How To Get Rid Of Moneywort – A Complete Guide To Reclaiming Your

Written ByHoward Parker

Hey there, fellow aquarist! Let’s talk about a plant that many of us have a love-hate relationship with: Moneywort. You likely added it to your tank for its bright green leaves and easy-going nature. It looked fantastic at first, adding a lush, vibrant feel to your underwater world.

But now? Now it’s everywhere. It’s creeping over your substrate, choking out your delicate carpeting plants, and generally staging a full-scale takeover of your carefully planned aquascape. Sound familiar? You’re not alone in this struggle.

Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. The good news is that you absolutely can regain control. In this comprehensive how to get rid of moneywort guide, I promise to walk you through everything you need to know. We’ll cover the best removal techniques, how to prevent it from coming back, and even some eco-friendly ways to dispose of the extra plants.

Ready to reclaim your tank? Let’s dive in!

Why You Might Want to Remove Moneywort (It’s Not Always a Pest!)

First things first, let’s be clear: Moneywort, or Bacopa monnieri, isn’t a “bad” plant. In the right setup, it’s a fantastic, fast-growing stem plant that can help absorb excess nitrates and provide cover for shy fish and shrimp. It’s incredibly hardy, which is why it’s so popular with beginners.

However, that same hardiness is precisely why it can become a problem. Here are a few common reasons you might be looking for how to get rid of moneywort tips:

  • Aggressive Growth: Moneywort can grow like a weed, especially in tanks with good lighting and nutrients. It can quickly outcompete slower-growing or more delicate plants for light and space.
  • Aquascape Aesthetics: Perhaps your vision for your tank has changed. You might be aiming for a meticulously planned Iwagumi style or a Dutch-style aquarium, and Moneywort’s wild, leggy growth just doesn’t fit the look.
  • It’s Taking Over: Sometimes, it simply grows too well. It can form dense mats that cover your substrate, making it difficult for bottom-dwelling fish to forage and blocking light from reaching other plants.
  • Maintenance Overload: The constant trimming required to keep Moneywort in check can become a tedious chore, and you might prefer to replace it with a lower-maintenance alternative.

Understanding the benefits of how to get rid of moneywort—like creating a cleaner look, making space for new species, and reducing your maintenance routine—can be a great motivator for tackling this project.

Before You Start: Essential Prep for a Smooth Removal

Before you roll up your sleeves and plunge your hands into the tank, a little preparation goes a long way. Rushing the job can stir up detritus, stress your fish, and leave behind tiny plant fragments that will just grow back. Let’s set you up for success.

Gather Your Tools

Having the right equipment on hand makes the process much easier and more effective. You don’t need anything too fancy, but these items are incredibly helpful:

  • Aquascaping Tweezers: Long, curved, or straight tweezers are perfect for grabbing individual stems near the substrate without disturbing the surrounding area too much.
  • Aquascaping Scissors: Useful for trimming away any tangled sections before you start pulling.
  • A Siphon or Gravel Vacuum: This is crucial for sucking up any small leaves or stem fragments that break off during removal.
  • A Bucket: You’ll need a dedicated bucket (one that has never seen soap!) to place the removed plants in.
  • A Fish Net: A fine-mesh net is great for skimming any floating bits and pieces from the water’s surface.

Plan Your Attack

Look at your tank and identify the main patches of Moneywort. Decide if you’re going to do a full removal in one session or tackle it in sections over a few days. For heavily planted tanks, a sectional approach can be less stressful for your aquatic inhabitants.

A partial water change is often best done after the removal, as the process will kick up waste and debris. This is one of the most important how to get rid of moneywort best practices to maintain a healthy environment.

The Manual Method: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Get Rid of Moneywort

For most aquarists, manual removal is the safest and most effective method. It requires patience, but it gives you complete control and avoids the use of any chemicals that could harm your fish, shrimp, or beneficial bacteria. So, you’re asking how to how to get rid of moneywort effectively? Follow these steps.

Step 1: Isolate the Area

If possible, gently move any nearby decorations or sensitive plants to give yourself clear access to the Moneywort patch. This minimizes collateral damage to your aquascape.

Step 2: Grip and Pull Gently

Using your fingers or aquascaping tweezers, grab a Moneywort stem as close to the substrate as you can. The goal is to pull up the entire stem along with its roots. Don’t just yank it out!

Pull slowly and steadily with a slight wiggling motion. This helps loosen the roots from the substrate without breaking the stem. If you pull too fast, the stem will snap, leaving the rooted portion behind to regrow.

Step 3: Address Broken Stems and Roots

It’s inevitable that some stems will break. These are one of the most common problems with how to get rid of moneywort. For any that snap, use your tweezers to carefully dig into the substrate and pull out the remaining rooted section. Be meticulous here—every tiny piece left behind is a potential new plant.

Step 4: Skim and Siphon Floating Fragments

As you work, small leaves and stem fragments will break free and float around the tank. Use your fish net to skim these from the surface. Once you’ve removed all the main plants, use your siphon to vacuum the substrate in the area, sucking up any remaining debris. This is your best defense against regrowth.

Step 5: Perform a Water Change

After you’ve removed the plants and cleaned up the debris, perform a 25-30% water change. This will help remove any excess nutrients and detritus that were stirred up into the water column, keeping your water crystal clear and your fish happy.

Alternative Removal Techniques for Stubborn Cases

While manual removal is usually sufficient, sometimes you need a different approach, especially if Moneywort is intertwined with delicate carpeting plants.

The Blackout Method

If you have a few stubborn patches that keep regrowing, you can try a targeted blackout. This involves covering the specific area with a flat, opaque object (like a small piece of slate or a plastic lid) for several days. Without light, the Moneywort will weaken and begin to die off, making it easier to remove completely.

Important: This should only be used for small, targeted areas, as a full-tank blackout can harm your other plants.

Introducing Plant-Eating Inhabitants

For a more natural, long-term control method, you could consider adding some herbivores. Fish like Rosy Barbs or certain types of Goldfish are known to graze on soft-stemmed plants like Moneywort. However, this is a big decision! These fish may also nibble on other plants you want to keep, so do your research to ensure they are compatible with your overall tank setup and community.

Prevention is Key: How to Stop Moneywort from Coming Back

You’ve done the hard work and your tank is Moneywort-free. Congratulations! Now, let’s make sure it stays that way. Following a good prevention strategy is the final step in this how to get rid of moneywort care guide.

  • Quarantine New Plants: Always quarantine new plants in a separate container for a week or two before adding them to your main tank. This allows you to spot and remove any “hitchhiker” plant fragments, like Moneywort, that may have come along for the ride.
  • Be Vigilant: Do a quick scan of your aquarium every few days. If you see a tiny Moneywort sprout, pull it out immediately. It’s much easier to remove one tiny plant than a whole forest a month later.
  • Manage Light and Nutrients: While you don’t want to starve your other plants, being mindful of your lighting period and fertilizer dosing can help prevent the explosive growth that allows plants like Moneywort to take over. Keep your parameters balanced for the plants you want to grow.

Sustainable Disposal: What to Do with Removed Moneywort

Once you have a bucket full of Moneywort, what should you do with it? The most important rule is: NEVER release aquarium plants into local waterways. Moneywort is highly invasive in some regions and can cause serious damage to local ecosystems.

Here are some great, eco-friendly how to get rid of moneywort options:

  1. Compost It: Aquarium plants are fantastic additions to a compost bin. They break down quickly and add valuable nutrients to the soil.
  2. Offer It to Other Hobbyists: Post it on a local aquarium club forum or social media group. What is a pest to you might be a perfect starter plant for someone else! Just be honest about its rapid growth.
  3. Trade It at a Local Fish Store: Some local fish stores will offer store credit for healthy, pest-free plants. It’s worth a call to see if they’re interested.
  4. Let It Dry Out: If you have no other option, lay the plants out on a tray or newspaper and let them dry out completely until they are brown and crispy. Once they are fully dead, they can be safely thrown in the trash.

Choosing a sustainable how to get rid of moneywort method is part of being a responsible aquarist.

Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Rid of Moneywort

Will getting rid of Moneywort crash my aquarium’s cycle?

It’s highly unlikely. While live plants do play a role in processing nitrates, removing even a large amount of Moneywort shouldn’t crash your cycle, as the majority of your beneficial bacteria live in your filter media and substrate. However, if you remove a massive quantity, it’s wise to monitor your ammonia and nitrite levels for a few days as a precaution.

Can I just trim Moneywort instead of removing it?

Absolutely! If you still like the look of Moneywort but just want to control it, aggressive trimming is the way to go. Trim the stems down to your desired height. You can even replant the healthy tops to create a denser, more compact bush. This is a great way to manage it without a full removal.

Will chemicals or algaecides kill Moneywort?

Some liquid carbon products or algaecides, when overdosed, can harm or “melt” delicate plants. However, using chemicals to kill a specific plant is extremely risky. You can easily harm your other plants, invertebrates like shrimp and snails, and even your fish. We strongly recommend sticking to manual removal for the safety of your entire aquarium ecosystem.

Your Tank, Your Vision

There you have it—a complete walkthrough for taking back your tank from an overenthusiastic Moneywort invasion. Remember, this is a common challenge in the aquarium hobby, and successfully managing your aquascape is a rewarding part of the experience.

Take your time, be thorough, and don’t be discouraged if you have to pull a few new sprouts in the coming weeks. By following these steps, you can create the beautiful, balanced underwater world you’ve envisioned.

Happy scaping!

Howard Parker
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