allelopathic -- may inhibit algae and some other plants in the same tank -- Hornwort releases compounds into the water column that inhibit the growth of algae and, in some cases, other aquatic plants in the same tank. The effect varies with tank volume, Hornwort mass, and water change frequency. In most shrimp tanks at normal stocking densities the allelopathic effect is a net positive -- algae is suppressed without other plants being meaningfully affected. In densely planted tanks with sensitive carpeting plants, monitor for any growth inhibition and reduce Hornwort mass if other plants show suppressed growth without other explanation. Tolerates cool water better than almost any other plant in the catalog -- Hornwort grows across one of the widest temperature ranges of any aquarium plant available -- from cool subtropical at 50F through warm tropical at 86F. In tanks running at the lower end of the Neocaridina range or in outdoor tub setups through much of the year, Hornwort remains one of the few plants that continues active growth at temperatures where most tropical aquarium plants stall or die.
How to Set It Up

Getting Started

1Weight or anchor loosely at mid-depth -- wrap a small, clean stone with thread and attach to one end of a Hornwort bundle, then lower to the desired depth. Alternatively, loop a single strand of cotton thread around the bundle and tie loosely to a piece of driftwood at the desired height. Leave enough slack that the bundle floats horizontally rather than hanging vertically from the tie point.
2Install a pre-filter sponge over the intake -- fit a pre-filter sponge over the filter intake before introducing Hornwort. Squeeze and rinse the sponge during each water change to remove accumulated needles and prevent flow reduction. Without a pre-filter, detached needles accumulate in intake slits and can significantly reduce filter flow over several weeks.
3Trim by removing entire stem sections rather than cutting individual needles -- when the Hornwort mass becomes denser than desired, remove complete stem sections from the bundle and discard or move to another setup. Cutting individual stems mid-length produces two stems from one, increasing density; removing whole stems from the bundle base reduces density without increasing stem count.
4No fertilisation required in stocked tanks -- in a tank with regular shrimp feeding the ambient nutrient load from shrimp waste and uneaten food provides all the nutrition Hornwort needs to grow vigorously. In a new, unstocked, or heavily water-changed tank a balanced liquid fertiliser dosed two to three times weekly supports steady growth during the establishment period.
Bonus Tip

Hornwort in a new tank during the cycling period is the single most effective biological buffering measure available without a bacterial starter culture -- introduced before livestock, a healthy mass of Hornwort absorbs ammonia and nitrite directly from the water column during the period when the bacterial colony is still developing, reducing the severity of the ammonia and nitrite peaks that characterise the cycling process. Once the tank is cycled and livestock introduced, the Hornwort transitions seamlessly from cycle buffer to ongoing nitrate management plant without any intervention or transition period.

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Browse more aquatic plants

Pair Hornwort with floating plants, Water Sprite, or Guppy Grass for a complete water quality and shelter planting. Browse our Aquatic Plants collection.

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Aquatic plants

Policies & Disclaimers

Choosing your portions, using the plant promotion, and knowing what to expect when your plants arrive.

Buy 2 Get 1 Free: add all three

Choose three eligible plant items and add all three to your cart, including the plant you want free. The discount applies automatically at checkout; no code is needed. Adding only two items does not add a third plant for you.

Mix and match eligible varieties or choose multiple quantities of the same eligible plant. The least expensive eligible item is free. For example, with eligible items priced at $5, $8 and $10, the $5 item is discounted and the plant subtotal is $18 before shipping and tax.

The offer repeats for complete qualifying groups: three eligible items give one free, six give two free, and nine give three free. The current offer has no per-order use limit. Items must be included in the promotion; Plant Weights and other non-plant accessories do not qualify.

An item means the sale unit in your cart. One bunch, cup, portion or multipack counts as one item when purchased at quantity one, not one item for every stem, leaf or bulb inside it. Check the listing and selected option for what each unit contains.

Check the discount and quantities in your order summary before paying. Other promotions can affect the final discount; multiple product discounts do not stack on the same item. This is an online checkout offer, not an automatic in-store POS discount.

Plant Promotion Details

Portions, sizes & what you receive

Read this plant’s description and selected option for its sale format, portion size and any stated stem or plant count. A bunch, loose portion, rooted plant, bulb, cup and mounted plant are different products; there is no single size or count that applies to every plant we sell.

A mature height or spread describes potential growth in an aquarium, not the size shipped. Use the advertised purchase portion to plan your order. A full carpet, dense moss-covered surface or established group in a photograph may require several portions and time to grow.

Do not assume that a pot, planting weight, rock, wood, substrate or other display accessory is included unless the listing explicitly says it is. If the received portion appears different from the selected listing, photograph it with its packaging and contact us promptly.

Photos, color & natural variation

Photos illustrate the named plant or variety and its appearance. Living plants vary in leaf size, shape, root development, branching and fullness; a photo of an established specimen is not a measurement of each portion shipped. The product description and selected option remain the reference for your purchase.

Aquarium lighting, camera settings and the growing environment affect perceived color. Red or pink varieties can look different under different lighting and growing conditions. Do not use a photograph alone to select a plant’s care requirements or expect immediate mature coloration.

Above-water growth & the transition underwater

Some aquarium plants can grow with their leaves above water as well as submerged. These growth forms can have different leaf shapes and appearances. New underwater growth may look different from older leaves as the plant adjusts. This explanation does not mean every plant is supplied in the same growth form; follow any specific information in the listing.

Leaf loss or softening after a change of environment is often called melt. Look at the plant as a whole and its growing points rather than judging only one older leaf. Do not assume that a damaged plant is simply transitioning or wait for new growth before reporting an arrival problem.

This is background care information, not a new exclusion from the Live Arrival Guarantee. Arrival damage is assessed under the existing policy.

Planting: match the method to the plant

For stem plants, separate the stems and plant with room between them. For rosette plants, position the roots in the substrate without burying the crown. Remove transport bindings and growing material carefully where appropriate.

For Anubias and Java fern, keep the rhizome exposed rather than burying it. Moss can be divided into smaller portions and attached to suitable hardscape. Floating plants belong at the surface. Bulbs and tubers need species-specific planting depth; do not assume every type should be fully buried.

Keep plants damp while working. Follow the individual listing for placement and care, especially when a plant has unusual requirements. These are planting tips, not additional conditions for a claim.

Growth, tank conditions & choosing companions

Plan for the plant’s mature size, available light and the space it will occupy. A background stem plant, slow-growing rhizome plant and floating plant serve different roles; a purchase portion does not instantly create a finished aquascape.

Use the listing’s guidance on light, nutrients and carbon dioxide rather than assuming every plant needs the same setup. Growth rate and final appearance depend on aquarium conditions and maintenance. More light alone is not a substitute for a balanced setup.

Consider animals that dig, uproot or eat plants before choosing placement. Floating growth can shade plants below it, and fast-growing plants may need thinning. Observe new growth and make gradual, species-appropriate adjustments.

Hitchhikers & introducing plants

Our existing policy does not guarantee pest-free arrival. Plants can carry tiny organisms or eggs, including snail eggs, despite inspection. Inspect new plants before introduction, and consider separate observation or quarantine to protect an established aquarium.

Do not assume a plant is sterile, pesticide-free or safe for a particular treatment unless the listing explicitly provides that information. Sensitive leaves, mosses and roots can respond differently to dips. Research the exact plant and any treatment before using it; do not apply an animal medication or a strong dip by default.

Arrival problems: document and contact us promptly

For damaged or dead plants, email support@superiorshrimpaquatics.com within two hours of the carrier’s recorded delivery time. Use the email address on the order and include all arrival concerns in your first message.

Send clear photographs of the affected plants and their packaging, with the shipping label or invoice visible for identification. Photograph packaging damage before unpacking or discarding materials, and consult the full guarantee’s documentation instructions. Keep the original photos.

The current guarantee covers aquatic plants but excludes promotional or free items. That existing exclusion also matters when ordering a free promotional plant. Claims and available resolutions are assessed under the full policy; this tab does not expand or reduce coverage.

Live Arrival Guarantee

Shipping your plants

Plants ship Monday and Tuesday, with Wednesday shipping available for 2-day or overnight services. Orders remain subject to stock, fulfillment timing and weather holds under our shipping policy. A shipping-service estimate is not a guaranteed dispatch date.

Plan to receive the package promptly and inspect it on arrival. Review the full shipping information for weather precautions, transit expectations and delivery issues. If your cart also contains live animals, review the shipping requirements for those animals as well.

Shipping Information

Returns & order questions

Check the plant name, portion, quantity and selected option before completing checkout. Contact us before sending anything back; returns require prior written authorization under our existing policy. The full return policy explains the applicable conditions.

Return Policy

This tab explains the existing offer and policies alongside plant-care guidance. Care tips do not create new claim requirements or exclusions. Refer to the linked policies for complete terms.

    Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
    $6.00
    $6.00
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