Jungle val

Quick facts

Max height

100 cm

Growth rate

fast

Difficulty

beginner

Placement

background

Propagation

runners

Water parameters

Temperature

18–28°C

pH

6.5 to 8.5

Hardness

5 to 30 dGH

Brackish

tolerated

Cold water

tolerated (unheated setups)

Light and nutrients

Lighting

medium

CO2

not required, but boosts growth and color

Substrate

inert ok

Feeding

feeds from both water column and roots (liquid ferts plus root tabs)

Substrate

What this plant roots into (or attaches to). The substrate affects both plant nutrition and water chemistry; see each linked page for full effects.

This plant feeds primarily from the water column, so substrate choice matters more for its fish-tank compatibility than for plant nutrition.

With fish

Plant-eating fish

safe with plant-eating fish (tough leaves or unpalatable)

Diggers (corydoras, loaches)

may get uprooted by active diggers

Root-disturbing fish

sensitive to root disturbance, plant where roots stay undisturbed

Habitat

Distributed across tropical and temperate regions worldwide. The genus Vallisneria (commonly called val or eelgrass, though not related to marine eelgrass) includes several species used in aquariums: V. spiralis (Italian val, corkscrew val), V. americana (jungle val, giant val), and V. nana (narrow-leaf val). All produce long, grass-like or ribbon-like leaves from a basal rosette and spread by runners. In the wild, Vallisneria grows in lakes, rivers, and streams, forming dense underwater meadows. Vallisneria species have been among the most widely used aquarium plants since the earliest days of the hobby in the 1800s. The long, flowing leaves and easy care make it a classic background plant. The genus is named after Antonio Vallisneri, an Italian naturalist. Vallisneria was one of the first aquatic plants used by Darwin in his research on plant reproduction. The species exhibits a unique pollination mechanism in the wild: male flowers detach from the parent plant and float to the surface, where they drift to female flowers for pollination. Multiple species and cultivars are available in the trade, from the compact V. nana (10–15 cm) to massive V. americana (up to 2 m in suitable conditions).

Care notes

Among the easiest background plants. Grows in low to high light, no CO2 required, pH 6.5-8.5 (actually prefers harder, more alkaline water unlike many aquarium plants), temperature 18–28°C. Plant the rosette with the crown at substrate level and roots buried. Root tabs improve growth. Vallisneria spreads aggressively by runners; a single plant can produce a dozen daughters within a few months, eventually forming a dense wall of flowing, grass-like leaves in the background. Trim excess runners and replant or discard to prevent the tank from becoming an impenetrable Vallisneria jungle. The long leaves (30–100 cm depending on species) grow to the surface and then float along it, creating a canopy effect. Trim leaves that shade out foreground plants. Note: Vallisneria is sensitive to liquid carbon products (glutaraldehyde-based products like Seachem Excel or API CO2 Booster) and may melt if dosed. Use pressurized CO2 or skip supplementation entirely. Propagation is automatic via runners. Available everywhere at low cost.

Further reading

• How to cycle a fish tank
• Water chemistry for fishkeepers: pH, GH, KH, and what they mean