I have been seeing some people putting their pothus house plants in the top of their tanks saying that it also does helps eat up ammonia. Before doing this I wanted too know if I should add them cause I have a few cutting from my larger plants that would also benefit from the extra nutrients. (5.5 gal) Psa: I already have salvania as a floater.
Pothus in tank
- Thread starter fishyfisher
- Start date
Pothos can work well in a small tank, mainly by taking up nitrate and other nutrients as it grows. I wouldn’t rely on it as the primary way to control ammonia, though. In a mature tank, beneficial bacteria and regular maintenance are still doing most of that work.
Since you already have Salvinia in a 5.5 gallon, I’d start with just one small Pothos cutting and see how the tank responds. Keep the leaves above the water and only let the roots grow into the tank. It’s basically like adding another nutrient export system, just in plant form.
Since you already have Salvinia in a 5.5 gallon, I’d start with just one small Pothos cutting and see how the tank responds. Keep the leaves above the water and only let the roots grow into the tank. It’s basically like adding another nutrient export system, just in plant form.
A tank the size of a 5 can be filled with roots from a pothos if it does well. It's a small "flowerpot" for them. I have a lot of on tank, emergent plants, but they seem to thrive best in tanks over 20 gallons. I assume they filter to a degree, but I don't worry about how well. They look good. I still do my regular partial water changes as if they weren't there.
Root growth and spread can be extensive.
Root growth and spread can be extensive.
Yeah, pothos roots can get wild in a tank that size honestly. Mine basically turned into a root ball big enough to fill a 5 gallon on its own once it got happy. I run mine in bigger tanks (20+) too since that's where I've had the best luck with emergent growth - they definitely help with nitrates but I don't stress the exact numbers, I just keep up with normal water changes regardless. More of a bonus than a replacement for maintenance imo.
my 4 - 10 gallon tanks all pothos growing out of them, and haven’t needed excessive root trimming… root trimming is easy to do, and doesn’t seem to bother the plant , as long as you leave maybe just for for a number,10 % of them untouched
I removed a peace lily from a 75 gallon last week. The roots had filled 1/3 of the large tank. It was interesting to watch as the fish behaved very naturally, but I couldn't see them well enough. It took a serious attack with shark scissors to remove 80% of the roots. The plant seems unbothered. It has flowered since - yesterday there was a new bloom.
In a 5, roots may be less of an issue as with so little water there will be fewer nutrients. I'd go for it and find out.
In a 5, roots may be less of an issue as with so little water there will be fewer nutrients. I'd go for it and find out.
worst case, you pull it out and repot it…
I have found most house plants that the cuttings will root in water, do well in an aquarium… honestly the pothos is my least favorite plant to grow out of the tank, with my favorite being hoyas… there are so many hoya varieties, that I gave 5-6 different varieties growing out of tanks right now, and they seem to be slightly less intrusive with the roots requiring less root trimming, and plant maintenance ( I have monster vines growing all over the house, that are growing out of tanks ) if I were starting over, I’d honestly skip the pothos…
check out my Hoya thread…
www.fishforums.net
I have found most house plants that the cuttings will root in water, do well in an aquarium… honestly the pothos is my least favorite plant to grow out of the tank, with my favorite being hoyas… there are so many hoya varieties, that I gave 5-6 different varieties growing out of tanks right now, and they seem to be slightly less intrusive with the roots requiring less root trimming, and plant maintenance ( I have monster vines growing all over the house, that are growing out of tanks ) if I were starting over, I’d honestly skip the pothos…
check out my Hoya thread…
hoya hoya hoya
this has become one of my favorite plants to grow out of my aquariums... what started as an experiment, but I may end up slowly replacing my pothos vines, with hoya vines.... pothos lose leaves along the vine, and don't seem to regrow them... hoya is a more interesting flowering plant, and if it...
Insteresting thought. I already do Have a species of hoya so i might as well try that too and over hang it.worst case, you pull it out and repot it…
I have found most house plants that the cuttings will root in water, do well in an aquarium… honestly the pothos is my least favorite plant to grow out of the tank, with my favorite being hoyas… there are so many hoya varieties, that I gave 5-6 different varieties growing out of tanks right now, and they seem to be slightly less intrusive with the roots requiring less root trimming, and plant maintenance ( I have monster vines growing all over the house, that are growing out of tanks ) if I were starting over, I’d honestly skip the pothos…
check out my Hoya thread…
hoya hoya hoya
this has become one of my favorite plants to grow out of my aquariums... what started as an experiment, but I may end up slowly replacing my pothos vines, with hoya vines.... pothos lose leaves along the vine, and don't seem to regrow them... hoya is a more interesting flowering plant, and if it...
Similar threads
Most reactions
-
602 -
339
-
201 -
175 -
174 -
174 -
164 -
160
-
146 -
144 -
133 -
125 -
103 -
85 -
74