Utilising houseplants in aquariums can add visual impact and help with water quality. Alex outlines his top 5 terrestrial plants to use.
The use of bright green foliage growing out the top of an aquarium is something we are seeing more and more. You can see a stunning example by David Nørholm at the top of the page.
House plants can elevate an aquascape or better replicate natural habitats in biotope aquariums. They even help to control waste in community tanks helping to improve water quality, just like aquarium plants.
As their leaves are above the water, they have brighter light and plenty of CO2. This means they can grow rapidly, just like floating plants.
How to add house plants to your fish tank
The process of adding these terrestrial plants to your aquarium is easy. Simply buy the species of plant you like the look of, wash the soil off the roots and attach them to the top of your tank in any number of ways. Equally, you can take cuttings from your existing indoor plants and they will often happily root into the aquarium.
Washing off soil from the roots is an important step, Photo by Shutterstock.
You need to ensure only the roots are in the water when adding your live plants to your tank. Otherwise the upper portions of the plants can rot when submerged, remember these are not true aquatic plants. You can do this by attaching the plants to hardscape above the water line in a similar way that you would with epiphytes. Equally, you can use the following products to keep them in place:
- Numerous plant specific clips are available designed to hold multiple stems that clip onto the rim of your tank. These are great for open topped aquariums but might not work if you have a thick pelmet around your fish tank.
- Air line suction cups can work in a similar way, holding a stem at the right height. Usually, these are clear, so they don't detract from aesthetics of your aquascape.
- Hang on the back filters and breeder boxes can also be good homes for house plants. They provide an area of shallow water where you can place your plants. People occasionally add small clay balls into these, known as LECA. They act as an alternative to soil for the roots and provide space for filter bacteria to colonise.
Related article: 5 easy and beautiful stem plants
Top 5 house plants for your aquascape
Here are my favourite terrestrial plants to use above my aquariums:
Boston ferns
I absolutely love the look of ferns, however, I often struggle to grow them in pots for some reason. We have all witnessed beautiful river banks covered in moss and ferns, and these can be inspiring. One of my favourite tanks is my blackwater aquarium with a dense canopy of Boston ferns.
Mine did sulk for a bit while they adjust to life above an aquarium but they soon began to thrive. They are native to the Americas, but now also occur elsewhere. Their generic fern look means they can replicate other species that are less available to us.
Pothos, devil's ivy
Plants from the genus Epipremnum are extremely popular for growing out of aquariums. Their stems are well suited to the clips and air line suction cups. They can even grow up light fixtures, adjacent shelving or hardscape structures.
This genus of plants is native to Asia and Australia. However, as it is such a beautiful plant why limit yourself to only using it in biotope correct tanks. Plus, it now grows in several other locations around the world thanks to humans introducing it.
Photo by Shutterstock
Peace lily
These plants love some humidity in their environment so what better place to be than above a warm body of water. Their wide dark green leaves and white flowers give an attractive tropical look. Again, you can expect some sulking when transitioned from soil to water but they will bounce back.
They are native to Colombia and Venezuela so would work well in a South American themed tank. The extra nutrients that occurs in aquarium water seem to allow the plant to bloom brilliantly.
Photo by Shutterstock
Ficus pumila
This is one that I have not seen used often in aquariums but I absolutely love in one of my tanks. I picked up a small plant pot designed for use in terrariums. The leaves are much smaller than the plants above, measuring around 3cm (1.2"). It creeps and climbs hardscape effectively.
Native to East, and South East Asia, but now in many other locations, this is superb for an Asian biotope. Be careful though, it is toxic and can irritate your skin.
Monstera spp.
A classic house plant, and a classic choice for an aquarium. Monstera are available in variegated forms that add intrigue. However, it will ruin the biotope feel as they do not occur in the wild.
Living in tropical, humid environment, this plant is also well suited to life around an aquarium. They naturally occur in Central and South America. So, combine them with popular community fish like neon tetras for an attractive display.
Photo by Shutterstock
To learn how to also grow plants underwater, check out our beginners guide to growing healthy aquarium plants.