Surface plant suggestions?

[Tetratastic]

I currently have a tank heavily planted with a variety of plastic plants (I'm lazy).

I'd like though to have some sort of surface plant to create a more filtered lighting effect in the tank. Can anyone suggest anything? I don't care if the plant is real or fake.

Thanks!

[mogurnda]

Dwarf lilies (usually sold as bulbs) put up very nice pads on the surface, and are pretty undemanding. How much light have you got?

[Tim Bo]

I have had a lot of fun with elodea and duck week in some of my tanks. If you choose duckweed you will need to remove some of it every week or two. Elodea gives off a nice green lighting to the upper surface of the water with flour. lighting and I find it floats reasonably well too.

[sunnygirl]

ive planted dwarf lily bulbs four times and ive never had any grow. even though any annubas grew well in the same tank.

[tricksterpup]

Hornwort is another nice plant that grows on the top of water. It is pretty undemanding and it makes an excellent cover for any fry that you may have in your tank. The only down fall is that it does not like very warm water. It is a cooler water plant. But with the right light and temp you can have yourself a huge plant within a few months.
jim

[Slappy*McFish]

I use Cardamine lyrata as a floater in my 10g...a very attractive, bright green plant that provides some nice shade for my glow-light tetras.

[Tetratastic]

Originally posted by mogurnda
Dwarf lilies (usually sold as bulbs) put up very nice pads on the surface, and are pretty undemanding. How much light have you got?

I have a 10gal that has just a standard florescent bulb that came with the hood... I would be willing to change lighting if need be.

I also keep the temp in the low to mid 70's range... would this work for hornwort?

I am looking for something that would not need rooting if possible, part of the reason I've used plastic plants so far is that I don't have to worry about uprooting them. :(

Thanks again everybody!

[aquatic-store]

Watersprite,
Salvinia,
Phylantus fluitans
duckweed
Floating Ricca fluitans
wisteria,
Coonstail
anacharis, elodea

marc
Http://www.Aquatic-store.com

Co2, Plants, Substrate, Filters, Heaters, UV and more

[tricksterpup]

Originally posted by Tetratastic


I have a 10gal that has just a standard florescent bulb that came with the hood... I would be willing to change lighting if need be.

I also keep the temp in the low to mid 70's range... would this work for hornwort?

I am looking for something that would not need rooting if possible, part of the reason I've used plastic plants so far is that I don't have to worry about uprooting them.

Then hornwort is your plant.. the 70 degree mark would be perfect for it.
I would use a plant bulb for this plant. I have kept this plant with many types of fish ranging from live bearers to gold fish. This is a hardy plant.

here is a site with more info on the plant.
http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/aquatics/ceratophyllum.html
jim