Do faster growing plants "clean" water better than slow growing plants?

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

I have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to do. A back row of water wisteria and maybe some valisneria in the corner. In front of that; Brazilian pennywort, bacopa monieri, anubias, java fern, planted anacharis and crypt for looks.

I really like the sounds of this! You've thought out your planting way more than I ever do, lol! Bear in mind that the anacharis will quickly grow tall and reach the surface, and will need trimming back often to avoid it blocking the view of what's behind it, and to stop it shading out the others and hogging all the light.

I'm going to float some frogbit, spangles and wisteria. I know you recommended only one kind of floating plant. But I want some of the tank to have those long frogbit roots but not the entire tank. I still want to have a lot of floaters to process the ammonia.

What's the latin name for spangles? I'm not familiar with that common name.

If you'd like to go for multiple floaters, then absolutely, go for it! Not mixing them is more of a personal preference, but I wasn't sure what you meant about buying more to have enough for cycling - whether you meant you'd need say, more than one pot of frogbit in order to cycle the tank. But since the floaters tend to grow fast and reproduce prolifically, it would be a waste of money, when one pot will lead to plenty of frogbit soon enough!

The frogbit will be at the end of the tank furthest from the bubbler because I read that if the tops are wet, they can rot so I don't want them getting splashed on. The spangles and wisteria will fill out the rest.

Make sure to allow some open space for gas exchange, and any fish that like to dash to the surface for oxygen like cories and labyrinth fish. Otherwise, sounds awesome! Would love to see it and how it progresses, so I hope you make a journal thread!

 

[Essjay]

What's the latin name for spangles?

Salvinia minima

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Salvinia minima

Ah! Thank you
@sharkweek178 I love it, you looked at all the floating plants, couldn't pick one and decided to go for them all? lol!
Sounds as though you want it cycled fast? Understandable, but try to be patient and don't stock too heavily, too fast.

 

[sharkweek178]

I really like the sounds of this! You've thought out your planting way more than I ever do, lol! Bear in mind that the anacharis will quickly grow tall and reach the surface, and will need trimming back often to avoid it blocking the view of what's behind it, and to stop it shading out the others and hogging all the light.

Thanks. I've been planning. This forum is invaluable in helping me work out ideas or even avoid bad ones. I'm trying for a natural look.
actually have anacharis in my current tank. I like it a lot. I did have it planted in the substrate. But the bottom areas were turning brown because they weren't getting enough light. So I'm floating out there. The fish seem to like that. It's a benefit either way. My new tank has a more powerful light so I'm going to try planting it again. If that doesn't work, I can attach it to something higher in the tank or float it.

What's the latin name for spangles? I'm not familiar with that common name.

If you'd like to go for multiple floaters, then absolutely, go for it! Not mixing them is more of a personal preference, but I wasn't sure what you meant about buying more to have enough for cycling - whether you meant you'd need say, more than one pot of frogbit in order to cycle the tank. But since the floaters tend to grow fast and reproduce prolifically, it would be a waste of money, when one pot will lead to plenty of frogbit soon enough!

Well there's some benefits that I want. The effect on water quality, giving the fish shade and places to hide and explore and of course the appearance.
I want the long frogbit roots in some of the tank but not all so I figure having other floating plants take up the space will achieve that.
I think at this point, I'm just getting some small batches of each and letting them reproduce into I have enough. Since the floaters grow and reproduce fast, there's no reason to spend the extra money and I'm taking time to make sure the plants are growing before I add fish anyways. Why pay extra for something that I'll be giving away or discarding in a few months?

Make sure to allow some open space for gas exchange, and any fish that like to dash to the surface for oxygen like cories and labyrinth fish. Otherwise, sounds awesome! Would love to see it and how it progresses, so I hope you make a journal thread!

I already made some feeder rings and a plant corral out of some airline tubing, fishing line and suction cups for those very reasons. I have a honey gourami who is a labyrinth breather. And the salt and pepper corys I'm getting sometimes take air from the surface too. I almost paid for some 3D printed ones before I realized that I could just make them myself. It's even better that way because I can make them to the exact measurements that I want.
And I do have a journal thread. https://www.fishforums.net/threads/rookie-upgrade.483538/