Inicio de sesión

¿Olvidaste tu contraseña? Crear cuenta
1 2

Water Spangles (Salvinia Minima)

Water Spangles (Salvinia Minima)

<p>Ganas%20[points_amount]%20cuando%20compras%20este%20art%C3%ADculo.</p>
Amount: 20-25 Leaves

Subtotal:

$6.00

Productos complementarios

Cargando complementos…

 Ver todos los detalles
Descripción
Reseñas
Policies & Disclaimers
Descripción
Aquatic Plants

Water Spangles

The finest-scale floating fern in the catalog — tiny paired leaves that tile the surface in a dense, unbroken mat and provide exceptional shrimplet shelter from the very first day.

Tiny Paired Floating Leaves Dense Surface Mat Fastest Coverage of Any Floating Plant Shrimplet & Fry Shelter No CO₂ Required Shrimp Safe

Water Spangles (Salvinia minima) is the smallest-scale floating plant in the catalog — tiny paired oval leaves less than a centimeter across that tile the water surface in a dense, interlocking mat rather than the rosette clusters of Water Lettuce or the spaced nodes of Salvinia natans. The individual leaves are modest, but the collective effect of a healthy mat is one of the most complete and visually coherent surface covers available — a continuous green plane that diffuses overhead light evenly, absorbs nutrients aggressively from the water column, and provides an immediate, dense tangle of hanging root-like submerged leaves that shrimp, shrimplets, and fry colonize from day one. It spreads faster than any other floating plant in the catalog under good conditions, tolerates a wide range of temperatures and parameters, and needs nothing beyond calm water, adequate light, and occasional thinning to thrive indefinitely.

Not Required CO₂
64–86°F Temperature
Low–High Lighting
What to Expect

Growth & Behavior Over Time

Tiny paired leaves that tile the surface into a continuous mat — individual Water Spangles leaves are small — under a centimeter in most conditions — and sit flat and close together on the surface rather than spreading into the open rosette form of larger floating plants. A healthy colony produces a dense, near-seamless green mat that covers available surface area more completely than Water Lettuce or Salvinia natans of equivalent mass. The fine scale reads differently from the viewer's perspective — less individual plant, more living surface. Fastest spreading floating plant in the catalog — Water Spangles propagates by budding off new fronds from existing ones continuously under good conditions. In a warm, well-lit tank with moderate nutrients it can double coverage within a week or two — faster than Water Lettuce or Salvinia natans under comparable conditions. This speed is an asset for rapidly establishing surface cover in new tanks and a reason to stay ahead of thinning in established ones. Submerged modified leaves provide immediate shrimplet shelter — like all Salvinia species, Water Spangles produces submerged modified leaves beneath each node that function as roots, accumulating biofilm and providing physical structure for shrimplets and juvenile shrimp to navigate. The finer scale of S. minima means the submerged structure is proportionally denser relative to the surface area — more coverage per square centimeter of surface than its larger relatives, with correspondingly more refuge and foraging surface for very small animals. Aggressive nutrient uptake across the water column — the rapid growth rate of Water Spangles is powered by aggressive nitrogen uptake — nitrates, ammonia, and phosphates are absorbed quickly from the water column as the plant grows. In shrimp tanks and breeding setups where nutrient accumulation is a consistent concern, a healthy mat of Water Spangles makes a measurable contribution to water quality maintenance between water changes. Diffuses overhead light to a fine, even gradient — the dense, interlocking mat of Water Spangles filters overhead light into a soft, even diffusion across the entire covered surface rather than the patchier light-and-shadow pattern that larger, spaced floating plants produce. The even light reduction is particularly effective at suppressing surface and upper-water-column algae without creating the stark covered/uncovered zones that single larger plants can produce. Sensitive to surface agitation — calm water essential — Water Spangles shares the surface agitation sensitivity of all Salvinia species. Strong flow directed at the surface, aggressive spray bars, or persistent rippling from powerheads prevents the plant from maintaining its water-repellent surface and leads to decline. Redirect filter outputs to flow below the surface and away from the floating mat. A calm surface is the single most important environmental condition for long-term success with any Salvinia.
How to Set It Up

Getting Started

1 Float on a calm, well-lit surface — place Water Spangles directly on the water surface in a position that receives moderate to strong overhead light. No substrate contact, anchoring, or preparation is required. The plant will begin spreading within days under suitable conditions — small clusters introduced to a new tank typically establish a visible mat within one to two weeks.
2 Eliminate surface agitation before or immediately after introduction — reposition spray bars, filter outlets, and powerheads so water movement does not disturb the surface. This is more important for Water Spangles than for larger floating plants — the fine, lightweight leaves are displaced and wetted more easily by surface disturbance than the heavier rosettes of Water Lettuce or the larger nodes of Salvinia natans. A floating airline tubing ring can corral the plant into the calmest area of the surface if full flow redirection is not practical.
3 Thin aggressively and regularly — Water Spangles spreads faster than any other floating plant in the catalog and will cover the entire surface in a densely packed mat if left unthinned. Remove roughly one third of the coverage every one to two weeks, keeping the mat at 50–60% surface coverage to allow gas exchange, maintain light to submerged plants, and prevent the mat from becoming so thick that lower layers begin to die from light deprivation. Removed portions can be added to breeding boxes or used to seed a second tank.
4 Dose liquid fertilizer lightly for sustained color and growth — Water Spangles grows quickly and exports nutrients rapidly, depleting water column nutrients faster than slower-growing plants. A light dose of balanced liquid fertilizer once or twice weekly sustains the vivid green color of new growth and prevents the yellowing that indicates nitrogen depletion in a fast-growing mat. In a well-stocked shrimp tank with regular feeding, fertilizer supplementation may not be necessary at all.
💡 Bonus Tip

Water Spangles is the most practical floating plant for nano tanks specifically — the small leaf scale is proportionally appropriate for tanks under 10 gallons in a way that the large rosettes of Water Lettuce and the spaced nodes of Salvinia natans are not. A single small cluster introduced to a 5-gallon shrimp tank will establish a complete, well-proportioned surface mat in two to three weeks without overwhelming the layout the way a larger floating plant inevitably does at nano scale.

🌿
Browse more aquatic plants

Pair Water Spangles with Water Lettuce or Salvinia for a complete, layered floating surface. Browse our Aquatic Plants collection.

→
Before placing your order, please review our 📋 DOA Policy 🚚 Shipping Info
Reseñas
Policies & Disclaimers
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.

    Water Spangles (Salvinia Minima)
    $6.00
    $6.00
    Inicio Tienda
    Lista de deseos     Iniciar sesión