Floating plants

[Beeker]

I need a floating plant for my tanks, 10 gal. and 75 gal. but I need something that will let some light through for my other plants. Should I go with duckweed, Amazon Frogbit, eared watermoss, or Brazilian Pennywort.

 

[Timmain42]

Skip the duckweed and it's ilk. You'll generate more headaches than you'll ever want to deal with. Hornwort is excellent, should you be able to locate some.

 

[Beeker]

What are those foreground plants in your tank? I was thinking of using clover. Any thoughts?

I should use Hornwort as a floating plant? Isn't it one of those bushy stem plants? I wasn't aware that it was a floating plant. I guess I could do that.

 

[Timmain42]

What are those foreground plants in your tank? I was thinking of using clover. Any thoughts?

I should use Hornwort as a floating plant? Isn't it one of those bushy stem plants? I wasn't aware that it was a floating plant. I guess I could do that.

Which tank? I have more than a few...
(edit-in every tank in my sig except the Nanocube, I am using dwarf sag. The Nano used broad-leaf pygmy chain sword (I've since redone that tank))

Floating hornwort rocks. My first forays with hornwort were of the planted variety as well, but I found it grew much much better when floating.

I like clover myself, and have been growing a small patch for a couple of years now. My only issue is that, for me, it seems to grow verrrry verrrrrrrrrrrrrry slowly. It is totally possible that it's just me tho. <shrug>

 

[mcps95]

Not sure if it's available at a LFS for you, but Anacharis (Elodea) is a great floating plant that won't "shed" as badly as hornwort (leaves rather than small needles).

 

[Beeker]

I've seen Hornwort at the LFS and Anachris. Does Hornwort shed? I have Anachris both planted and floating. I like it well enough. I just want something that doesn't roam the tank so much.

 

[Darkblade48]

I've seen Hornwort at the LFS and Anachris. Does Hornwort shed? I have Anachris both planted and floating. I like it well enough. I just want something that doesn't roam the tank so much.

IME, Hornwort, if not treated properly, will shed its needles as if there's no tomorrow.

 

[mcps95]

As Darkblade48 indicates, hornwort has a tendency to shed its "needles" all over the place, and they are sometimes hard to clean/vacuum up. Anacharis doesn't shed nearly as much (even when it is dying), and its leaves are easy to clean up by skimming the surface of the substrate with a gravel vacuum.

 

[Beeker]

In that case, I'll stick with the Anachris. Although, I was still curious of a floating plant that wouldn't roam the tank so much. But, if it is a pain to maintain I won't bother; I'll just stick with the Anachris.

 

[pl*co]

Hi Beeker. I've had water lettuce, duckweed and anacharis floating in my tanks and what is going to make the difference is the amount of current. Whether from the filter or an air stone, a powerhead or whatever. In a 10 gallon I had all of the above at one time or another. When I kept the water relatively calm, the floating plants were calm. When I increased the circulation, the floating plants circulated. I liked all of the floating plants I have tried so far. Sometimes they might get hung up behind the filter (duckweed), other times they might get hung up in other plants as they move around (anacharis). Personally, I liked them moving in some tanks (for a variety of lighted areas) and in other cases, I preferred them to be somewhat still. It just depends what you want to accomplish. Right now, I have a combination floating in my 25 gallon. Great for fry hiding places. Snails like to hang out too. I just like seeing them float. Anacharis grows like mad. The others are more dependant on the amount of light, ferts, etc.