Imagine a tiny, self-sustaining ecosystem living right in your home. That is the magic of aquaponics! You are raising fish and growing plants together, where one feeds the other in a beautiful, natural cycle. But when it comes to setting up your system, a big question always pops up: Which plants actually thrive in this setup?
Choosing the right plants for your aquaponics fish tank can feel like a guessing game. You worry about plants that might not handle the fish water, or maybe you just want the fastest, healthiest growth. Picking the wrong ones can lead to slow harvests or even harm your fish friends. It is frustrating when you want a vibrant, productive system but don’t know where to start!
This guide cuts through the confusion. We will show you the absolute best, easiest, and most productive plants perfect for your aquaponics setup. By the end of this post, you will know exactly which leafy greens, herbs, and even fruits will flourish alongside your fish.
Ready to transform your tank into a thriving garden? Let’s dive into the top plant choices that guarantee success!
Top Plants For Aquaponics Fish Tank Recommendations
- BETTA TANK and HYDROPONIC PLANTER: See nature in motion through our Aqua-Ponic Tanks. Each fish tank is made from ultra-clear plastic, and replicates nature’s metabolic cycle by providing a healthy and symbiotic environment for fish and plants.
- YOUR BETTA’S NEW HOME: Bettas are the most popular fish for our 0.5 Gallon Aqua-Ponic Tank. With that said, please decrease the water level about an inch, giving them enough space to breathe from the water’s surface. Weekly partial water changes are highly recommended.
- SUGGESTED PLANTS: Most indoor house plants and kitchen herbs are suitable for planting atop. This includes Peace Lily, Chinese Evergreen, Lucky Bamboo, English Ivy, Mint, Watercress, Chives, or any leafy Lettuce. We recommend using established plants instead of starting from seed.
- ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Our Aqua-Ponic Tanks come with ceramic planting media, which retain water and support the root growth for any plant you choose. To add water into the tank, simply water the plant, allowing the runoff to enter the tank. As for feeding your fish, you’ll need to lift the black plastic top.
- MEASUREMENTS: Overall = 5.9" (Dia) x 8.25" (H) / Tank Interior = 4.25" (Dia) x 7" (H) / Enclosed Pot = 5.9" (Dia) x 2.25" (H)
- BETTA TANK & HYDROPONIC PLANTER: See nature in motion through our Aqua-Ponic Tanks! Each fish tank is made from ultra-clear plastic, and replicates nature’s metabolic cycle by providing a healthy and symbiotic environment for fish and plants.
- SUGGESTED FISH: While Bettas are the most popular fish for our 1.4 Gallon Aqua-Ponic Tank, they can also house Bloodfin Tetras, White Cloud Minnows, Danios, and Guppies (1 – 3 fish). For Bettas, please decrease the water level an inch, giving them enough space to breath from the water’s surface.
- SUGGESTED PLANTS: Most indoor house plants and kitchen herbs are suitable for planting atop. This includes Peace Lily, Chinese Evergreen, Lucky Bamboo, English Ivy, Mint, Watercress, Chives, or any leafy Lettuce. We recommend using established plants instead of starting from seed.
- ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Our Aqua-Ponic Tanks come with ceramic planting media, which retains water and supports root growth for any plant you chose. To add water into the tank, simply water the plant, as if it’s in a pot of soil. As for feeding your fish, there’s several side openings that are more than large enough for a pinch of food.
- MEASUREMENTS: Overall = 7.75" (Dia) x 10.25" (H) / Black Base = 7.75" (Dia) x 1.75" (H) / Tank Interior = 7.75" (Dia) x 7.25" (H) / Enclosed Pot = 3.75" (Dia) x 2.25" (H)
- Fish Tank & Seed Sprouter: The fish waste fertilizes the plants, and the plants clean the water for fish.
- Self Cleaning System: Plants consume fish dung as nutrients, so the tank requires 50% fewer cleanings than traditional fish tanks.
- Siphon Oxygen Supply: The water level of the tank is tidal-like fluctuation, and the roots of the plants can breathe regularly, no need watering or fertilizing. Meanwhile a natural oxygen supply is brought to the fish.
- Educational Product: Use the system at home or in a classroom. Let kids learn germination and teach concepts like food sustainability, aquatic environments, and animal care.
- Great Gift: A wonderful gift for kids, parents, teachers, foodies and gardening lovers. (Note: Search B08BR8H72X for the pump spare parts.)
- with Elevated Base: Solves the "hard-to-clean" pain point—easily move and lift the tank for water changes, no more bending or scraping desks. Combined with Aquaponic Planter for Betta Fish, functional and practical
- Self-Sustaining Aquaponic Planter for Betta Fish: Plants filter water naturally, reducing maintenance and water changes. Betta fish tank creates a symbiotic ecosystem, ideal for beginners and busy users
- 0.5 gallon: Ultimate space-saving, palm-sized, can be placed in the corner of a desk or on the windowsill of a dormitory. It's a "small ecosystem that doesn't take up space" for renters or students. Portable and easy to move: with an anti-slip base, it's lightweight and easy to carry when moving or storing. No need to worry about spills. Just change the water once a week. No need to worry about maintenance
- Shatter-resistant Secure: made of plastic, this Plastic Fish Tank avoids breakage risks; The material keeps aquatic plants and fish safe in daily use; It provides a bright appearance, fitting well with various indoor settings without bringing safety concern; The sturdy anti-slip base can prevent the fish tank from toppling over and leaking
- Decorative Betta Fish Tank & Aquaponic Planter: Sleek round shape + hydroponic plants elevate home decor. Fits Nordic, ins, and modern styles—great for photos and social sharing
- 🍀2025 New Design🍀 - This aquarium plant holder is perfect for growing fully aquatic as well as semi-aquatic plants in your aquarium, it not only decorates your aquarium but also prevents fish from eating the plant roots.
- 🍀Unique Designs🍀 - There are many slits and holes around and at the bottom of the holder to ensure that water can flow through the roots of aquatic plants, thus creating good water circulation. If your aquatic plants are newborn or small, you can put some pebbles or fine gravel at the bottom of the holder to keep them stable, which works better for aquatic plants that like to bury their roots.
- 🍀For All Your Needs🍀 - This aquarium plant holder is uniquely designed and easy to use. It can be used in two ways, it can be hung stably on the glass edge of various aquariums (aquarium edge thickness is less than 1.57 inch / 4 cm) or it can be attached to the aquarium glass by mounting suction cups. It is perfect for pothos, bamboo, lotus, daffodils, water poppies and more semi- or fully aquatic plants.
- 🍀Safety and High Quality🍀 - This aquarium plant holder is made of High quality PP plastic, strong and durable, corrosion resistant, high temperature resistant, non-toxic and odorless, can provide a safe and healthy living environment for fish and plants, suitable for rimmed aquariums and rimless aquariums.
- 🍀Product Size🍀 - Aquarium plant holder size: 3.54 x 3.54 x 3.94 inches. Complete with 6 hooks: there are 3 sizes (0.4/0.8/1.57 inches) 2 of each size. Also comes with 2 suction cups: 1.18 x 0.43 inches. Product weight: 1.1 ounce.
- 【Home for Betta Fish and Plants】It is suitable for a betta fish or two small gold fish and a simple plant, such as small plant cuttings, lucky bamboo. (It is also a great plant terrarium for plants with strong roots.)
- 【New Aquaponic Fish Tank and Plants Container】Keep small fish and growing a simple plant in our round glass container, the plant will help to purity the water, and waste of fish is good food for plants. It will bring you more fun and wonderful feeling while you take less time to take care of them.
- 【Creative Design and Superior Quality】Our Aquaponic Fish Tank Designed with wood lid and global glass. The glass is high quality man blown glass, they are high clear to watch the world in glass and very smooth to clean easily. The lid helps to fix plants, the round glass ball leaves enough room for fish to swim and roots of plants to growing.
- 【New Decorations for Home and Office】A small fish, a simple plant( even a cuttings with 3 leaves), at most a few stones, some water and our glass bowl, it will be a cute and beautiful view on your window sill, table, desktop, kitchen counter, bookshelf, wall shelf……
- 【Idea Gift】It is simple, but it is with green, life, nature, it will bring good feeling for all. So it is an ideal gift not only for plant and fish lovers, it is also good for kids, student, young, women, man and old.
- 🍀Perfect Choice🍀 - This aquarium plant holder is perfect for growing fully aquatic as well as semi-aquatic plants in your aquarium, it not only decorates your aquarium but also prevents fish from eating the plant roots.
- 🍀Unique Designs🍀 - There are many slits and holes around and at the bottom of the holder to ensure that water can flow through the roots of aquatic plants, thus creating good water circulation. If your aquatic plants are newborn or small, you can put some pebbles or fine gravel at the bottom of the holder to keep them stable, which works better for aquatic plants that like to bury their roots.
- 🍀For All Your Needs🍀 - This aquarium plant holder is uniquely designed and easy to use. It can be used in two ways, it can be hung stably on the glass edge of various aquariums (glass thickness is less than 0.8 inch/2 cm) or it can be attached to the aquarium glass by mounting suction cups. The planting area is larger, prettier and more stable than other types of aquarium plant holders. It is perfect for pothos, bamboo, lotus, daffodils, water poppies and more semi- or fully aquatic plants.
- 🍀Safety and High Quality🍀 - This aquarium plant holder is made of High quality PP plastic, strong and durable, corrosion resistant, high temperature resistant, non-toxic and odorless, can provide a safe and healthy living environment for fish and plants, suitable for rimmed aquariums and rimless aquariums.
- 🍀Product Size🍀 - Aquarium plant holder size: 3.1 x 2.08 x 5 inches. Comes with 6 hooks: there are 3 sizes ( 0.4/0.6/0.8 inches ) 2 of each size. Also comes with 2 suction cups: 1.18 x 0.47 inches. Product weight: 2.18 ounce.
- with Elevated Base: Solves the "hard-to-clean" pain point—easily move and lift the tank for water changes, no more bending or scraping desks. Combined with Aquaponic Planter for Betta Fish, functional and practical
- Self-Sustaining Aquaponic Planter for Betta Fish: Plants filter water naturally, reducing maintenance and water changes. Betta fish tank creates a symbiotic ecosystem, ideal for beginners and busy users
- 5 Gallon: it can be combined with driftwood and sand and gravel for landscaping; Keep 1 bettas and 3 to 5 black-shelled shrimps to build a "fish-shrimp-plant" symbiotic system; It is a "mini underwater world" for advanced enthusiasts; It can be used as a decoration in the living room of a home, a stress-relieving landscape in the rest area of an enterprise; Change the water once every two weeks; It requires low maintenance and high stability
- Shatter-resistant Secure: made of plastic, this Plastic Fish Tank avoids breakage risks; The material keeps aquatic plants and fish safe in daily use; It provides a bright appearance, fitting well with various indoor settings without bringing safety concern; The sturdy anti-slip base can prevent the fish tank from toppling over and leaking
- Decorative Betta Fish Tank & Aquaponic Planter: Sleek round shape + hydroponic plants elevate home decor. Fits Nordic, ins, and modern styles—great for photos and social sharing
Choosing the Best Plants for Your Aquaponics Fish Tank: A Buyer’s Guide
Aquaponics is a smart way to grow plants using fish waste as fertilizer. It creates a mini-ecosystem right in your home or garden. Picking the right plants is super important for a healthy system. This guide helps you choose plants that thrive alongside your fish.
Key Features to Look For in Aquaponics Plants
When selecting plants for your setup, focus on a few main features. These features ensure your plants grow well and help keep the fish happy too.
- Nutrient Demand: Some plants need lots of nutrients (heavy feeders), while others need very little (light feeders). Choose plants based on how mature your system is. Newer systems might suit light feeders first.
- Root Structure: Plants with strong, fibrous roots often handle the constant water flow better. Avoid plants with very delicate roots that might break easily.
- Growth Rate: Fast-growing plants quickly use up the nitrates the fish produce. This keeps the water clean for the fish. Leafy greens are usually fast growers.
- Compatibility with Fish: Ensure the plant choice does not release any toxins harmful to your specific fish species. Most common edible plants are safe.
Important Materials and System Needs
The plants themselves are only one part of the equation. The materials surrounding them matter greatly.
Growing Media:
You need a medium for the roots to anchor into. Good media must be inert (meaning it won’t change the water chemistry) and allow excellent water flow.
- Clay Pebbles (Hydroton): These are light and reusable. They offer great surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow.
- Gravel or Lava Rock: These are cheaper options. Ensure any gravel you use is pH neutral; acidic rocks can harm your fish.
Water Quality Tolerance:
The plants you choose must handle the water temperature and pH range your fish prefer. If you keep tropical fish, you need tropical plants. If you keep goldfish, you can choose cooler-water tolerant species.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Plant Quality
What helps your plants flourish, and what holds them back?
Factors That Improve Quality:
- Adequate Lighting: Plants need strong light, often more than standard indoor lighting provides. Full-spectrum LED grow lights work best.
- Good Water Flow: Water must move consistently over the roots to deliver nutrients and oxygen. Stagnant water reduces quality quickly.
- Balanced Fish Feeding: Healthy fish produce healthy waste. Overfeeding leads to excess ammonia, which stresses the plants and the beneficial bacteria.
Factors That Reduce Quality:
- Nutrient Imbalance: If plants show yellow leaves, they likely lack iron or nitrogen. This often means the fish waste isn’t supplying enough food yet.
- Root Rot: If the roots sit in standing water all the time without enough oxygen, they will rot. This is a sign of poor drainage or flow.
- Pest Infestation: Pests like aphids can attack the leaves. Avoid using chemical pesticides, as they kill the fish! Use natural predators or manual removal instead.
User Experience and Common Use Cases
Understanding how others use these plants helps you decide what to grow.
Best Choices for Beginners (Low Maintenance):
Beginners should start with plants known for being tough and fast growers. These quickly establish the nitrogen cycle.
- Leafy Greens: Lettuce, spinach, and kale grow fast and are excellent nitrate sponges.
- Herbs: Basil and mint are very resilient and grow well in most aquaponic setups.
Advanced Use Cases (Fruiting Plants):
Fruiting plants like tomatoes or peppers need a mature, well-established system. They demand much higher nutrient levels (more fish waste) than greens do.
User experience shows that fruiting plants require careful monitoring of iron levels, which is often the limiting factor for good yields.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Aquaponics Plants
Q: What are the best plants for a brand new aquaponics system?
A: Start with leafy greens like lettuce or herbs like basil. They are light feeders and establish quickly.
Q: Can I grow root vegetables like carrots in aquaponics?
A: Yes, but you need a deep media bed (like 12 inches or more) with very loose media, like expanded clay pebbles, for the roots to expand properly.
Q: Do I need to fertilize my plants if I have fish?
A: Usually, no. The fish waste provides all the necessary major nutrients. However, you might need to supplement iron or calcium in mature systems.
Q: How often should I harvest my plants?
A: Harvest leafy greens continuously by taking the outer leaves. This encourages new growth and keeps the plant productive.
Q: Will my plants take up all the nutrients and starve my fish?
A: If you have too many plants for the number of fish you have, the plants might use up too many nutrients. A balanced ratio keeps both healthy.
Q: What is the ideal water temperature for most aquaponics plants?
A: Most common edible plants thrive between 65°F and 75°F (18°C to 24°C), which overlaps well with many common fish species.
Q: Can I use soil or dirt in my aquaponics system?
A: No. Soil will clog your plumbing, compact the media, and release too many unwanted compounds into the water, harming the fish.
Q: Why are my plant leaves turning yellow?
A: Yellowing leaves usually mean a nutrient deficiency, often nitrogen or iron. Check your fish feeding schedule and water testing results.
Q: What plants should I avoid growing in aquaponics?
A: Avoid plants that require very specific, acidic soil conditions or plants that are highly susceptible to common pests that are hard to treat without harming the fish.
Q: How does the light affect my plant choice?
A: If you have weak light, stick to low-light tolerant plants like lettuce and mint. If you have very strong grow lights, you can attempt heavy feeders like tomatoes.