Definitive Guide to Growing Houseplants in an Aquarium

For many years, I've been utilizing tropical houseplants as an essential element within my aquariums, paludariums, and ripariums. Doing so has allowed me to streamline my process and maintain these setups more easily. That’s because of the many benefits that plants provide. They make it possible to spread out maintenance sessions significantly.

Believe it or not, it’s straightforward to do with the correct information! I’ve experimented with various techniques and plants over the years, many of which I share in this video. I can confidently say that it’s easier to care for setups that have riparian houseplants. Riparian houseplants are also more manageable than their regular potted counterparts.

This guide thoroughly explains why these plants are beneficial, how the work in nature, and how you can incorporate them into your nature designs.

Riparian Plants List Guide

Follow SerpaDesign

00:00 Intro
00:22 Aquariums and Terrariums
00:53 What are Vivariums, Paludariums, and Riparium?
03:08 Why Houseplants are Helpful
05:20 Selecting Plants
07:05 Growing Plants with a Sloped Substrate
08:59 Using Hardscape to Elevate Plants
10:34 Utilizing Wicking Materials
11:35 Using Hang On Tank Planters
12:38 Alternative Solutions
13:39 Cleaning Plants for Use
14:32 Additional Information on Plant Selection
15:22 Implement Natural Processes

#houseplants #aquarium #serpadesign

[SerpaDesign]

I've been working on this one for months and am so excited to finally share it with you! I've been using plants in this way for years and it's been so helpful to me. I hope that this guide helps demystify the process for you. Have a great weekend SerpaSquad!

[ellajohnson]

I am literally building a tank at the moment using your IKEA tank setup video as a guide with the intention of making it a riparium setup. This could not be more perfectly timed. Thank you Tanner! 🐸

[barbkrienke]

It is so great that you added information about plant toxicity. I have cats, and it’s important to make sure that I use non-toxic plants. I’ve been using a variety of Calathea. Not sure if you are interested in adding additional information about hardiness (or if you have the same experience as I have). But I’ve found the rattlesnake calthea to be more hardy than others, and less likely to drop leaves into the water (where they melt). Great episode!!! I love that you included options for different “planting methods”! Thanks so much!!!

[karenlee]

The clearest explanation ever of the difference between all the terminology. This video was super helpful!!

[pyleaquatics]

This is hands down, the most useful video about plants growing out of an aquarium that I have ever found! Thank you so much! I plan to get a couple of my aquarium setup with plants growing out of them.

[sunriseeyes]

I love the graphic showing where in the landscape the different vivarium types showcase. That is super helpful! 🌱💗🙏🏽

[plixplop]

That diagram a few minutes in is the best explanation of all the different -ariums, I never quite got it before

[ernestjohnandres]

It was my childhood dream to do what you do, but never had the chance to start. Decades past now I'm a married full time salary man with a hectic schedule and never thought I would never get the chance to start this hobby. Luckily on a whim I bought my nephew a Betta fish, (nephew named him fire because of his color) not only my nephew but the entire family loved it. I'm searching for video's to make a better habitat for the Betta and found this. Thank you for a very educational video. I love what you do.

[squamsh]

This was much needed content. There is a decent amount of info online, but nothing as thorough as this.

[ramonsita]

This is the most elaborate, easy to understand explanation video I never knew I needed. I’ve been following your channel for a couple years now and I just never get tired of watching them, I feel like I always learn something new. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge.

[starr_ship]

Resources like that plant list that are Tanner-curated will help make a LOT of us feel more confident in our choices; thank you for that! Video is timely too; I have been keeping turtles and have been learning the hard way that you really can't use plants that don't grow vertically if you actually want to keep them. My plan B was an over-under bog filter in a separate bucket with the bottom stuffed with hornwort and pothos rooting down into it to keep the turts away from them, but the pothos is getting a bit much to manage and it's time to make some better decisions on plant stock.

[thehairywoodsman]

Lowes has started selling some of their house plants already growing in water. pretty awesome, the roots are already converted and you don't have to clean the potting soil off !

[СветланаЖелонкина-ъщ]

Это лучшее видео для начинающих строить свой аквариум! Великолепно! Спасибо вам огромное за проделанную работу🙌

[sandyloyst]

Tanner, very informative and enjoyable video. The editing and camera work were amazing. We all learnt a lot. Prayers and love from Ontario.

[barrkorrd]

A riparian plant list is so helpful, it's something I've googled/searched for so many times and was never able to find a clearly understandable list. Maybe it is my autism but I am glad to have some type of reference to look forward to in the future to easily see what I can try in my aquariums!

[annepettit]

You read my mind-I’m about to set up a 75 gallon for a turtle and make his current enclosure an aquarium so this is the most helpful thing ever ❤. Thanks!😊

[Glass_Half_Full]

I've been looking for a guide on which plants to use and I'm so thankful I found it. Big thanks!

[MyPreppingJourney]

This is one of the most well thought out videos on this topic I have ever seen.... Kudos.... I've been working with this industry on a level most cannot fathom, so its refreshing to see this depth, yet common man understanding and

[synthraofficial]

The timing for this is perfect! I've been looking into something like this for the last few days! Thanks!

[mattdamsel]

The timing of this video coming out is crazy, and the fact that it showed up in my algorithm is ever crazier, as I was literally researching this stuff just before finding this video. Thank you!