Looking For Great Floating Plants

[crabbylion]

I'm trying to create a good environment for fry in a 29 gallon tank instead of separating them. I figured if I create hiding spots at each water level (especially near the surface) the fry would have a better chance of survival. Can you give me some ideas on floating plants? Maybe those that do decent in less than 8hrs of light each day.

 

[Carlovel1]

Duckweed, Amazon Frogbit and Water Hyesinth (excuse my spelling ) should do fine

 

[elisew]

Some floating plants I`ve had good growth and coverage with are Salvinia natans and Phyllanthus fluitans. Frogbit is supposed to be another good floating plant too.

 

[Ryan12]

a large mass of java moss might work for you. It floats. It is not as pretty as some of the other suggestions, but it has worked for me.

 

[mark4785]

Would duckweed get sucked into the filter system? I know its leaves are quite small.

Duckweed eventually develops a root system below the floating leaves so perhaps get some duckweed that is anchored by a root system so it doesn't get sucked into places where it shouldn't go.

 

[Carlovel1]

Internal Filter or external filter?

 

[mrs biffster]

Java moss would get blown about with the current of an internal filter or an external filter with a spray bar. A good floating plant to have if you can obtain it is Ricca it's a bit like duckweed but less evasive.

 

[Carlovel1]

If you have Java moss floating with an internal filter, it will get sucked up by the filter

 

[myrtle]

I am trying to come up with a way of introducing surface plants whilst preventing them being blown around etc. I've been looking at the way riparium growers plant and have decided to use some of the black pots that plants come in, line with fine mesh, fill with some old eco-complete which I've just removed from an old set-up (rinsed), plant with Creeping Jenny which I handily have in the back garden and attach to glass with suckers. I have no idea if this will work but it'll be interesting to see.

 

[pacman]

I've had good sucess with Hydrocotyle Leucocephala as a floating plant. (Bought from Scotty on here) Can be planted into substrate or left as floating. Working well for me.

 

[Teephphah]

My attempts to cover rocks in riccia were a near-complete failure, but as a result, I CAN say that riccia works VERY well as a floating plant. I have no fry to worry about, but my african dwarf frogs and smaller guppies love to hang out in, around and underneath the two large floating islands of riccia that have developed in my 55 gallon.

Yes, it DOES get blown around (and sucked into the filter) when it is small, but eventually enough of it gets matted together that it creates a really great little "safe zone." Of course, it helps if you have some long vallis or anacharis floating at the surface to help the mats to start forming.