Salvinia

Salvinia – Floating Aquarium Plant

Salvinia is a fast-growing floating aquatic plant known for its soft, textured green leaves that form attractive clusters across the water’s surface. Its floating roots provide excellent cover for shrimp, fry, and small fish while helping absorb excess nutrients such as nitrates from the water. Salvinia is a great natural nutrient exporter and can help compete with algae by reducing excess nutrients and providing shade. It works well in planted aquariums, shrimp tanks, breeding setups, ponds, and low-tech tanks.

Care: Easy
Lighting: Low to high; moderate light produces strong, healthy growth
CO₂: Not required
Temperature: 68–82°F
pH: 6.0–8.0
Growth Rate: Fast
Placement: Floating on the water’s surface
Propagation: Naturally produces new plantlets as it spreads

For best results, keep the tops of the leaves relatively dry and avoid strong surface agitation or having the plant constantly splashed by a filter. Salvinia can multiply very quickly under good conditions, so occasional thinning is recommended to prevent it from covering the entire surface and blocking too much light from plants below.