Nymphea lily bulbs?

Question

i bought some of these from walmart and i was wondering how to keep the leaves under water. and also will they out grow my 16 gallon bowfront it is 21.5 inches tall

Answer 1

Unlike what has been suggested, I have never found Nymphaea to stop producing submerged leaves after sending up floaters.  I currently have a lily with 3 lily pads and about 9 sumberged, fully opened leaves.  If you really don't want floaters (I like the shading they produce in the corner I keep mine in), you can just trim them off, either once they reach the surface or once you see the unfurled leaves heading for the surface.

Answer 2

the leaves that reach the surface are spear shaped. everytime you see one of those cut it off. if you allow the leaves to reach the surface and open, the plant will eventually stop producing submerged leaves and send out all surface leaves. if it's already done that. just cut off all the leaves and stat all over