Four tropical aquarium plants from the cuttings, floating and plant types available are selected and described in this article. These will add variety and beauty to your planted aquarium.
Floating Plants
There are quite a few benefits to incorporating floating plants in your fresh water aquarium.
a) They supply an area of shading for those species of fish needing seclusion and shelter
b) They provide a site for spawning for fish that use this process
c) They give fry a place of refuge in their early days
d) They do not need to be established as they float or attach to rocks or wood
The Java Moss (Vesicularia dubyana) is very common in freshwater aquariums. Like Riccia, it attaches itself to driftwood, rocks and roots. Java Moss has no onerous requirements or any special attention as it will survive in varying water conditions, even weakly brackish, and under all sorts of light levels. But it thrives better under low to moderate light conditions and a temperature range of 21 to 24 degrees centigrade but it can survive temperatures of up to 29 to 32 degrees centigrade.
As you do not plant the Java Moss, you will need to fix it temporarily, for example, to a rock with some fishing line. Then, when it has used its own tiny roots to adhere to the rock you can remove the fishing line. You can also produce a moss wall effect by adding the moss to a net which is fixed to the tank wall by suction devices and nylon string.
It is an excellent plant in which spawning can take place and in which the hatched fry can shelter and hide afterwards. Egg laying fish that scatter their eggs would benefit most from this plant. From a maintenance point of view you need to keep it clean of algae which will have a detrimental affect on it.
A floater, Crystalwort (Riccia fluitans) is also known as Liverwort and Riccia Moss. It is popular in breeding tanks in particular as a shelter for fry and will float unless you physically attach it to under water items such as logs and rocks until in due course it attaches itself. This is similar to the way you would treat Java Moss and both would make attractive plants for your foreground in the tank. It can also be used to hide any protruding items in your aquarium.
On the surface it will quickly form a thick green mat and is ideal for nest building fish. It will adapt adequately to a wide range of light levels, a pH range of 5 to 8 and a water temperature of between 10 and 28 degrees centigrade. As with Java Moss, from a maintenance point of view you need to keep it clean of algae which will have a detrimental affect on it.
Rooted Plants
Straight Vallisneria (Vallisneria spiralis) is also known as Eel or Tape Grass. Its leaves are straight and narrow with colors varying from red to light green and have rounded tips. If not kept in check it can soon populate large areas of your aquarium as it is quite invasive and can grow up to an average of about 60 cms in length. It reproduces via runners along the substrate.
White female flowers (single) can grow to the surface on long stems. Because this plant can thrive in a range of water conditions (15 to 39 degrees centigrade, soft to hard water, 6 to 9 pH) and light conditions they are really good plants for aquariums for beginners.
The Dwarf Anubias can be fixed to wood or rocks by nylon line initially until established but be careful not to cut through the rhizome. Lighting should be somewhat subdued. Plants like the Dwarf Anubias (Anubias nana) are good for giving height to your planting layout. They have rhizomes (horizontal stems) sprouting small roots that will attach themselves onto wood or rocks. And of course, fish that dig around in the substrate will not affect these plants.
