Pros And Cons Of Floating Plants?

What are the pros and cons of floating plants? I think they seem kind of interesting but not sure if they would get out of hand really quickly

 

Pros: They remove nitrates, some ammonia, provide hiding places for fry and fish in general.
Cons: Can get stuck in the filter which is a pain to pull out.

 

If your having a planted tank floating plants would stop some light from getting to the bottom plants.

 

Pros

• Provides cover for fry
• Look very cool, a bit different to the usual aquarium plants
• Reduces light getting to the tank so slows algae growth

Cons

• Some (such as duckweed and salvinia) can get out of hand
• I have found in tanks with a lot of duckweed or salvinia that if you put your hand in the tank your whole arm comes out covered in duckweed or salvinia
• Sometimes floating food gets stuck in it and the fish don't notice
• They reduce light getting to other plants

 

By shading the lower parts of the tank, they can reduce algae if you're having any problems with that and don't want to get snails or other algae eaters. Goldfish and cichlids will eat floating plants (and most plants), so keep that in mind.

 

Right now I have crypt wendtii, java fern, ludwigia, dwarf sag and buce. My stocking plan is a pair of honey gouramis, a school of neon tetras, panda cories, a bn pleco and some snails. I don't have a strong light, just what came with the tank. I also have a betta tank that doesn't have any plants in it at the moment. What would your opinions be on putting them in either tank?

 

Bettas love floating plants! I gave my mom some floating red rooters. She has a male betta in her 55 gallon community tank. He has claimed the floatong plants as his spot. He puffs up whenever fish come near it.

Personally, I love floating plants. I made a barrier out of plastic straws to keep them contained. My fish seem to like them, too. My shrimp hang upside down on them, even the larger bamboo shrimp. It’s adorable. One plus is that the cover can make fish feel safer.

 

agree with everything above, but i'd like to add that they might also compete for nutrients with other water column feeder plants in the tank, like anubias and java fern.

I got some hornwort for a floating plant for my betta. it shed needles like crazy and I decided to take most of it out instead of waiting for it to adjust. I have one single spangle of frogbit that I got from the lfs for free (it was the only one floating around in their plant tank) and it's currently trying to make babies.

 

Bettas love floating plants! I gave my mom some floating red rooters. She has a male betta in her 55 gallon community tank. He has claimed the floatong plants as his spot. He puffs up whenever fish come near it.

Personally, I love floating plants. I made a barrier out of plastic straws to keep them contained. My fish seem to like them, too. My shrimp hang upside down on them, even the larger bamboo shrimp. It’s adorable. One plus is that the cover can make fish feel safer.

What kind do you have?

agree with everything above, but i'd like to add that they might also compete for nutrients with other water column feeder plants in the tank, like anubias and java fern.

I got some hornwort for a floating plant for my betta. it shed needles like crazy and I decided to take most of it out instead of waiting for it to adjust. I have one single spangle of frogbit that I got from the lfs for free (it was the only one floating around in their plant tank) and it's currently trying to make babies.

I have liquid ferts so I don't think that would be a huge issue

 

yeah, I use liquid ferts too, but I also have a lot of anubias and java fern.

 

What kind do you have?

Phyllanthus Fluitans, aka floating red roots.

 

Particularly good for ponds, but you do need to keep removing some if they take over.

Great for fry tanks and breeding boxes.

I don't really like the look in a tank, as all you see are the roots unless you're looking down from the top (in say, like a coffee table tank or something), then I think they'd look awesome, but that's just personal preference.

 

yeah, I use liquid ferts too, but I also have a lot of anubias and java fern.

I only have a few java fern.

Particularly good for ponds, but you do need to keep removing some if they take over.

Great for fry tanks and breeding boxes.

I don't really like the look in a tank, as all you see are the roots unless you're looking down from the top (in say, like a coffee table tank or something), then I think they'd look awesome, but that's just personal preference.

Aren't there some that are longer that float? I'm thinking like anarchis or hornwort or guppy grass or something. Maybe I'm wrong