{"title":"Floating Plants","description":"\u003cp\u003eFloating plants — instant shade, nitrate export and cover for fry and bettas. The fastest way to make a tank feel natural.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"red-root-floater","title":"Red Root Floater | Phyllanthus fluitans","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRed Root Floater is a small floating plant that turns from green to a warm red across its rounded pads, with striking crimson roots dangling below. It is easy and undemanding, and few floaters add as much colour to the surface of a tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhyllanthus fluitans comes from the Amazon basin of South America, drifting on still and slow-moving waters such as backwaters and canals. In the aquarium it recreates that setting on a calm surface with little water movement; strong overhead light and good nutrients bring out the red, while shade keeps it green.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach plant is a rosette of small, rounded pads a centimetre or two across, green in shade and blushing red to burgundy under bright light, with distinctive red roots trailing beneath. It spreads across the surface into a mat rather than gaining height. The portion sold is a small cluster of plants that multiply to cover the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlacement and Aquascaping\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA floating plant for the water surface. Let it drift in an area with calm flow, or corral it with a floating ring or tidy line so it does not cover the whole surface. It shades the tank below and soaks up nutrients, which helps starve algae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and Propagation\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNothing to plant: simply rest it on the surface and keep the flow gentle so the pads do not get pushed under or wetted from above, which can rot them. It propagates rapidly by daughter plants on side shoots; thin it out regularly to keep the surface open for other plants and gas exchange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eModerate to high light from above is needed for the red colour; in low light it stays green. CO2 is not needed as a floating plant. It is a hungry feeder that especially wants iron and a good liquid fertiliser to hold its colour and grow fast; keep the water 22–26 °C, pH around 6.5–7.5. Warm, humid, still conditions suit it, while spray and strong surface agitation can cause melting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePhyllanthus fluitans\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRed Root Floater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAmazon basin, South America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1–3 cm (surface mat)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFast\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFloating\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to High\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCO2 Requirement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFertilisation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLiquid fertiliser plus iron for red colour\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–26 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to moderately hard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePropagation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDaughter plants on side shoots\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSurface cover and colour in calm community and shrimp tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful community fish, shrimp and snails all suit it, and its roots and shade make great cover for fry and shy fish. It pairs well with bettas, gouramis, tetras, rasboras and shrimp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSurface-feeding herbivores and boisterous fish such as large goldfish, silver dollars and big cichlids will eat or tatter it. Strong filter outflow and overhead spray keep the pads wet and cause them to rot, so avoid heavy surface agitation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAustralian-grown aquarium plants for in-store collection or local delivery. Sold sizes\/portions reflect what we stock; anything shown as sold out will return as we restock.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55234091811107,"sku":"AA3248","price":9.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Other listing (SKU BA9056)","offer_id":55304234303779,"sku":"BA9056","price":5.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/red-root-floater-43078124044579-v2.webp?v=1790321588"},{"product_id":"lesser-duckweed","title":"Lesser Duckweed | Lemna minor","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLesser Duckweed is the tiny, free-floating plant that carpets the surface of ponds the world over. Each plant is barely a few millimetres across, yet together they form a living green blanket that soaks up nutrients, shades the tank and gives fry and shy fish cover. Easy to the point of being unstoppable – and honestly, hard to get rid of once it settles in.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLemna minor is found across temperate and tropical regions worldwide, including Australia, drifting on the still and slow-moving surfaces of ponds, ditches, dams and backwaters. It thrives wherever the water is nutrient-rich and the surface calm. In the aquarium it simply floats, needing no substrate and no attachment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach plant is a single flat, oval green frond 2–5 mm across, with one fine root trailing beneath. En masse they form a bright green surface film. There is no real height to speak of – it is a surface plant – and the portion supplied is a starter clump that multiplies rapidly to cover the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlacement and Aquascaping\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA floating plant for the water surface. Simply scatter it on top; it needs no planting. Bear in mind it spreads fast and can block light to plants below and interfere with surface gas exchange, so thin it regularly and keep it away from tanks where you are growing demanding carpets. Surface flow will push it into drifts, which some aquarists use to keep one area clear.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and Propagation\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo planting – just float it. Propagation happens on its own: each frond buds off new fronds, doubling its numbers in days under good light. To manage it, simply scoop out the excess with a net; the removed plants make excellent food for goldfish, cichlids and poultry.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eUndemanding – it grows under low to high light, though brighter light drives faster spread, and needs no CO2. It feeds heavily on nutrients in the water, which makes it a useful tool against algae and excess nitrate. Comfortable across a wide temperature range of roughly 15–28 °C and most pH and hardness levels. Growth is fast, so the main task is thinning it, not feeding it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLemna minor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLesser Duckweed, Common Duckweed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCosmopolitan (including Australia)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSurface plant (fronds 2–5 mm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFast\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFloating\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow to High\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCO2 Requirement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFertilisation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFeeds from the water column (no dosing needed)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–20 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePropagation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBudding (vegetative division)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNutrient control, fry cover, shade for shy fish, live food\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLoved by fry and surface-dwellers for cover, and safe with virtually all fish and shrimp. Goldfish, cichlids and many other fish will happily graze it, which can be a feature rather than a fault.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot a fish problem so much as a management one: avoid it over demanding carpet plants and in tanks with strong surface agitation where it drifts and clogs. Never release it into ponds or waterways – it spreads aggressively, so bin or compost excess. Fish that eat it, like goldfish, will simply keep it in check.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAustralian-grown aquarium plants for in-store collection or local delivery. Sold sizes\/portions reflect what we stock; anything shown as sold out will return as we restock.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55234106753315,"sku":"BA9057","price":5.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/lesser-duckweed-43078124011811-v2.webp?v=1790321588"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/collections\/Lesser_Duckweed_Lemna_minor.jpg?v=1788252667","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/collections\/floating-plants.oembed","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}