Phyllanthus fluitans: the red floater that colours the aquarium surface

Phyllanthus fluitans, known as red floater or Red Root Floater, is one of those plants that change the look of an entire aquarium just by covering the surface. It is native to tropical parts of South America and abounds in the Magdalena River basin in Colombia, where it lives in slow or stagnant water in direct sun. According to the article's data sheet, its difficulty is medium, it grows fast and needs high light to bring out the red tones.

What I liked most is how it explains the colour. In low light the leaves are flat and very pale green; with good lighting they thicken, become concave and turn red, which the text presents as protection against the sun. Redness is also more intense when there is a nitrogen deficiency, so the plant works almost as an indicator of the water balance.

It also plays a practical role against algae. Floating and taking in air directly, it grows faster than submerged plants and absorbs excess fertiliser and fish waste, depriving algae of food. It does need a calm surface and plenty of light to look its best.

The article does not go into CO2, temperature, pH or dosing, so it is worth supplementing with other sources before planning a design that depends on it. Even so, as a composition idea – a red layer floating over a green landscape – I find it a very attractive combination for a planted aquarium.

Source: Acuarios Plantados