If you aspire to be Takashi Amano, incorporating succulents in the fish tank and displaying with fish sounds fun.
After all, this vibrant family of colorful, fleshy leaved plants that have strange and weird shapes could truly make you tank stand out among fish tank displays.
Unfortunately, while they are of the land, under even the best conditions your average houseplant succulents will not be able to survive in the fish tank.
However, if you are willing to stretch your creative thinking regarding these unique plants, we have some great ideas for tanks and semi-aquatic succulent plants that will provide that succulent look underwater.
In this article, we will get to the bottom of if we can use succulents in the fish tanks you use to grow fish.
Can you grow succulents immersed in water?
Given that there are thousands of succulent varietals in the world, it is no surprise that aquascapers would want to grow these thick-leaved beautiful plants submerged in a fish tank.
However, terrestrial, non-aquatic succulents would not be able to consistently survive immersed in tank.
Here’s why.
Succulents are xerophilic
Succulents are plants known as xerophiles that love dry areas.
Succulents are adapted to live in environments where water is not available.
Succulents originated from deserts, wastelands, and other dry places in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australasia, and have been adapted to grow natural a fleshy leaves, thick cuticle that stores water, so they do not require a lot of water unlike many other plants.
In fact, it is often too much water that will overwhelm those succulents and they succumb to swelling and rotting in a short amount of time.
Transplanted succulents have terrestrial roots
While hydroponics can grow succulents successfully, one cannot simply remove a soil-grown succulent and employ it in an aquarium layout.
Succulents’ root systems are not used to growing in any water.
Succulent roots cannot get the oxygen and nutrients it obtains thoroughly in water.
In this case, the submerged roots will quickly rot and the plant will perish. Taking a succulent cutting may work since it is capable of growing new roots underwater.
You may have some success cultivating semi-aquatic succulents underwater
If you’re determined to aquascape with succulents, you might be better off finding a rare semi-aquatic succulent variety than trying to submerge an ordinary succulent.
The swamp-dwelling Crassulas are a good choice
There are two swamp-dwelling succulents that some aquascapers have been successful in getting to grow underwater.
Crassula helmsii or swamp stonecrop is a tough semi-terrestrial succulent, native to Australia and New Zealand.
This plant loves water and grows very well, carpeting muddy banks of ponds, and will even become submerged with long stems and fleshy needle shaped leaves.
Crassula helmsii has been grown as a cool freshwater aquarium plant, once it establishes itself it will be very vigorous, therefore it will need to be controlled with some pruning. The plant will flower when emersed.
It is extremely invasive and has spread around the world, while it has also been banned in the UK since 2014.
Crassula aquatica or common pygmyweed is a partially aquatic succulent plant that is found in estuaries in North America.
This summer-flowering annual succulent is fairly rare and has small fleshy and pointed succulent leaves.
Growing crassulas in the aquarium
You could experience problems stemming from your own success if you grow crassulas in a cool freshwater tank with plenty of oxygen, carbon dioxide and good light.
A pH around 5.5 is best for succulents, with a healthy range of between 4.5 and 6.5, according to the British Cactus & Succulent Journal.
As you may consider experimenting with getting a terrestrial succulent underwater, these aquascaping concepts may be useful.
You could also try experimenting with growing floating succulents!
Succulents can be grown in water so you can absolutely grow the succulent floating in the prevailing for a number of weeks, with roots submerged in the water.
Water therapy is gaining traction with succulent enthusiasts as an option to rehydrate a serious dehydrated succulent.
Succulents, with a liquid fertilizer, seem to be able to grow and grow once they have adapted to water culture without soil bacteria the chance of rotting is quite low.
This is very experimental with water culture for succulents in cultivation and propagation.
Check out this clever floating succulent by Give It A Grow.
And of course, you could simply grow your succulents in a fish tank without the water
Cultivating succulents in a larger aquarium tank can cause a very impressive display.
You can be extraordinarily creative and use colored substrates, sand, and stones to layer through the glass and increase the drama.
People’s skills are improving when it comes to growing succulents in new containers without drainage holes.
Some even create an astounding display with such terrarium-style arrangements.
How to plant succulents in a fish tank
To plant a glass fish tank with succulents what you need is:
- A fish tank
- Potting material
- Gravel or lava rock
- A selection of succulents
Follow the steps:
- Clean the aquarium.
- Rinse any gravel or lava rock beforehand to get rid of any dust, & chemicals that can be harmful to the potted succulents.
- Place the gravel and lava rock in the tank with layers. Using a contrast of colors & textures, can look great!
- Top the gravel and lava rock with a layer of potting material to plant the succulents.
- Plant the succulents. To plant the succulents take as much soil off the roots of the plants you can.
To maintain the terrarium effect, you’ll need to put a glass lid on the tank to keep the moisture inside, allowing for an enclosed ecosystem that self-hydrates through cycles of evaporation and condensation.
If you are keeping the fish tank outside, be sure to bring it in before the temperatures dip because the tank may become waterlogged, freeze, and shatter when the temperatures get cold enough.
Aquascaping substrate is actually great for succulents!
Did you realize that you can use that colorful aquarium gravel to plant your succulents in?
It can help with drainage!
Just mix in a handful or two with your potting soil.
And if you are using aquarium sand or another substrate, make sure to rinse the mixture thoroughly prior to planting with it because you have no idea what particles or chemicals are in there that could potentially harm your succulents.
Rounding Up
There are many varieties and kinds of succulents that are adaptable to many projects.
Those interested are discovering many things possible with succulents and there have been reports of success with hydroponic development and propagation.
Underwater propagation is experimental now but with the right varieties and conditions you could have a lovely succulent that is swimming alongside the fish!