Floating Plants, Gas Exchange & Evaporation

[frothhelmet]

If you use enough floating plants can you;

1. Impede surface gas exchange and imperil the life in your tank

2. Significantly reduce evaporation in open-top tanks, providing a kind of 'natural hood'.

I guess it would also depend on the species of floater. What plants in everyone's experience 'choke' the surface the most?

 

[Ben M]

hi, i would say that duckweed chokes the surface the most. it blocked out nearly al of the light in my tank. i got rid of it, as it was a pain. don't know about your other Q's though.

cheers

 

[Steve Smith]

I'm guessing, but is it not the case that floating plants would release oxygen via their roots? I may be completely wrong on that

 

[sanj]

dont know, but i have always used floating plants, just keep them under control. Salvinia natans is the one is use most and chuck a handful or two away a week.

 

[Ben M]

hi, how does your Salvinia natans grow? because when i buy mine it is about an inch or so high, but after a while the tall bit dies, and only the really shallow plantlets live. is this because i have low lighting?

sorry for getting off topic.

cheers