Floating plants are one of the quickest ways to make a new tank look established. They shade the water, soak up excess nutrients and give shy fish somewhere to hide. They are also famously fast growers, which is a blessing and a curse: left alone, they can cover the whole surface in a few weeks.
Here is how to pick the right ones for your tank and keep them under control.
Why Add Floating Plants?
Floaters take their carbon straight from the air and their nutrients from the water, so they grow quickly and compete with algae for the same food. They also cast shade, which is helpful for low-light plants and for fish that like dim, calm water. If you want a full rundown of the benefits, read our guide to the most popular floating aquarium plants.
Good for New Tanks
A new tank is a prime target for algae because nutrients build up before the plants settle in. A layer of floaters takes up those nutrients and keeps the water balanced while the rest of your plants root. It is an easy win and a good way to calm a tank down.
Easy Floating Plants to Start With
Salvinia natans is a classic beginner floater, with small, velvety leaves that sit neatly on the surface. It is hardy, cheap and good in cooler or coldwater tanks. Keep the lid slightly open or raised, as it prefers fresh air and can suffer if the leaves stay damp under a sealed lid.
Tropica Phyllanthus fluitans (Red Root Floater) is the colourful choice, with tiny round leaves that blush red in bright light. It is best in an open-topped tank, where the humid air under a lid can cause the leaves to rot. If you prefer something very different, a floating moss ball drifts at the surface with no planting at all.
Amazon frogbit and hornwort are also excellent: frogbit forms lily-pad-like rosettes with long, dangling roots, and hornwort is a versatile stem plant that can float or be planted. Browse the full range of floating aquarium plants to see what is currently available.
From Aqua Essentials
Add shade, shelter and natural nutrient control in one go with our range of floating plants.
Shop floating plants →How to Keep Floating Plants in Check
The easiest rule is to thin them regularly. Scoop out a handful during each water change and keep the surface at roughly half to two-thirds covered. This lets enough light through for the plants below while still giving you the benefits above.
Watch the roots too. Long-rooted floaters such as Amazon frogbit can tangle with the filter intake or block light for plants that need it, so trim the roots if they get out of hand. If your plants below start to fade, remove more floaters, as they may be taking too much of the light.
Floating Plants and Fish
Most floaters are safe with community fish, and some are a favourite with bettas, who like the cover and calm surface. See our guide to the best aquarium plants for betta tanks for more ideas. For goldfish and other plant eaters, choose tough species such as hornwort from our non-edible plants.
Floating Plants and Algae
Floaters will not cure an algae outbreak by themselves, but they help prevent one. By taking up nutrients and shading the water, they remove two of the things algae needs. Combine them with regular water changes and balanced feeding for the best results, and see our algae treatments if a problem has already taken hold.
A few well-chosen floaters can calm a new tank, shade shy fish and keep algae in check with very little effort. Browse the range at aquaessentials.co.uk, or get in touch if you would like help choosing the right ones for your setup.
