Riccia fluitans
A free-floating liverwort that pearls heavily under CO₂ and bright light — Amano famously tied it to stones with hairnet to make submerged carpets. Will rise to the surface as new growth pulls free; trim and re-attach to maintain a tight submerged form.
Riccia Fluitans (Riccia fluitans) is a floating (or tied to hardscape) aquatic plant for the floating or foreground of a planted tank. It reaches 1–3 cm under good conditions and grows at a fast rate. Light: medium to high. CO₂: recommended. Target 20–28 °C, pH 6.0–8.0, and 1–15 dGH. Substrate: Not planted — tied to stone or wood, or floated.. Propagate via fragments — broken pieces grow on.
Care at a glance
A free-floating liverwort that pearls heavily under CO₂ and bright light — Amano famously tied it to stones with hairnet to make submerged carpets. Will rise to the surface as new growth pulls free; trim and re-attach to maintain a tight submerged form.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether riccia fluitans fits in your tank.
Ricciaceae
Floating (or tied to hardscape)
Floating or foreground
Not planted — tied to stone or wood, or floated.
Fragments — broken pieces grow on
Calm sun-lit ponds and ditches worldwide
Cosmopolitan
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
CO₂ requirement: recommended. Light requirement: medium to high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a fast rate.
Riccia Fluitans (Riccia fluitans) needs medium to high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.
Position: floating or foreground. Substrate: Not planted — tied to stone or wood, or floated. It typically reaches 1–3 cm.
Propagation method: Fragments — broken pieces grow on. Riccia Fluitans is a floating (or tied to hardscape) plant.
Target 20–28 °C, pH 6.0–8.0, and 1–15 dGH. Flow tolerance: low.
Difficulty: 2/5. Forgiving, beginner-friendly once the tank is cycled.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
