floating plants hinder light diffusion?

Have read several posts about value of floating plants re water
quality and making fish real more comfortable.

I think I'd like to try but wouldn't that have an effect on all the
plants at the bottom(stunted growth and all other sorts of problems)??

Larry

"Larry" wrote in message
...
Have read several posts about value of floating plants re water
quality and making fish real more comfortable.

I think I'd like to try but wouldn't that have an effect on all the
plants at the bottom(stunted growth and all other sorts of problems)??
=================
Yes, that's why I don't use them.

Koi-Lo........

Koi-Lo wrote:

"Larry" wrote in message
...

Have read several posts about value of floating plants re water
quality and making fish real more comfortable.

I think I'd like to try but wouldn't that have an effect on all the
plants at the bottom(stunted growth and all other sorts of problems)??

=================
Yes, that's why I don't use them.

Koi-Lo........

Doesn't your water lettuce float? Actually, I just started into water
lettuce and it really grows in the aquarium! See Koi-lo quote below.
Steve

Quote" I'm in zone 6 TN and keep water lettuce over easily. I keep them
in pans
of water or an old fishtank by south facing windows (or in a fishtank
with
my goldfish). They must be FERTILIZED every few weeks or they'll die out
(or they do for me). Water hyacinths are a bit harder to keep alive.
Make sure they don't have "mites or aphids" before you bring them in.
They also need a sunny window, fertilizer regularly and do better with
moving water. You can achieve that with a cheap airpump and airstone.

Koi Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995..."

"Steve" wrote in message
.. .
Koi-Lo wrote:

"Larry" wrote in message
...

Have read several posts about value of floating plants re water
quality and making fish real more comfortable.

I think I'd like to try but wouldn't that have an effect on all the
plants at the bottom(stunted growth and all other sorts of problems)??

=================
Yes, that's why I don't use them.

Koi-Lo........

Doesn't your water lettuce float?
=================
Yes, but I only have 2 or 3 small ones in 55g tanks. They're the size of
silver dollars. The smaller tanks don't have any. I keep most in a pan and
a "non planted" fishtank by the window.

--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

In article ,
Koi-Lo wrote:

"Larry" wrote in message
.. .
Have read several posts about value of floating plants re water
quality and making fish real more comfortable.

I think I'd like to try but wouldn't that have an effect on all the
plants at the bottom(stunted growth and all other sorts of problems)??
=================
Yes, that's why I don't use them.


Crypts grow bigger in such tanks as they reach up for the light. That's
why I use them.


--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

Yes, that's why I don't use them.



Crypts grow bigger in such tanks as they reach up for the light. That's
why I use them.



These posts bring to mind an old Rocky movie where the boxer (who has
money now) is asked whether he's interested in condominiums. Rocky's
reply "I never use them" . Likely result: many little Rockies ...

Steve

On Wed, 01 Mar 2006 16:56:53 -0500, Larry wrote:

Have read several posts about value of floating plants re water
quality and making fish real more comfortable.

I think I'd like to try but wouldn't that have an effect on all the
plants at the bottom(stunted growth and all other sorts of problems)??

Larry

Yes and no. Some fish are very uncomfortable under bright lights, so
with some shade coming from above, they are more likely to be out
swimming in open water rather than hiding in a cave to avoid the
light. Many of our pet fish come from (before the fish farms!) shaded
streams, murky rivers, black water lagoons, etc. In the aquarium, any
bottom plant directly below the floating plant is going to get
diffused light . . . there are many plants that grow well with less
than high beams shining down on them. And yes, many plants require a
certain number of hours each day with direct exposure to very bright
sunlight. The surface area of the tank is a consideration - floating
plants in a long tank will be more likey to drift about some, rather
than remain stationary over a specific area. Floating plants often
need to be thinned frequently, to prevent them from taking over the
entire water surface. 2 or 3 small clumps may be all that is needed to
provide some of the benefits of sucking up nitrates and purifying
water. I think I used the phrase "fast growing/floating" plants like
hornwort or water sprite - instead of the slash I could have put a
"or", which is what I intended. Both water sprite and hornwort grow
quickly wheather anchored in the substrate or left to float freely.
The person I was replying to just now said that his tank is a tall
hex, which wouldn't leave a lot of room for light to get to the bottom
if the top were covered with floating plants, but something like
hornwort, "planted" in the gravel would shoot to the top very quickly
and make a nice display. And provide the water quality benefits. A
final point: When I, or someone else, suggests a handful of floating
plants to help an aquarist deal with a water quality issue, we do not
intend to imply that floating plants need to become a permanent
fixture in the aquascape. It is seldom the final and definitive
solution. It's quick and temporary, like medicine. It buys us a little
more time to discover and correct the real problem, which may be over
feeding, inadequate gravel hoovering, (I'm not English but I love that
verb!), or whatever is at the source of the problem.

I think I'm nearing the end of my knowledge and experience here, (gee,
that was a short ride), so perhaps one of our plant specialists will
take this thread a little farther. I'm as interested in learning more
as you are. My name refers to my terra firma abilities, not so much
the aquatic. Yet. I'm much more comfortable writing about carrots and
cucumbers than ceratopteris and cabomba.

-- Mr Gardener

Larry wrote:
Have read several posts about value of floating plants re water
quality and making fish real more comfortable.

I think I'd like to try but wouldn't that have an effect on all the
plants at the bottom(stunted growth and all other sorts of problems)??

Yep. You either need brighter light or low light plants at the bottom,
like Richard's crypts. Java fern, java moss, and anubias will grow
under floating plant cover. Or put your tank in the window. Floating
plants don't block the light coming in from the side.

Floating watersprite is the second best nitrogen sink you'll ever run
across. Water hyacinth is the best, but it's hard to grow in typical
fishtanks. Duckweed is pretty good too, but it has an annoying tendency
to get caught in filters. Floaters do so well because they have access
to bright light and atmospheric CO2.

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to reply.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com

"Altum" wrote in message
et...
Floating watersprite is the second best nitrogen sink you'll ever run
across. Water hyacinth is the best, but it's hard to grow in typical
fishtanks. Duckweed is pretty good too, but it has an annoying tendency
to get caught in filters. Floaters do so well because they have access to
bright light and atmospheric CO2.
==========================
Water lettuce also soaks up the nitrates and more but can get out of hand in
a tank. It also really shades plants out below it. If someone will
constantly thin them out they should work ok. They will thrive under
aquarium lights and in hard alkaline water.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o