Floating aquarium plants are a unique and highly beneficial category of aquatic flora that live freely on the water’s surface without needing to be rooted in substrate. They are characterized by leaves that float on top of the water and roots that dangle freely down into the water column. This group includes popular varieties like Frogbit, Duckweed, and Water Lettuce, each adding a distinct look and function to an aquarium while being generally easy to care for.
The benefits of incorporating these plants into a tank are immense. They act as a natural filtration system, aggressively absorbing harmful nitrates, ammonia, and phosphates directly from the water, which helps to suppress algae growth and create a healthier environment for fish. Furthermore, their dense root systems and surface coverage provide crucial shade for light-sensitive species and offer security for shy fish, surface-dwellers like Bettas, and vulnerable newborn fry, significantly reducing stress in the aquarium.
For aquarists, one of the biggest advantages is their low maintenance nature. Since they absorb nutrients from the water through their roots, they require no specialized substrate or root tabs. However, their rapid growth is a double-edged sword; they can quickly cover the entire water surface if not regularly thinned out. This can block light to plants below and limit gas exchange at the surface, so consistent management is key to enjoying their beauty and utility without issue.
Floating Aquarium Plants
Duckweed
A classic and prolific floater, Duckweed is a tiny, bright green plant that multiplies rapidly. It is a powerful nutrient absorber, helping to keep algae at bay. However, its fast growth can lead to it completely covering the water surface if not regularly thinned out.
Amazon Frogbit
Recognizable by its lily pad-like leaves and long, dangling roots, Frogbit is a favorite for Betta and Gourami tanks. It provides excellent surface cover and hiding spots for fry and shy fish. It grows quickly but is easier to manage than Duckweed.
Water Lettuce
A larger floating plant with velvety, ribbed leaves that resemble a small lettuce head. Its extensive, feathery root system provides an excellent jungle for fish to explore and spawn in. It prefers calm water and bright light.
Salvinia
This plant has small, oval leaves covered in tiny, water-repellent hairs that give them a unique textured appearance. It grows in interconnected chains and provides dense cover, making it ideal for diffusing light and giving fish a sense of security.
Red Root Floaters
As the name suggests, this plant is known for its stunning red roots that deepen in color under high light. The small, circular leaves can also turn a reddish-bronze. It adds a beautiful splash of color while performing all the functions of a great floating plant.
Dwarf Water Lettuce
A smaller, more manageable version of standard Water Lettuce. It has soft, velvety leaves and a dense, fibrous root system. It’s perfect for nano tanks or any aquarium where you want the look of water lettuce without the large size.
Azolla (Mosquito Fern)
Also known as Fairy Moss, Azolla is a small, free-floating fern that can form a dense mat on the water’s surface. Its leaves can turn a reddish color in bright light. It is a fast grower and a great nitrate absorber.
Water Spangles (Salvinia Minima)
A very common and adaptable species of Salvinia. It has small, rounded leaves that grow in pairs and are covered in tiny, hair-like protrusions. It propagates quickly and is excellent for providing surface cover in a wide range of tank conditions.
Hornwort
While often planted, Hornwort is most versatile when left to float. It forms a dense, tangled mass of green needles just below the surface. This creates an ideal environment for infusoria (a food source for fry) and provides superb shelter for all small fish.
Water Wisteria
This stem plant is highly adaptable and can be grown as a floating plant. When left floating, it develops dense, feathery roots that hang down and its leaves grow differently, creating a beautiful, bushy surface cover that is great for shading the tank.
Pennywort
Brazilian Pennywort can be grown floating, where its circular leaves will rest on the water’s surface. The stems will grow long roots that dangle into the water column, providing excellent cover and resting spots for fish that like to stay near the surface.
Giant Duckweed
A larger, more manageable alternative to common Duckweed. Its leaves are about the size of a pencil eraser, making it easier to control and remove during maintenance. It offers all the same filtration benefits without being quite as invasive.
Fairy Moss
This is a delicate, free-floating fern that creates a lush, green carpet on the water’s surface. Under strong light, it can develop beautiful red and pink hues. It grows extremely quickly, providing excellent cover for shy fish and shrimp, but it requires frequent thinning to prevent it from blocking all light to the plants below.
Floating Fern
A versatile and attractive floater, this plant is known for its small, branching fronds that cluster together. It helps maintain water quality by absorbing excess nutrients and provides a safe, dense mat that is ideal for egg-scattering fish and the tiny fry that hide within its tangled roots.
Floating Bladderwort
A unique and fascinating carnivorous plant. It features delicate, branching stems with tiny bladder traps that capture and digest microscopic organisms in the water. It often produces small, yellow flowers above the surface. It is an excellent choice for controlling populations of infusoria and other small critters.
Banana Plant
While it is a rooted plant, the Banana Plant is famous for sending lily pad-like leaves to the surface on long stems. These floating leaves provide perfect resting spots for Betta fish and other surface-dwelling species. The plant gets its name from its banana-shaped tubers that rest on the substrate.
Mosaic Plant
Prized for its stunning appearance, this slow-growing floater forms a radial pattern of diamond-shaped leaves that look like a mosaic. The leaves can have a green top and a reddish underside, creating a beautiful contrast. It is less invasive than many other floaters, making it ideal for well-maintained display aquariums.
Water Hyacinth
A very fast-growing and large floating plant, more common in ponds but suitable for very large aquariums. It has thick, glossy leaves and beautiful lavender flowers. Its long, dark roots are exceptional for water filtration and providing shelter, but it requires intense light and warm temperatures to thrive.
Crystalwort
This moss can be attached to hardscape or left to float freely. As a floater, it forms a loose, tangled mat at or just below the water’s surface. It provides an excellent spawning medium for fish and a perfect hiding place for shrimp and fry, all while helping to purify the water.
Water Spangles
This is a very common and easy-to-grow floating plant with a velvety texture. Its small, round leaves grow in pairs and multiply quickly to form a dense mat. It is excellent for providing shade and security for fish, and its rapid growth makes it a powerful tool for removing excess nutrients from the water.
Pacific Mosquito Fern
Similar to Fairy Moss, this small fern forms dense, carpet-like colonies on the surface. It is a very efficient grower and can help prevent mosquitoes from breeding by covering the water’s surface. Its color can range from green to a striking red, adding a splash of color to the top of your aquarium.
Benefits of Floating Plants
- Shade & Security: They diffuse harsh light, reducing algae growth and making fish like Bettas feel safe.
- Water Quality: They are phenomenal at consuming ammonia, nitrates, and phosphates directly from the water column.
- Spawning Site: The dense root systems are perfect for egg-scattering fish and provide a safe haven for newborn fry.
- Enrichment: The root structures create a natural foraging ground for fish and shrimp.