Floating plants in aquariums: benefits and care

[fluxa]

I've been looking into floating plants too, seems like they're a great low-maintenance option. Anyone have experience with them?

[bigtop]

I'm quite fond of water spangles - they're great for adding some visual interest to my tanks. Duckweed also does exceptionally well, although I know some people view it as a nuisance. As for other options, hornwort and anacharis can both be left to float freely, and I've had good luck with water sprite too. Occasionally, I'll use Java moss in a floating capacity, and it seems to do just fine.

[dungeon]

Frogbit's a solid choice but it's not a fan of strong currents. Duckweed's incredibly resilient - it can handle just about anything. Limnophila sessiliflora's a great option for stem plants; personally, I find it more visually appealing than elodea densa, which can look a bit disheveled and doesn't always stay afloat.

[florap]

Hornwort and Anacharis are super versatile - you can float them or plant them, and they also do well tucked into or under rocks and sticks. They're fantastic little tank cleaners, and you can really tell they're working hard by looking at their roots and growth patterns.

[florap]

Frogbit's a solid choice but it's not a fan of strong currents. Duckweed's incredibly resilient - it can handle just about anything. Limnophila sessiliflora's a great option for stem plants; personally, I find it more visually appealing than elodea densa, which can look a bit disheveled and doesn't always stay afloat.

Sir Fancypants Hater-of-Duckweed wants us to fact-check, huh?

[coltin]

Water Sprite, Ceratopteris thalictroides or cornuta, is pretty versatile - it does well on the surface, but you can also plant it in the substrate if it gets too much for you.

[florap]

Hornwort and Anacharis are super versatile - you can float them or plant them, and they also do well tucked into or under rocks and sticks. They're fantastic little tank cleaners, and you can really tell they're working hard by looking at their roots and growth patterns.

Thanks for the info, got me to do some research.
Elodea densa (Anacharis) and Limnophila sessiliflora, checked them out.
Still think my Limnophila sessiliflora is a better choice than Elodea densa, but now I know why some folks might like the latter.

[dungeon]

Hornwort and Anacharis are super versatile - you can float them or plant them, and they also do well tucked into or under rocks and sticks. They're fantastic little tank cleaners, and you can really tell they're working hard by looking at their roots and growth patterns.

@dungeon, you got me curious. I ended up learning something new, thanks for that. I initially thought you were being sarcastic, asking us to look up whether duckweed can actually withstand nuclear fallout - that stuff's tough, I get it. I've noticed Anacharis is commonly referred to in the US, but here it's mostly sold as Elodea. I try to use their regular names when I can, like pennywort. Does Limnophila sessiliflora have a more common name, by any chance?

[florap]

Frogbit's a solid choice but it's not a fan of strong currents. Duckweed's incredibly resilient - it can handle just about anything. Limnophila sessiliflora's a great option for stem plants; personally, I find it more visually appealing than elodea densa, which can look a bit disheveled and doesn't always stay afloat.

I'm thinking Ambulia is the common name for sessiliflora - I don't recall seeing it in stores, probably because it's pricey. It's apparently similar to cabomba, which is readily available and affordable here in Dallas, Texas - I've got some, so that's a plus.

Aquatic plant info overload is real. Anyway, duckweed and MTS - those two are a great combo. Here's a little love song for them... just wait for it...

[happyone]

Dwarf water lettuce is a great option for floating plants. It's relatively low maintenance and can thrive in most tanks. Some people might consider it a bit delicate, but I think it's a great choice for those looking for something a bit different.