Best Floating Plants for Your Aquarium: A Simple Guide

Floating plants are one of the best things you can add to any aquarium. They sit on the water surface, absorb excess nutrients, reduce algae, provide shade and cover for fish and shrimp, and give fry a place to hide. I keep floating plants in almost every tank in my fish room, and they make a noticeable difference.

Here is a breakdown of the best floating plants and what each one does well.

Guppy Grass

Guppy grass is the workhorse of my fish room. It grows fast, absorbs nutrients like nothing else, and provides incredible cover for fry and shrimplets. I use it in almost every breeding tank because the dense growth traps biofilm that fry graze on constantly.

It works as a floating plant but suspended in the water column or planted in substrate, not on the waters surface. It does not need CO2 and thrives in just about any lighting. The only downside is that it grows so fast you may need to thin it out regularly. But that is a good problem to have.

• Best for: Breeding tanks, fry tanks, new tanks with nutrient issues, algae control.
• Light: Low to high.
• Growth rate: Fast.

Red Root Floaters

Red root floaters are one of the most attractive floating plants available. Under strong lighting the leaves develop deep red tones, and the roots hang down in a striking red-purple colour. Even under lower light, the roots add visual interest below the surface.

They grow at a moderate pace, which makes them easier to manage than guppy grass or duckweed. One thing to note: they do not like water movement on the surface. If your filter output creates a lot of surface agitation, corral them in a calm corner using airline tubing as a floating barrier.

• Best for: Planted tanks where you want visual impact, shrimp tanks, nano tanks.
• Light: Medium to high for best red colour.
• Growth rate: Moderate.

Giant Duckweed

Giant duckweed is the bigger cousin of regular duckweed, with leaves about the size of a small fingernail. It multiplies quickly, absorbs excess nutrients, and provides shade and cover. It is incredibly easy to grow and almost impossible to kill.

The tradeoff is that it can take over quickly. You will need to scoop out the excess regularly to prevent it from covering the entire surface and blocking light from plants below. But for tanks where you want fast nutrient absorption and surface cover, it is one of the best options.

• Best for: Shrimp tanks, tanks with nutrient issues, low-tech setups.
• Light: Any.
• Growth rate: Fast.

Azolla

Azolla is a tiny floating fern that forms a dense green carpet on the water surface. In bright light the leaves can turn reddish, which looks striking. It grows fast and provides excellent shade and cover.

Like duckweed, it can take over if left unchecked. But it is easy to manage by scooping out the excess. Azolla is a great option if you want a fine-textured floating carpet rather than individual floating leaves.

• Best for: Outdoor tubs, ponds, shrimp tanks, tanks needing shade.
• Light: Medium to high.
• Growth rate: Fast.

Floating Bamboo

Floating bamboo is the most unusual floating plant on this list. It has long, grass-like leaves that arch above the water surface, creating a completely different look from typical floating plants. The roots below provide great cover for fry and shrimp.

It needs more light than some other floaters and does best in open-top tanks or outdoor setups where the leaves have room to grow above the waterline. If you keep medaka in outdoor tubs, floating bamboo pairs perfectly with them.

• Best for: Open-top tanks, outdoor tubs, medaka setups, paludariums.
• Light: Medium to high.
• Growth rate: Moderate to fast.

Water Sprite

Water sprite (coarse or fine) works both planted and floating. As a floater it grows quickly and provides excellent cover for fry. The fine variety has delicate, feathery fronds while the coarse variety has broader, more robust leaves.

It is one of the most versatile and forgiving plants in the hobby. It grows in almost any conditions and will produce baby plantlets that you can move to other tanks.

• Best for: Breeding tanks, community tanks, beginners.
• Light: Low to high.
• Growth rate: Fast.

Hornwort

Hornwort is not technically a floating plant, more suspended in the water column, but it works brilliantly as one. Let it float and it will grow quickly near the surface, absorbing excess nutrients and providing dense cover. It also releases natural compounds that can help inhibit algae growth.

Hornwort is nearly indestructible and grows in a huge range of conditions. It can shed needles when it is first adjusting to a new tank, but once it settles in it grows vigorously.

• Best for: New tanks, algae-prone tanks, breeding tanks, ponds.
• Light: Low to high.
• Growth rate: Fast.

Which floating plant should you choose?

• If you want fast growth and nutrient absorption: Guppy Grass or Hornwort.
• If you want visual impact: Red Root Floaters.
• If you want a fine surface carpet: Giant Duckweed or Azolla.
• If you want something unique: Floating Bamboo.
• If you want a versatile all-rounder: Water Sprite.

You can also mix and match floating plants. I run guppy grass and red root floaters together in several tanks and they complement each other well.

Browse all my floating plants

If you are not sure which floating plant suits your setup, email me at elyza@handpickedaquatics.com and I can point you in the right direction.

Cheers,

Elyza 

Hand Picked Aquatics