
A common houseplant that does well in aquariums is Pothos. will Pothos destroy My Aquarium?
However, the plant made headlines a few years ago for “destroying” a woman’s aquarium. Soon after the woman planted the Pothos, the prodigious plant appeared to eliminate the decorative brush algae in the aquarium.
Naturally, some aquarium hobbyists worry that pothos plants can damage their tanks.
Table of Contents
Will Pothos kill Aquarium Plants? What took place?
Will you include Pothos in your aquarium? Are you concerned about Pothos killing your fish or other aquarium plants? In this piece, we’ll examine the tank and see how Pothos might benefit or harm your aquarium.
Did Pothos destroy My Aquarium? Pothos develops quickly and aggressively consumes nitrates. Its roots can become out of control, and its dead leaves leave little place for other plants to grow. Pothos tanks frequently have nutritional shortages, although these may be managed with regular pruning.
Are Pothos Plants Safe to Keep in an Aquarium?
The poisonous nature of pothos plants may have been mentioned to you. But that’s not entirely accurate.
Pothos plants have calcium oxalate crystals that are insoluble in their leaves and stems. These crystals will make you feel sick if you swallow them. In essence, they slash the mouth and digestive tract like little shards.
However, pothos plants don’t have poison and are rarely lethal.
They are nevertheless poisonous to both people and animals. So keep curious children, cats, and dogs away from the plant.
What about fish and other animals found in aquariums?
Yes. These crystals can damage a fish’s mucous membrane. But continue reading.
The pothos’ leaves and stems contain insoluble crystals. However, as the following section will explain, these harmful particles shouldn’t come in contact with the water’s surface.
The leaves should hang above the water instead. Fish should only be able to access the roots. There is scant evidence to support the idea that pothos roots are poisonous or toxic to fish.
Additionally, pothos plants are robust, even at the roots. Goldfish, betta fish, and other well-known occupants of home aquariums won’t get much of a grip on the bases. Algae that can grow on the pothos roots will be more likely to be nibbled by shrimp and neighborhood fish.
The pothos plant is an excellent addition to hermit crab cages because of the resilience of its roots. Additionally, whether Pothos is toxic to turtles or other reptiles is unknown.
This safety assessment has one restriction. The Pothos will eventually perish if you install it wrongly by immersing it underwater. The dead plant could produce excessive nitrogenous waste in the aquarium if allowed to decompose, which could hurt or kill your fish.
The last thing to consider is if a pothos may harm the other plants already present in your aquarium.
Technically, other plants are not harmed by Pothos. However, because it is so good at absorbing nitrates, Pothos could deprive other plants of vital nutrients. The other plants will perish if those nutrients are not there.
In conclusion, avoid using Pothos to grow ornamental algae in your aquarium.
Is Pothos a Plant for Aquariums?
Pothos is not a plant for aquariums. It is a variety of ivy with lethal leaves. It is one of the most demanding plants we can introduce to our tanks because it overgrows. Before incorporating pothos plants into your aquarium, think about a few things. Don’t immerse the entire plant completely.
Keep all the leaves and most of the stems above the water.