Good floating plants for a smaller aquarium?

[Katya]

I've got a five-gallon tank with one betta.  So far I have some moss, two java ferns, one anubias nana, and two anubias nana petite.  Are there any floating plants that don't grow too quickly and don't have big leaves?  

[anewbie]

red root floater works well. It is smaller than frogbit and water lettuce; and in my experience a bit slower at growing. My 2nd choice would be frogbit. It is smaller than water lettuce and i much prefer the leaf structure to water lettuce; also depending on the structure of your aquarium the roots can be quite entertaining esp if they reach near the bottom. here is a picture of my 5 gallon with a combination of water lettuce and frogbit:

[Ragnarok12]

I like red root floaters, but I had a hard time getting them to grow for me. I have opted for salvinia in my 5 gallon and 2 gallon tanks, which has small leaves and relatively short roots (1-2 inches). It gives a cleaner look to a small tank than something like water lettuce with long roots, but it's totally a matter of aesthetic preference. 

[JettsPapa]

Pearl weed is a nice floating plant with small leaves (it can be grown rooted in the substrate, but it's also nice floating).

[Ben_RF]

I am thinking red root floaters or duckweed (this one does grow fast, but really with floaters maintenance is easy because you just scoop out excess and throw away). 

Edited October 21, 2021 by Ben_RF

[sairving]

I had amazon frogbit and duckweed in my 5-gallon.  They both did so well, I had to scoop handfuls of floating plants out every week.  Now, the frogbit is my 10-gallon along with the duckweed (unfortunately).  I have a love/hate relationship with duckweed.    

[GameCzar]

I like Salvinia Minima or Water Spangles.  Smaller than frogbit, shorter roots, less invasive than duck weed.