Which Floating Plants

[Mogs26]

Ok, so having been quite sure that I wasn't going to plant my tank with real plants, as I struggle to keep them alive out of the water, I have discovered that my rainbows would prefer a little more shade. I have a 215l Aqua One AR980, with a couple of fake plants at either end of the tank and a coconut java moss ball in one corner. I will be getting some java fern soon (real!) for the middle, and was wondering what would be a good floating plant for my setup. I have read up a lot, and like Amazonian frogbit, but I think it's going to be too invasive, so perhaps there is something similar looking which is less rampant? I think, from what I have read that some floating plants will clog up my filter, which I don't want, but is there a way of securing them so they keep away form the inlet? As you can probably tell, I am not looking for hi-tech planting, so need some advice from the experts please!
Thanks
Carole x

 

[lljdma06]

Ok, so having been quite sure that I wasn't going to plant my tank with real plants, as I struggle to keep them alive out of the water, I have discovered that my rainbows would prefer a little more shade. I have a 215l Aqua One AR980, with a couple of fake plants at either end of the tank and a coconut java moss ball in one corner. I will be getting some java fern soon (real!) for the middle, and was wondering what would be a good floating plant for my setup. I have read up a lot, and like Amazonian frogbit, but I think it's going to be too invasive, so perhaps there is something similar looking which is less rampant? I think, from what I have read that some floating plants will clog up my filter, which I don't want, but is there a way of securing them so they keep away form the inlet? As you can probably tell, I am not looking for hi-tech planting, so need some advice from the experts please!
Thanks
Carole x

Salvinia species are nice to try. I have a strong filter as well and what I'll usually do to keep floaters in place is cut a plastic cup so that you only have a ring that is comprised of the rim. I usually use clear cups but it doesn't really matter. It has to be thick enough to float and have a rim. Then you float that on the surface of your tank and keep your floaters inside the ring. Does this make any sense? Works like a charm for me. Frogbit isn't bad if you prune it regularly and only keep the smaller cuttings.

llj

 

[Mogs26]

What a clever idea! Thank you-I have some plastic cups too, so I could try that. I will have a look at the salvinia, thanks for the suggestion. I don't know if the filter is particularly strong-I am a bit new to all this-it's the one that came with the tank, but being in the tank, I don't want its impeller gunked up with leaves!

 

[This Old Spouse]

I use Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) with great success. My shyer fish love it and I don't have a problem with it in my filter.

 

[Mogs26]

ooh I like the look of that This Old Spouse! I suppose I could try llj's cup idea with that too if necessary! Are either of these better with stone hard water?

 

[lljdma06]

You could. Many of the stemplants can also function as floaters.

 

[Mogs26]

Wow llj! I have just looked at your tanks pics in your profile-you have some lovely setups there. I don't plan to get that planted, but well done you!

 

[Mogs26]

Ok, so having been quite sure that I wasn't going to plant my tank with real plants, as I struggle to keep them alive out of the water, I have discovered that my rainbows would prefer a little more shade. I have a 215l Aqua One AR980, with a couple of fake plants at either end of the tank and a coconut java moss ball in one corner. I will be getting some java fern soon (real!) for the middle, and was wondering what would be a good floating plant for my setup. I have read up a lot, and like Amazonian frogbit, but I think it's going to be too invasive, so perhaps there is something similar looking which is less rampant? I think, from what I have read that some floating plants will clog up my filter, which I don't want, but is there a way of securing them so they keep away form the inlet? As you can probably tell, I am not looking for hi-tech planting, so need some advice from the experts please!
Thanks
Carole x

Salvinia species are nice to try. I have a strong filter as well and what I'll usually do to keep floaters in place is cut a plastic cup so that you only have a ring that is comprised of the rim. I usually use clear cups but it doesn't really matter. It has to be thick enough to float and have a rim. Then you float that on the surface of your tank and keep your floaters inside the ring. Does this make any sense? Works like a charm for me. Frogbit isn't bad if you prune it regularly and only keep the smaller cuttings.

llj

You know what? Since you said it wasn't that bad, I am going for the frogbit. I figured that I could keep it under control at the same time as I do the water change, and I really love the way it looks I may regret that decision but I can always blame you !!!!!!
Thanks for the advice-I will definitely use your cup idea-I have 100s!

 

[lljdma06]

Wow llj! I have just looked at your tanks pics in your profile-you have some lovely setups there. I don't plan to get that planted, but well done you!

Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say in the beginning, and then a year later they more scapes than I do!

Just kidding, thank you for your kind words. I have to update that profile. I have a new scape in the journal section.

Enjoy your frogbit, it's really a nice plant.

 

[Mogs26]

Wow llj! I have just looked at your tanks pics in your profile-you have some lovely setups there. I don't plan to get that planted, but well done you!

Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say in the beginning, and then a year later they more scapes than I do!

Just kidding, thank you for your kind words. I have to update that profile. I have a new scape in the journal section.

Enjoy your frogbit, it's really a nice plant.

Thanks! From being adamant that I am not having any live plants at all, I have got some java moss and will be getting some fern, plus the frogbit-not a bad u turn in 6 weeks is it

 

[Aqua Tom]

Will crypt be ok as a floating plant?

 

[lljdma06]

Wow llj! I have just looked at your tanks pics in your profile-you have some lovely setups there. I don't plan to get that planted, but well done you!

Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say in the beginning, and then a year later they more scapes than I do!

Just kidding, thank you for your kind words. I have to update that profile. I have a new scape in the journal section.

Enjoy your frogbit, it's really a nice plant.

Thanks! From being adamant that I am not having any live plants at all, I have got some java moss and will be getting some fern, plus the frogbit-not a bad u turn in 6 weeks is it

See, you are already ahead of me...

Will crypt be ok as a floating plant?

No, granted, you can, and I have floated it temporarily while I've waited to plant it, but in the wild this plant is always attached to the substrate, and it wouldn't look right. At least IMO. In its native habitat, it also undergoes periods of above water growth and in fact makes a fair terrestrial plant.

 

[Mogs26]

Quickie update-the frogbit arrived in a complete state thanks to the mail, but I managed to salvage some, and some beautiful plants arrived today from the same guy, packaged the same way as the previous lot had been, before the mail steam rollered it Anyway, I have tried various depth rims, but the rainbows seem to think it's some kind of game to pull all the plants out of it and to sink the rim, so that I have to fish it out every 5 minutes , so I am just going to have to keep a close eye on the frogbit to make sure it doesn't invade everything!-still I can do that as part of my weekly routine when I am waiting for my DIY python to do my water change!