Floating plant ideas

Hello everyone. I'm pretty new to fish keeping (still cycling my 55g) and very new to plants I've done a little research but not sure of which plants are right for my setup.
Here's some ideas of what I like:

Frogbit

Dwarf water lettuce

Water spangle

Red root floater (phyllanthus fluitans)

I'm looking for something that's low light/low tech I don't want to have to dose fertilizer or add co2 this is my first experiment with plants and if all goes well will look into more plants and possibly upgrading my setup but for now I just want something low maintenance to see if I have any kind of green thumb.

I want floating plants for my gourami I like the looks of the ones that kind of sit on the top of the water and there roots protrude down into the water (the deeper the better!!). I would like to have kind of a jungle of floating plant roots but leave enough room that fish will be able to swim through the roots. If my fish stock matters let me know I'll post it.

This is my light a single 36" fluorescent (got it used am goin to replace in the future) also have blue leds I run at night


I'm basically just wandering if the plants I picked will work or if there are others that would work better or look better for my setup or that the gourami would like more.

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated Thank you for reading!!

 

I don't have any experience with the others listed but, dwarf water lettuce is near invincible. I also love the prehistoric look and the lengths the roots can get. These can choke out light to other parts of the tank so "thinning the herd" may be necessary every now and then. Please make sure you dry any culled specimens completely before tossing them in the trash to make sure they don't make their way into any of your local waterways.

 

I have tried surface floating plants ( water lettuce, hyacinth, and frog-bit) in the past. My hopes were to have those dense whimsical roots draping from the surface for my gouramis to hide in. What I got were plants that my gourami tore apart to pull under for a nest .

I have a boatload of plants, and I've found that the gouramis really like hornwort, and wisteria. In fact, my dwarf will pull the hornwort into the wisteria to build hiding places. Both can be free floating, or rooted in the substrate and they both look nice.

 

Dovah . yes that's the kind of look I want with the roots very long to fill out some of the top space. Any pics?? I'll keep in mind drying culled plants thank you!!!
BlackTeeShirt so you don't think the surface plants will work? I don't want to get them and have them eaten or torn apart. I had looked into hornwort and wisteria (not exactly the look I wanted but if that's what will work best for my situation. will do) do these have enough room to have harlequin rasboras or skirt tetras swim through and around them? (Maybe a weird question lol)

Also I know lighting doesn't matter as much when it comes to floating plants since there so close to the light source but will my light work?

Thank you guys so much for the input!!

 

They may work for you because you have more surface area than my tank (29 gallon), but I would test the waters first. Maybe put one of each in to see how they do?

Both hornwort and wisteria will easily allow for rasboras and skirts to swim through. Your light will probably be fine for both, especially if floating.

If this doesn't fit the bill, maybe you can share a picture and we can try to provide suggestions that fit the decor/style?

 

 

Thank you for the pics I love the look definitely what I would like to have if appropriate.
BlackTeeShirt Thank you for your input. I don't have the gourami yet as I'm still cycling (blue gourami if it makes a difference) the plan was to get a floating plant and let it grow out a little before adding the gourami (if more appropriate to get the gourami before adding plants will do)
Here's my tank so far (not the greatest pic can get a better one after work if interested)

As you can see I need something to help fill out the top half.
This is my first tank (please be kind) decorated mostly with what was available at Walmart. Eventually I'm going to swap out the fake rock cave in the corner with a real rock cave I make (still figuring that out) and if floating plants go well will look into doing real plants. I'm still playing with decoration locations. it's a work in progress and any constructive criticism is welcome.

the wisteria and hornwort don't require anything special? just trying to keep it simple with the plants no fertilizer no co2 just a first attempt at some simple plants

 

Water wisteria, hornwort, anacharis, moneywort, Brazilian pennywort, Bacopa caroliniana, Java fern, Anubias, guppy grass, Java moss and Cryptocoryne wendtiI are all considered "low tech" plants and should do just fine in almost any low tech set up. I'm sure others will come along and add to the list but there are definitely some awesome plants you can get without spending an arm and a leg on lighting, ferts and CO2!

 

Wow that's quite the list Dovah thank you so much that's just what I've been looking for is a nice list of low light/low tech aquarium plants to research.
I'm guessing not all those are floaters. I will definitely reference this list if things go well with my first plant
I love planted aquariums and would love to heavily plant an aquarium in the future but this is still my first tank. Baby steps lol.

 

Everything on that list aside from Cryptocoryne can be grown floating from experience. Doesn't necessarily mean they'll grow as nicely as if they were planted. My Anubias has been left floating and grown all sorts of crazy "arms." People say it doesn't grow quickly but it's amazing how quickly the plant will rearrange itself for maximum light consumption.

I was super wary of real plants when I got back into aquariums again. I ended up spending a boat load of money on fake plants and then almost immediately caved and switched everything over to real as soon as I realized how easy it is to keep things going. I used to go crazy and dose ferts (root tabs and liquid ferts) but now I just let everything grow on its own. Nothing in my tanks requires any extra effort as far as growing them goes, I've just set them and forgotten them. The only thing is trimming them up or propagating them when needed! I've got a jungle in my 125 gallon and think it looks awesome, though I probably should tidy things up a bit.

 

Thank you for the pics I love the look definitely what I would like to have if appropriate.
@ Thank you for your input. I don't have the gourami yet as I'm still cycling (blue gourami if it makes a difference) the plan was to get a floating plant and let it grow out a little before adding the gourami (if more appropriate to get the gourami before adding plants will do)
Here's my tank so far (not the greatest pic can get a better one after work if interested)

As you can see I need something to help fill out the top half.
This is my first tank (please be kind) decorated mostly with what was available at Walmart. Eventually I'm going to swap out the fake rock cave in the corner with a real rock cave I make (still figuring that out) and if floating plants go well will look into doing real plants. I'm still playing with decoration locations. it's a work in progress and any constructive criticism is welcome.

the wisteria and hornwort don't require anything special? just trying to keep it simple with the plants no fertilizer no co2 just a first attempt at some simple plants

The tank looks pretty darn good! WAAAYYY better than my 1st tank, that's for sure. I agree that you need some height in the back, or something to add to the upper portion of the tank. The floating plants may actually work out alright with how you have your HOB placed, and the overall length of the tank. If it is the look you want (which is awesome BTW), I strongly encourage trying it out. I tend to try things small scale until I can confirm whether it's going to be good. That's what I'd suggest here, and you can definitely add the plants before, or after the gourami. You can add them now if you like!

I also have a dwarf blue gourami, who was the main culprit of plant destruction! He's big on grabbing and pulling plants around, so the hornwort really fits the bill. The wisteria grows like a weed, so he could pull leaves off daily and you'd never even notice. I have some planted, and some floating that he hangs out inside and builds. They were the 1st plants I put in my tank and literally only needed the lights turned on, no additional additives. I do dose fertilizers now, but they were going strong well before I started that.
Dovah has exactly what I was looking for in her tank! I'm jealous... may have to try again once I get the 75 up and running!

 

Ironically, I just walked in the door and looked at the tank and here he is building a nest!

 

Thank you so much Dovah sorry I didn't realize all those plants could float that's awesome!!!
Guppy grass looks like it can really take over a tank if left unkempt. I like the Brazilian pennywort a lot.

Your pic of the dwarf water lettuce makes me want to go that root.
Any suggestions on which ones will go better with a gourami?

If things go well I'll probably be in that same boat. Replacing all the fake plants with real plants which I want to do anyways. It will just be sooner than expected lol

Thank you so much for all the help

 

Current been bothering mine. Really love them but like current too. May get frog bit. I think it a little more tolerant. I believe it has waxy cuticle if I'm correct

 

Any pictures? Are you using a powerhead? Or just the current created by your filter?

 

Both. Got ac30 and rio 50. My lettuce split several times but current hard on roots.

 

So my hob shouldn't bother them?

Beautiful aquarium!! what are the white flowers?

BlackTeeShirt just seen your pic. That's so cool what kind of gourami do you have

 

You should be fine. I don't have any white flowers?

 

I think those are just the white LED lights.

Any cover will be highly appreciated by your gourami, I haven't found that they're very picky. Get what you want and they'll do just fine!

 

I think those are just the white LED lights.

Any cover will be highly appreciated by your gourami, I haven't found that they're very picky. Get what you want and they'll do just fine!

Duh I feel dumb. I didn't catch the reflection lol

 

So my hob shouldn't bother them?

Beautiful aquarium!! what are the white flowers?

BlackTeeShirt just seen your pic. That's so cool what kind of gourami do you have

He's a powder blue dwarf. I also have a golden.

 

Duh. yea it's the white leds reflecting off the leaves my bad .

Thank you everyone for all your input. I think I'm going to go with dwarf water lettuce and maybe Brazilian pennywort that way if he rips one up I still have the other lol

Is there anything special to acclimating aquatic plants or preparing them for the tank? I need to do more research.

If anyone has any pictures of there floating plants it's always appreciated!!

EDIT: sorry BlackTeeShirt I just seen your other post (#11) sorry I'm at work and will start typing have to walk away do something and come back and forget to check if anything was posted before I type my apologies. Hornwort does sound like the better way to go I may do that instead of the Brazilian pennywort. Your gourami sounds very entertaining to watch I hope mine is as active

 

I bought some water lettuce, and this stuff is CRAZY. My brother has a tank without lighting, and it all died, my very low light tank didnt grow at all, my tank with $20 lighting had the least water lettuce, and it completely covered the tank. Make sure you're okay with losing a few inches of swimming space before you get it, because these guys have a large root system. Also, this isn't a plant you just have one of. They spread like wildfire. I had 3 in a 5.5 gal and they completly filled the top in 2 weeks.

 

This thread has given me a lot of confidence in keeping plants. I read so many threads on here of people using special substrate, root tabs, fertilizer it's nice to know I can grow something without goin through all that trouble and money. Thank you all for the help

 

Good luck! We'd love to see your progress and/or final results!

 

Thank you I'll definitely post pics when I get some plants

 

I love the wisteria. I shoved one sprig into part of the driftwood up high, and it went nuts in about two months. Just a t8 daylight bulb and minimal ferts.

 

Got some wisteria yesterday (there's more than In the pic but those r the nicest looking stalks) wanted hornwort but wisteria is what was available I'm going to look online for some dwarf water lettuce.
I can't wait for these guy to grow right now they just look like a floating twig lol

Also they had some waterlily bulbs. I looked at pics of full grown waterlily online and they look like they could be neat. Does anyone have any experience with these or know if they require any extra effort

 

I keep both water lily and dwarf lotus. They're relatively easy to care for. One thing to be aware of is my water lily puts out about 2-3 new pads each day. I have to cut them back a few times per week so they don't block the light from other plants.

 

I keep both water lily and dwarf lotus. They're relatively easy to care for. One thing to be aware of is my water lily puts out about 2-3 new pads each day. I have to cut them back a few times per week so they don't block the light from other plants.

I was going to ask about this. I want a floating plant for my betta who's housed in a 55 gallon but will floating plants block the light to the other plants? I put anubias towards the top of my tank but I have strong lights and it was too much light for them and the leaves became crispy so I had to cut the dead leaves and move the rhizomes back to the bottom of the tank.

 

This all depends on the floating plants, and the strength of light. Lily basically creates an impenetrable blanket of pads and will block majority of light. A positive of these though is that they are super easy to prune and don't tend to leave a mess of leaves stirring around.

Something like wisteria, hornwort, water sprite, etc. Are a lot more perforated and will take more to block the light. Pruning of these types of plants takes a bit more patience and will commonly leave debris.

 

This all depends on the floating plants, and the strength of light. Lily basically creates an impenetrable blanket of pads and will block majority of light. A positive of these though is that they are super easy to prune and don't tend to leave a mess of leaves stirring around.

Something like wisteria, hornwort, water sprite, etc. Are a lot more perforated and will take more to block the light. Pruning of these types of plants takes a bit more patience and will commonly leave debris.

Thanks. What about pennywort? That's the plant I've been leaning towards. Worst case I move it to my 75 gallon which doesn't have any plants although my cichlids would probably destroy it.

Sorry for hijacking but I'm going to watch this thread.

 

I keep both water lily and dwarf lotus. They're relatively easy to care for. One thing to be aware of is my water lily puts out about 2-3 new pads each day. I have to cut them back a few times per week so they don't block the light from other plants.

2-3 pad a DAY!!! Wow!! will water lily be ok in sand?
bettafanatic highjack away lol

 

I haven't had any experience with pennywort, but from what I understand, they grow fast and will block light.

In regards to the lily, if I don't cut them, they slow down, but take up a lot of surface. That being said, they are not full sized leaves for 2-3 days after growing. It's amazing how quickly they pop out new leaves!

Yes, they should be fine in sand.

You'll see there are 4 pads in this picture. They're about 2 in. x 3 in. and grew in under a week.

 

Beautiful tank!!! If everything goes well with the wisteria I got I think water lily may be my next plant
Thank you so much for the help!!

 

Thank you.

I also wanted to mention as a heads up, don't be alarmed if your wisteria starts to drop leaves. I say this because the picture you shared shows that it still has all of its broad leaves. This is normal, however suggests that it was grown emersed (partially out of water) and that's why the leaves are so full. They will start to transition over to a finer, more whispy, leaf as the plant transitions to full aquatic.

 

Thank you for the information I was wondering y the one had such broad leaves when most the pics I've seen the wisteria has the narrower leaves thought maybe I had 2 different plants lol
Thank you!! BlackTeeShirt