What water parameters does a Giant Cabomba need?

Giant Cabomba does best at 20–28 °C (68–82.4 °F), pH 5.5–7.5 and a general hardness of 2–10 °dGH.

Where should Giant Cabomba be placed in the aquarium?

Giant Cabomba works best at the back of the tank and reaches around 60 cm.

Is the Giant Cabomba suitable for beginners?

Giant Cabomba is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.

Species library

Giant Cabomba

Cabomba aquatica

Cabombaceae

PlantsDifficulty: ●●●●○Data: verified

📷 Ityadi22 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

Giant Cabomba — Cabomba aquatica — 📷 Ityadi22 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

About

Cabomba aquatica is a South American stem plant whose stems carry paired discs of hair-fine, fan-shaped leaflets, building a soft feathery wall along the back of a tank. It is the giant of its genus, with stems that easily pass half a metre, and it was the first Cabomba ever described botanically, though the hobby has since largely moved on to the tougher C. caroliniana. Stems that reach the surface open rounded floating leaves and bright yellow flowers, which is what separates this species from the white-flowered C. caroliniana and the violet-flowered, distinctly harder red C. furcata.

Care

Strong light, injected CO2 and steady water-column dosing are not optional here. Shade it under taller stems, let the CO2 swing, or replant it one time too many and it sheds its leaflets within days. Keep the water soft and slightly acidic (KH under about 7 dKH), hold the temperature below roughly 26 C, and use gentle flow so debris does not settle into the fans. Plant it once, in a spot you will not disturb, and top it rather than pulling the bunch out. Cheap and common in shops, but genuinely not a beginner plant.

Frequently asked questions

What water parameters does a Giant Cabomba need?: Giant Cabomba does best at 20–28 °C (68–82.4 °F), pH 5.5–7.5 and a general hardness of 2–10 °dGH.
Where should Giant Cabomba be placed in the aquarium?: Giant Cabomba works best at the back of the tank and reaches around 60 cm.
Is the Giant Cabomba suitable for beginners?: Giant Cabomba is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature20–28°C

Optimal temp.23–26°C

pH5.5–7.5

Hardness (GH)2–10°d

Carbonate (KH)0–7°d

Water typeFreshwater

FlowLow

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