floating plants in a NON planted tank?

[staceyanna]

Is there any way to keep some riccia or duckweed in a non planted tank? Or will it just die off? What are the repercussions?

My danios live in the first top inch of water and I would like to have something there for them at times just to shade the tank a little bit, cause the flourescents are SUPER bright and are only 25 watt! There were 2 25 watt bulbs in my hood and I removed one and it is a little better, but still pretty bright. Will floating plants work in a non planted tank or should I just buy some floating plastic plants?

 

[OrionGirl]

Basically--yes, the duckweed would work, as would most floating plants. The problem for you will be that silver dollar--they will eat pretty much any plant you try adding to the tank.

 

[staceyanna]

No thats fine. I WANT the Silver Dollar to eat SOMETHING, be happy, run free with the fishes... Anything to make him a little happier. =)

I read that one of those plants, I think it was duckweed, or it could have been water sprite, grows like crazy. But if he eats it, I wouldnt care. All of the plants in the tank are plastic anyway, he wouldnt be hurting any of the scenery. I just want to know if it will die not being with other plants or without that CO2 stuff I see people pumping in there tanks and whatnot. I also dont want the fish to suffer if the plant will rob their nutrients out of the water as well. I dont want to plant my tank at all, just add some floating plants to make the fish happier since the lights are glaring down on them all the time.

 

[RTR]

Floating plant such as duckweed get ther CO2 from the air, not from the water. Aquatic plants in general get their nutrition (minerals, etc.) from the water (including floating plants), but the fish do not. Fish get their nutrition from their food. There is no competition involved between fish and plants.

But I doubt that you will ever establish any floaters with the silver dollar - it will eat the plants faster than they can grow.

 

[tanker]

I read that one of those plants, I think it was duckweed, or it could have been water sprite, grows like crazy. But if he eats it, I wouldnt care. All of the plants in the tank are plastic anyway, he wouldnt be hurting any of the scenery. I just want to know if it will die not being with other plants or without that CO2 stuff I see people pumping in there tanks and whatnot. I also dont want the fish to suffer if the plant will rob their nutrients out of the water as well. I dont want to plant my tank at all, just add some floating plants to make the fish happier since the lights are glaring down on them all the time.

You'll be OK. Both water sprite and Duckweed grows like crazy. You do not need CO2 to grow either.

Nutrient in water are for plants not for the fish. The fish would feel better with less nutrients.