Floating plants

A floating plant lives at the surface. The leaves take light from above, and the roots hang free in the water. Some species, such as hornwort, have no roots at all.

In a shrimp tank the surface is more than decoration. It shades the plants below, takes up spare nutrients and gives shrimplets a place to rest. Too much of it leaves the tank dark.

Keep the surface open

Floating plants grow fast when they are happy. Remove a handful each week, before the surface closes over. Light, oxygen and the plants on the bottom need an opening. Rinse what you remove and throw it away, so the nutrients do not go back into the water.

Floating plants we sell

These species stay at the surface and are straightforward to start with.

Foxtail is a rootless hornwort that drifts freely at the surface. The shoots can also be planted on the bottom.

Limnobium laevigatum is an Amazon frogbit with round leaves and long fine roots. Shrimp like to rest in the roots.

Phyllanthus fluitans is a floating plant with small heart-shaped leaves. The roots often turn red in strong light.

Salvinia minima is a small plant that stays on the surface. Thin it out before it forms a lid.

Riccia fluitans is a moss that can float freely or be tied to a stone. As a floating plant it forms a bright green mat.

Spirodela polyrrhiza is giant duckweed. The small round pads lie freely on the surface. One plant is enough to start.