The Surprising Way You Can Use Your Aquarium To Grow Your Garden

Having an aquarium in your home is its own reward: Not only is it a fun hobby, it's also been shown to make you happier and calmer. The same goes for keeping plants in your home. So it's no surprise that many people enjoy doing both in a two-for-one deal, growing houseplants and edible plants right in their fish tank. What is surprising, though, is just how easy it is to do.

The key for this method is to submerge the roots in the aquarium, leaving the stems and leaves to grow in the air as usual. It's called aquaponics, a combination of hydroponics (growing plants in water) and aquaculture (raising fish). Some people practice aquaponics to grow fish and plants as a food source, while others keep pet fish and grow houseplants, herbs, or veggies.

Why bother growing plants in your aquarium instead of soil? Firstly, it's an efficient way to make use of what you already have, adding greenery without taking up more space. It also has benefits for both the fish and the plants. Fish waste provides phosphorus and nitrogen, two of the essential nutrients for plants. Therefore, there is no need to add extra nutrients like with hydroponics systems — you only have to feed the fish. This also prevents too many nutrients from building up in the water and leading to algae growth. The roots provide cover and spawning areas for the fish, and in some systems, the plant bed can fully replace a traditional water filter. To get started with aquaponic gardening, all you need are the right plants, pots, and some LECA clay balls.

There's a wide range of plants that can grow happily aquaponically, though specifics vary a bit based on your setup. For example, if you keep your aquarium indoors, look for indoor plants that don't need much sun to survive, like pothos, peace lilies, ferns, and philodendrons. Of course, it's also important to look for plants that can tolerate wet roots. Check the hydroponics section of the garden store for sure bets — you'll find plenty of edible plants like lettuces, tomatoes, cucumbers, and many herbs. Some popular aquarium plants, like strawberries, require full sun, so you will likely need to add a grow light indoors.

There are various types of gardening methods to hold the plants in place in the aquarium. You can place the roots through the hang-on-the-back filter, attach hydroponic plant pots to the edge of the aquarium, use suction cups or zip ties, or rig something that goes across the top, like a cover with holes in it for each plant pot. LECA, a hydroponic growing medium, is an important addition regardless of the method you choose. The clay balls encourage the growth of bacteria that make waste nutrients accessible to plants. Add LECA balls to your pots or replace some of the filter media with them.

Lastly, in order for this gardening method to work, the fish in the tank must be compatible with plants (in other words, they won't eat them all). Consider opting for compact plants; taller ones will need support eventually, like a trellis. Avoid plants that require acidic pH levels to thrive, such as blueberries; they won't get that in an aquarium.