Floating Plants for a freshwater aquarium

The natural plants in the aquarium can be: foreground plants, background plants or floating plants. Some of the plants can be both background and floating plants, and some foreground plants can be also floating plants. It is a matter of taste and choice how to place them into the aquarium. The fact is that live plants are beautiful and create a natural environment.

The plants differ in light, pH, temperature conditions and they must fit the types of fish inside the tank. Also, the price can be different and you can purchase them considering the conditions inside the tank, your taste and the money you want to spend on the aquarium.
Floating plants are those plants which don’t need the roots to be placed into the substrate, floating up near surface of the water, limiting the lighting inside the tank. Therefore, they have the mission to diminish the light, improving the conditions for the environment if it needs it. A floating plant with small dimensions can be also used in aquariums that need good lighting for creating a special natural aspect. Two species of special floating plants are: Amazon frogbit and duckweed.

• Amazon frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) is a floating plant with leaves that are similar to those of the pond lily, intolerant to hot lighting that might cause serious dross, losing the plant. The form of this plant is that of a rose that grows springs. The springs are going to create other plats at their ends. These endings are going to create new plants as they are detaching themselves from their mother plant. It is not difficult to be taken care of but it needs some special attention regarding lighting system. The preferred temperature for this floating plant is 64 to 82 degrees F, the light preferred is medium to bright, and the pH required is between 6.5 and 7.5.

• Duckweed (Lemna minor) is another recommended floating plant for your aquarium, being easy to maintain. It creates a spectacular view and it is very easy to be maintained alive and beautiful. It can be used in aquariums and also in ponds for their property to create a layer at the surface of the water that protects the aquatic environment from direct sunlight. Because of this feature it can also reduce the development of algae into the tank. For its property to spread very quickly, it must be carefully watched in order not to overfill the tank and block the light. Because duckweed is so dense, it is a proper medium for spawning, but it can also be good food for the fish, for the plant is rich in many minerals and vitamins. The preferred temperature for this floating plant is 64 to 79 degrees F, the light preferred is medium to bright, and the pH required is between 4.5 and 7.5.