Searching for surface plant that wont take over tank

[jakefm]

Im looking for a plant to provide some surface cover for a corner of my aquarium. I have about 2.5 watts per gallon and am having luck with other plants Id like something that would root so it would not drift, and does not have huge leaves.Tiger Lotus, Green (Nymphaea zenkeri) is a possible candidate but ive read that it can have fairly large leaves which id rather stick to something where i could keep the leaves under 3 inches in diameter.

[rocker92]

hornwort

it is a floting plant but you could weight it down!!!

[Bk718]

amazon frogbit :)

[Fordtrannyman]

Ceratopteris pteridoides plantlets would work great. Also makes great spawning media.

[icemanx23]

water lettuce. Floating and around 3" diameter. U need to reduce surface movement.

[James0816]

Do any of these (water lettuce or frogbit or something else) have long dangling roots that fishies could swim through? I saw some pics before of such a plant but can't recall what it was.

[KIM_TMA]

Water Lettuce and the frogbit has long dangley roots. I have frogbit (Thanks H3D) in my 5 hex for my betta and he loves it.

[JohnEX]

water lettuce will take over your tank though...

[Bk718]

Though these plants have a tendency to be weeds, they are easily controllable. Just pick some out and trash em.

another good plant is Hydrocotyle aka Pennywort

[Jag1980]

salvinia minima and frogbit will do this to your tank
Limnophila sessiliflora will grow tall and bend at the water surface providing cover.


http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f192/Picturesfrom2006/CIMG3170.jpg

[yikesjason]

red root floaters are good too

[mel_20_20]

You have Scarlet Badis, and Badis Badis?!! Where did you get them? They are gorgeous fish.

[oblongshrimp]

In my experience Frogbit doesn't always grow long roots. I have had tanks with it where the roots stayed no bigger then 1 cm and others where they would grow to almost a foot. I think the fish (or shrimp) were nibbling at them and keeping them short in one of the tanks but I can't be sure. I may have something to do with growing conditions.

[fishorama]

I have Indian fern, ceratopteris cornuta. It gets roots 3 inches or so & easy to remove excess. I like it.

[Jag1980]

You have Scarlet Badis, and Badis Badis?!! Where did you get them? They are gorgeous fish.

I was lucky to find a pet store that could get them.
Badis Badis are the harder ones to find. The ones I have now have been born and raised in my tank, very good body shape. I will post pictures in the photo section later this week.

[mr.key]

I settled on frogbit and duckweed as they are easy to manage though I preferred the look of a "green roof" of floating riccia and java moss that I had for a couple weeks (fell off the mats and floated to the top taking over in short order).

I've rainbowfish (praecox and p.ivanstoffi) so the duckweed is left as food for them.

[Hairechest]

I have the perfect plant. I don't have any photos of it. I don't know what it is and I don't have enough to share. Does that help at all? (sigh)

[jpappy789]

Ive found pennywort to be the best. It grows easily but doesn't take over. Just trim it like another stem plant.

[Pop Tart061]

I have experienced penny wort to be a perfect plant that you are looking for. If it starts to take over the tank, a simple trim will keep it under control.

[Gbbudd]

riccia is easily controled grows in a tight bunch when floating and if you thread some fishing line through it it can be anchored to a corner easily

[luckydud13]

amazon frogbit :)

NO dont listen! :help: You don't know how many people have been takin over!

[Shocker6966]

I have tons and tons of wisteria fronds floating around the top of my planted tank that do just what you want. If you leave the fronds, they grow long, dangling roots - if you plant them and let them grow into young plants and then uproot them, then they provide a great deal of surface coverage as well as dangling roots about 8-10" down into the water(just planted about 12" of plant with 8" of root every couple inches along it's stem.) Another upside to it - if you plant it, it grows like a weed, and fish love it!

[dixienut]

NO dont listen! :help: You don't know how many people have been takin over!
:iagree:
need some frogbit/duck weed?...lol

[Gbbudd]

once duck weed enters a tank and you deside to remove it GOOOOOOOD LUCK