Pistia stratiotes

Pistia stratiotes is found floating in tropical and subtropical waterways across the globe, forming dense colonies on still or slow-moving water surfaces. In the aquarium its spongy, air-filled leaves remain buoyant while its feathery white roots create a curtain beneath the surface that offers shelter to fry, shrimp, and small fish. It is a prolific nutrient absorber, making it valuable for maintaining water quality in heavily stocked tanks, though it must be kept in check to prevent blocking all light to submerged plants.

Light: High surface light; requires bright illumination to maintain healthy, compact rosettes. CO2: Not required; absorbs nutrients directly from the water column via its roots. Planting: Simply place on the water surface; requires no planting — it floats freely. Maintenance: Thin the colony regularly to prevent total surface coverage and light blockage; remove excess plants. Note: Needs still or very gentle water movement — high surface agitation will damage leaves and impair growth.