| A well-planted and well-balanced freshwater aquarium | | | | for the labyrinth fish (bubble nesters) to spawn in. |
| can be a thing of beauty indeed. When considering | | | | This plant will do well in lower light or shaded areas of |
| which live plants to add to the tank, one often | | | | the tank. |
| overlooked but very useful group is floating aquarium | | | | - Floating Fern (Salvinia auriculata) - Another plant that |
| plants. | | | | is a popular plant for fish to hide and spawn under, |
| Floating plants can serve a number of purposes in an | | | | this plant has oval leaves and is quite hardy. |
| aquarium. One of the best applications is for breeding | | | | However, it can grow somewhat out of control and |
| fish in your aquarium. Many species of fish use the | | | | shade out other plants below it. |
| cover of the plants to breed in and provide a safe | | | | - Duckweed (gen. Lemna) - Duckweeds are often |
| place in which to lay eggs. The plants provide cover | | | | seen in ponds and if left unchecked can cover the |
| for the newborn (or newly hatched) fry. It is | | | | surface of a tank very quickly. They are a small, |
| absolutely critical for the tiny baby fish to have | | | | bright green plant that some fish like to eat. When it |
| somewhere that they can hide; otherwise they most | | | | grows too heavily and must be removed, the excess |
| likely will eaten by other fish in the tank. | | | | plants can be dried and fed as an algae substitute. |
| Some types of floating plants in the aquarium provide | | | | - Java Moss (Vesicularia dubyana) - Can be planted or |
| food for certain herbivore fish species. The plants | | | | allowed to float. It has a branching, almost fuzzy |
| also can reduce the light intensity in the tank, which | | | | appearance. It is an undemanding plant that if left |
| can be a good or a bad thing depending on the types | | | | alone will form dense mats. |
| of fish and plants growing below. It sometimes is | | | | - Egeria Densa - Not a floating plant per se, but it can |
| necessary to thin out and remove some of the | | | | be left to float in the tank and will do quite well. It |
| plants on the surface if they are too prolific. | | | | can handle a wide range of water temperatures and |
| Another reason to add some floating plants to the | | | | when well-established, can be cut and replanted |
| tank is simply for the decorative aspect. Many plant | | | | throughout the tank. It is a very attractive emerald |
| species are quite intricate and beautiful; others | | | | green color with dense leaf growth along the stem. |
| actually will produce small flowers in your aquarium. | | | | These are just a few of the many wonderful floating |
| The following list provides a good start for someone | | | | plants available for your freshwater aquarium. The list |
| looking to add some floating plants to their tank: | | | | covers a wide range of appearances and leaf shapes |
| - Crystalwort (Riccia fluitans) - A popular floating plant | | | | and all of the plants on this list are generally hardy |
| that has a branching, forked structure. It will form | | | | and easy to grow. |
| dense mats that are very good for sheltering fry and | | | | |