9 Floating Aquarium Plants For Beginners: Easy-to-Care Options

Floating aquarium plants are an easy and beautiful way to improve your tank’s health and appearance. These plants float on the water’s surface, offering shade, absorbing excess nutrients, and reducing algae. They also help your fish feel secure and reduce stress. Best of all, floating plants don’t need special lighting, substrate, or CO₂, making them ideal for beginners.

In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best beginner-friendly floating plants for freshwater aquariums.

Table of Contents

**1. Duckweed (*Lemna minor***)

Duckweed is one of the smallest floating plants with tiny, round green leaves that spread fast. It’s excellent for soaking up ammonia and nitrates, helping maintain clean water.

Light Requirement: Moderate to high
Growth Rate: Very fast
CO₂ Needed: No
Maintenance: Requires frequent thinning to prevent clogging filters
Best For: Shrimp tanks and low-tech setups

**2. Water Spangles (*Salvinia minima***)

These oval-shaped floaters grow in dense mats and offer great surface coverage. Water Spangles are helpful in controlling algae by absorbing excess nutrients.

Light Requirement: Moderate to high
Growth Rate: Fast
CO₂ Needed: No
Maintenance: Weekly trimming recommended
Best For: Low-maintenance community aquariums

**3. Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum)**

Resembling tiny lily pads, Amazon Frogbit creates natural-looking shade and helps mimic riverbank habitats.

Light Requirement: Moderate to high
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
CO₂ Needed: No
Maintenance: Remove old or dying leaves to maintain health
Best For: Peaceful tanks and surface-dwelling fish

**4. Red Root Floater (*Phyllanthus fluitans***)

This striking plant features red-tinted leaves and vibrant red roots, making it a favorite in well-lit planted tanks.

Light Requirement: High (for best red coloration)
Growth Rate: Moderate
CO₂ Needed: No
Maintenance: Trim regularly to avoid overcrowding
Best For: High-light planted tanks and visual appeal

**5. Hornwort (*Ceratophyllum demersum***)

Hornwort can be floated or planted. It grows long, feathery stems that provide hiding spots and help remove excess nutrients.

Light Requirement: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Fast
CO₂ Needed: No
Maintenance: Prune often and remove decaying parts
Best For: Coldwater tanks and beginner setups

**6. Water Lettuce (*Pistia stratiotes***)

With soft, rosette-like leaves, Water Lettuce adds a lush, tropical look to open-top tanks.

Light Requirement: Moderate to high
Growth Rate: Fast
CO₂ Needed: No
Maintenance: Needs space; thin weekly
Best For: Open-top aquariums with surface space

**7. Java Moss (*Taxiphyllum barbieri***)

While not a true floating plant, Java Moss can float freely or be attached to surfaces. It’s hardy, easy to care for, and great for breeding tanks.

Light Requirement: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate
CO₂ Needed: No
Maintenance: Trim and rinse occasionally
Best For: Shrimp tanks and natural aquascapes

8. Riccia Fluitans (Crystalwort)

Riccia grows in compact, bright green mats. It can float or be tied to wood or rocks for aquascaping.

Light Requirement: Moderate to high
Growth Rate: Fast
CO₂ Needed: No
Maintenance: Trim often to prevent mess
Best For: Shrimp tanks and high-tech aquariums

**9. Azolla (*Azolla filiculoides***)

Also known as mosquito fern, Azolla features fine, feathery leaves and can cover water surfaces quickly. It’s more commonly used in outdoor setups.

Light Requirement: Moderate to high
Growth Rate: Fast
CO₂ Needed: No
Maintenance: Requires frequent thinning
Best For: Large aquariums or outdoor ponds

Controlling Floating Plant Growth

Floating plants can grow quickly and may need maintenance to avoid tank issues. Here are a few tips:

Use floating rings or DIY plant corrals to keep them contained
Thin the plants weekly with aquarium scissors
Keep light and nutrients balanced to avoid overgrowth
Avoid strong surface water flow near plants

Final Tips for Beginners

Start with one or two species before mixing floaters
Provide enough light, but avoid excessive brightness
Use pre-filters or guards to keep roots from clogging filters
Leave some open surface space for gas exchange and rooted plants

FAQs

Do floating plants need CO₂?
No. Most floating plants gather CO₂ from the air at the surface.

Why are my floating plants turning brown?
Likely due to poor light, low nutrients, or stagnant water. Trim dead leaves and improve conditions.

Can floating plants block my filter?
Yes. Use floating rings or guide them away from filter intakes.

Do floating plants reduce algae?
Yes. They outcompete algae for nutrients.Are floating plants good for fry or shrimp?
Absolutely. They offer cover, shelter, and grazing biofilm.