Too many floating plants a problem?

7181 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by j dizzel, Sep 20, 2013

smit3183

Discussion Starter · Sep 19, 2013

I'm starting up a new 55g in a couple days and I ordered some floating water sprite and received much much more than I anticipated ,it COMPLETELY covers the surface,also received quite a bit of duckweed as hitchhikers. My question is can the surface being swamped like this cause oxygen issues or any other problems? I know fish love floating plants but this seems like too many, don't really want to throw any out. Not really worried about them blocking light out either as a have low light plants growing in substrate.

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IsabellaRows

· #2 · Sep 19, 2013

Floating plants shouldn't necessarily affect oxygen levels. What fish will be in the 55 gallon? If the fish do not like dim lighting, then you should probably remove a portion of the plants.
May I suggest re-homing some of the extra plants?

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smit3183

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 19, 2013

IsabellaRows said:
Floating plants shouldn't necessarily affect oxygen levels. What fish will be in the 55 gallon? If the fish do not like dim lighting, then you should probably remove a portion of the plants.
May I suggest re-homing some of the extra plants?

Serpae tetras and corys and a bristletoe nose pleco... Nowhere to re-home the plants for now.

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IsabellaRows

· #4 · Sep 19, 2013

Serpae's don't seem to mind floating plants. I think you're good for now. It's just a matter of deciding if you want to take some out for aesthetic reasons.

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rexpepper651

· #5 · Sep 19, 2013

both my tanks are completely covered in dwarf water lettuce. no problems here. my fish love playing in the dangling roots. my serpae tetras chase eachother around in them all day. show us some picS!

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smit3183

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 19, 2013

IsabellaRows said:
Serpae's don't seem to mind floating plants. I think you're good for now. It's just a matter of deciding if you want to take some out for aesthetic reasons.

Ok, thanks. As long as it doesn't cause any issues, I don't mind the look. It's gonna be tough at feeding time but I'll find a way.

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BWG

· #7 · Sep 19, 2013

It won't cause any problems for the fish, but could for any other plants. Without thinning floaters out once in a while it can get pretty easy to block light.

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smit3183

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 19, 2013

blackwaterguy said:
It won't cause any problems for the fish, but could for any other plants. Without thinning floaters out once in a while it can get pretty easy to block light.

All low light plants beneath.. No worries

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BWG

· #9 · Sep 19, 2013

smit3183 said:
All low light plants beneath.. No worries

Yeah, you'd be surprised if it gets too dense. I've melted crypts from lack of light and that was with a dual T5HO on the tank. The Amazon frogbit got too thick. Believe me you'll have to remove some once in a while.

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j dizzel

· #10 · Sep 20, 2013

Floating plants work very well in my tanks. The fish seem to be much more at ease and its good for your water quality. I to have water sprite in one tank. Watch the rooted plants below for growth keeping an eye out for algae. Every water change thin out the as needed keeping smaller plants. They can get way out of control really fast. On average you can toss up to a gallon size container away a week once established.

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