Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum)
Amazon Frogbit is a best-in-class choice for freshwater aquaria because it combines fast surface coverage with a dense, dangling root mass that shelters fry and filters nutrients, making it a cost-effective starter plant compared with more specialist floaters. It is generally easier to grow than Red Root Floaters and less prone to the aggressive spread of Dwarf Water Lettuce, offering a low-maintenance balance of biological benefit and affordability for hobbyists and planted-tank keepers.
Lush shade canopy
Rapid spreader
Lush shade canopy
Rapid spreader
Review Summary
"Widely praised for hardiness, rapid spreading, and attractive root mats that provide cover and filtration; occasional complaints about shipping losses and needing frequent trimming to prevent surface shading."
Spongy root carpets
Rapid surface cover with small rosettes and long dangling roots that offer shelter for fry.
Spongy root carpets
Rapid surface cover with small rosettes and long dangling roots that offer shelter for fry.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
Amazon Frogbit is a best-in-class choice for freshwater aquaria because it combines fast surface coverage with a dense, dangling root mass that shelters fry and filters nutrients, making it a cost-effective starter plant compared with more specialist floaters. It is generally easier to grow than Red Root Floaters and less prone to the aggressive spread of Dwarf Water Lettuce, offering a low-maintenance balance of biological benefit and affordability for hobbyists and planted-tank keepers.
Lush shade canopy
Rapid spreader
Spongy root carpets
Rapid surface cover with small rosettes and long dangling roots that offer shelter for fry.
Tolerates a wide temperature range and moderate light, making it easy for new aquarists.
Lush shade canopy
Rapid spreader
Spongy root carpets
Rapid surface cover with small rosettes and long dangling roots that offer shelter for fry.
Tolerates a wide temperature range and moderate light, making it easy for new aquarists.
$10-30 CAD
Red Root Floaters (Phyllanthus fluitans)
Red Root Floaters are a market-leading ornamental floater prized for their striking red undersides under higher light, commanding a premium price but delivering strong aesthetic value and nutrient uptake for aquaria focused on visual impact. Technically more demanding than Amazon Frogbit and Salvinia minima, they reward aquarists with controlled lighting and stable water parameters, making them the go-to choice when color and display are prioritized over sheer coverage or lowest cost.
Sun-kissed red
Color focal point
Sun-kissed red
Color focal point
Review Summary
"Admired for its striking red coloration and dramatic look under higher light, but many users note it can melt, lose color in low light or poor conditions, and requires more care to establish."
Feathery red roots
Develops striking red undersides and new growth under bright light, adding color contrast to tanks.
Feathery red roots
Develops striking red undersides and new growth under bright light, adding color contrast to tanks.
Recreational Enjoyment
Skill Development & Mastery
Red Root Floaters are a market-leading ornamental floater prized for their striking red undersides under higher light, commanding a premium price but delivering strong aesthetic value and nutrient uptake for aquaria focused on visual impact. Technically more demanding than Amazon Frogbit and Salvinia minima, they reward aquarists with controlled lighting and stable water parameters, making them the go-to choice when color and display are prioritized over sheer coverage or lowest cost.
Sun-kissed red
Color focal point
Feathery red roots
Develops striking red undersides and new growth under bright light, adding color contrast to tanks.
Prefers nutrient-rich water and moderate to high light for best coloration and steady growth.
Sun-kissed red
Color focal point
Feathery red roots
Develops striking red undersides and new growth under bright light, adding color contrast to tanks.
Prefers nutrient-rich water and moderate to high light for best coloration and steady growth.
Dwarf Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)
Dwarf Water Lettuce is a top pick for rapid surface coverage and heavy nutrient export — it establishes quickly and can significantly reduce algae pressure, offering a high ecological return-on-investment compared with slower floaters like Salvinia minima. Financially attractive for large tanks or ponds because a few specimens can multiply into thick mats, it is more aggressive than Amazon Frogbit and requires active management to avoid shading lower plants.
Compact rosette floats
Filtration powerhouse
Compact rosette floats
Filtration powerhouse
Review Summary
"Valued for its compact rosettes and nutrient uptake, though reviewers often warn it can become large/invasive, and shipments sometimes arrive damaged or with pests."
Velvety fuzzy leaves
Forms compact, lettuce-like rosettes that create dense surface mats ideal for smaller aquaria.
Velvety fuzzy leaves
Forms compact, lettuce-like rosettes that create dense surface mats ideal for smaller aquaria.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Recreational Enjoyment
Dwarf Water Lettuce is a top pick for rapid surface coverage and heavy nutrient export — it establishes quickly and can significantly reduce algae pressure, offering a high ecological return-on-investment compared with slower floaters like Salvinia minima. Financially attractive for large tanks or ponds because a few specimens can multiply into thick mats, it is more aggressive than Amazon Frogbit and requires active management to avoid shading lower plants.
Compact rosette floats
Filtration powerhouse
Velvety fuzzy leaves
Forms compact, lettuce-like rosettes that create dense surface mats ideal for smaller aquaria.
Grows well in moderate light and benefits from stable nutrient levels for steady development.
Compact rosette floats
Filtration powerhouse
Velvety fuzzy leaves
Forms compact, lettuce-like rosettes that create dense surface mats ideal for smaller aquaria.
Grows well in moderate light and benefits from stable nutrient levels for steady development.
Salvinia Minima
Salvinia minima is a market leader for hobbyists seeking a small, hardy floater that tolerates a wide range of conditions and is typically one of the most budget-friendly options for freshwater aquaria. Technically simpler to contain than Dwarf Water Lettuce and more compact than Water Spangles, it offers reliable nutrient export and surface cover without the higher light demands or premium price of Red Root Floaters, making it ideal for beginners and densely stocked tanks.
Mini floating fern
Algae controller
Mini floating fern
Algae controller
Review Summary
"Frequently described as very hardy, fast-growing, and excellent for fry cover and surface shading; a minority note it can spread aggressively or attract snails if not managed."
Velcro-like hairs
Tiny, hairy leaves form very dense mats that quickly cover the water surface.
Velcro-like hairs
Tiny, hairy leaves form very dense mats that quickly cover the water surface.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Salvinia minima is a market leader for hobbyists seeking a small, hardy floater that tolerates a wide range of conditions and is typically one of the most budget-friendly options for freshwater aquaria. Technically simpler to contain than Dwarf Water Lettuce and more compact than Water Spangles, it offers reliable nutrient export and surface cover without the higher light demands or premium price of Red Root Floaters, making it ideal for beginners and densely stocked tanks.
Mini floating fern
Algae controller
Velcro-like hairs
Tiny, hairy leaves form very dense mats that quickly cover the water surface.
Thrives in low to moderate light and is one of the easiest Salvinia species to maintain.
Mini floating fern
Algae controller
Velcro-like hairs
Tiny, hairy leaves form very dense mats that quickly cover the water surface.
Thrives in low to moderate light and is one of the easiest Salvinia species to maintain.
$8-25 CAD
Water Spangles (Salvinia auriculata)
Water Spangles stand out as a high-performance floater thanks to their textured leaves and vigorous growth, which provide excellent nutrient uptake and refuge for small fish — a technical advantage for aquarists managing high bioload tanks. While typically more vigorous and potentially harder to contain than Salvinia minima, their robustness and rapid propagation deliver strong ecological benefits that can offset the higher purchase or shipping costs when used strategically in nutrient control plans.
Bigger spangled mats
Rapid surface cover
Bigger spangled mats
Rapid surface cover
Review Summary
"Liked for its textured leaves and dense surface coverage in ponds and larger tanks, but some report slower establishment in aquaria, shipping damage, and concerns about invasiveness."
Bubble-textured leaves
Features larger, oval fronds than S. minima, offering thicker and more visible surface coverage.
Bubble-textured leaves
Features larger, oval fronds than S. minima, offering thicker and more visible surface coverage.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Recreational Enjoyment
Water Spangles stand out as a high-performance floater thanks to their textured leaves and vigorous growth, which provide excellent nutrient uptake and refuge for small fish — a technical advantage for aquarists managing high bioload tanks. While typically more vigorous and potentially harder to contain than Salvinia minima, their robustness and rapid propagation deliver strong ecological benefits that can offset the higher purchase or shipping costs when used strategically in nutrient control plans.
Bigger spangled mats
Rapid surface cover
Bubble-textured leaves
Features larger, oval fronds than S. minima, offering thicker and more visible surface coverage.
Performs well in moderate to bright light and establishes rapidly in nutrient-rich waters.
Bigger spangled mats
Rapid surface cover
Bubble-textured leaves
Features larger, oval fronds than S. minima, offering thicker and more visible surface coverage.
Performs well in moderate to bright light and establishes rapidly in nutrient-rich waters.
$10-30 CAD