Best Household Plants For Your Aquarium

Here is a list of common households plants you can safely add to your fish tank to create a more decorative effect that is beautiful and safe for your fish and your plants will thrive with all the nutrients.

It is important to only start incorporating house plants to your established tanks that are older than 6 months. The reason for this is the water could be a bit unstable with higher nitrates that won’t be good for the plants and could cause big problems for the fish.

Make sure to prepare your household plants properly before adding them to your fish tank, rather safe than sorry. There are many ways to secure all the plants and you can get very creative with the look and the feel of this aesthetic.

The benefits of adding plants to your fish tank are decorative, fish love the shelter, lowering nitrates in the water which means fewer water changes.

1. Orchids

Orchids are a great choice for color and visual interest. Make sure the roots have access to air and arent fully submerged. Orchids also need sufficient light, so make sure your orchids get enough natural light or light from an above hanging light. Avoid adding orchids to African Cichlid tanks as the water will most likely be too hard for the orchid to thrive.

2. Monstera

Avoid the Monstera variety if you have fish that like to nibble on plants or roots. The calcium oxalate crystals present in the plant could irritate the fish and cause problems depending on the sensitivity of the fish. Fish like Betta, shrimp and guppies work well with Monstera plants, just make sure the leaves always remain out of the water.

Popular Monstera varieties used in aquariums are the Swiss Cheese Vine, Mini Split Leaf and Monstera Deliciosa.

3. Lucky Bamboo

Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena Sanderiana) is a very popular choice of plant that assists with the filtering of fish tank water and providing a hiding spot for your fish. It is very important to make sure to secure the bamboo to ensure the top part of the stalk and leaves don’t touch or go underwater.

If your bamboo stalk is long enough and your tank shallow enough you can plant the roots in your substrate of the tank.

4. Herbs

Fish love nibbling at the roots of herbs so this might become an issue for the survival of your herbs trying to adapt to their new water environment. You might have to do some trial and error to see what works better for you with the fish you have.

Light is extremely important when growing herbs and you need to either add an additional light to your fish tank or lift your current light. You can secure your herbs in various ways, just make sure to prepare the herbs properly.

Herbs that work well and are safe to use in your fish tank are basil, mint, chives, thyme, sage, oregano, garlic and coriander.

5. Peace Lily

Peace Lillies provide your tank with beautiful flowers and love living in fish tanks. You will have to rinse your leaves and roots to make sure you remove all the pesticides before adding your lily to the water. The leaves of the lily will wilt a bit at the start as your plant transitions to the new environment.

You can add your Peace Lily to a planter basket or plant it in the substrate of your tank, if your tank is shallow enough. Just remember that the majority of the leaves need to be above water.

6. Spider Plant

If you have cats that like to nibble plants, this plant might not be the right option for you. Spider plants give cats a hallucinogenic effect when they consume it. Although this plant isn’t toxic it can cause symptoms and because all cats have different sensitivities, it is best to rather be safe than sorry.

Spider plants are a beautiful addition to your fish tank, they grow quickly and love the water environment.

7. Arrowhead Plants

These plants (Syngonium) are great hanging/climbing type plants to incorporate to the look of your fish tank. Arrowhead plants are great air purifiers, so it will serve as a dual filter for your home (air filter) and fish tank (nitrate filter).

You get various types with different patterned leaves. Make sure only the roots and vines are in the water and not the leaves.

8. Pothos

Devils Ivy (similar looking to Arrowhead plants) is a staple for most tanks as they are easy to grow and propagate new plants. If you are starting with a new cutting of the plant, make sure to secure the vine so it is in the water and the leaves are out of the water. The Pothos will start to vine and grow roots in a few months.

If you are using an established pot plant, make sure to remove all the soil and break up the plants before securing them in your tank with the roots and stems are in the water only and not the leaves. Light is a key ingredient to make sure these plants thrive so make sure there is sufficient light for your Pothos.

9. Philodendrons

These plants are naturally found in the rain forest so they do exceptional at living in aquariums as they love the moisture. Split Leaf and Heartleaf Philodendrons are very popular to use in aquariums.

Philodendrons are toxic to cats so make sure your cats and fish won’t nibble on the plant or roots (contains the same calcium oxalate crystals as Monstera plants).

10. Palms & Ferns

The most commonly used Parlor and Bella Palms are beautiful additions to your tank, giving you that unique look and texture. Another great addition for texture would be ferns. The most popular ferns used are Maiden Hair Ferns and Asparagus Ferns.

Make sure to remove all the soil from your plants before adding them in and securing them so the water doesn’t go higher than the soil was, only the roots should be partially in the water.

11. Hoyas

Also known as Wax Plants have beautiful, delicate litlle star shaped flowers that look stunning on top of your fish tank. Popular Hoyas used for fish tanks are the Krimson Queen, Krimson Princess and the Hoya Carnosa.

It is very important that your leaves do not touch the water and only the roots are partially in the water.

12. Aglaonema

The beautiful leaves of the Chinese Evergreen plants are a must for any fish-keeper looking to add an interesting look to their fish tank. Like all the other plants, make sure only the roots are partially submerged for this plant to thrive.

13. Aluminum Plant

I have listed this plant because many stores market them (Pilea Cadieri) as aquatic, but unfortunately they are not. The Aluminum plant will initially seem like it is doing very well and growing at a speed. The reason for this rapid growth is that the plant is trying to “grow out of the water” in order to survive. After a while you will notice it starting to die off.

This plant works great above your tank with only the roots exposed to the water.