How many floating plants?

[Sylerwin]

I'm in the process of setting up a new 40gallon tank for my axie. I'm going to try and have more live plants. The light that came with the tank is SUPER bright, but I still want to give my axie a sense of day-night, so I was curious if I bought a ton of floating plants, if it would help block the light a bit? I wasn't sure how often they may want/need to come up for air, and if it would be an issue? I'm not in a good spot financially to just buy another light, but I get a ton of free aquatic plants from my local botany instructor. I'm thinking hornwort and anacharis.
Thanks!

 

[abbeh15]

If dense enough, I have found that floating plants do help block out the light. Before I had floaters, when I turned the light in the morning my axies would immediately dart to a hide. Now it doesn't bother them at all when the light comes on. They even like to hang up near the water line in the plants to hunt for guppies.

Hornwort and anacharis are good choices, good floaters and fast growers.