Pokok dalam Akuarium: Growing Pothos & Money Plant Over Your Fish Tank

You can grow certain houseplants as pokok dalam akuarium by letting only their roots hang in the tank water while the leaves stay above it. The best-known example is pothos, the trailing "money plant" Malaysians also call sirih gading. Its roots pull nitrate out of the water, which helps fight algae, and the fish get a shady root forest to explore. The rules: only the roots go in the water, start from clean cuttings with no soil or pesticide, and choose plants known to cope with wet roots. This guide covers which plants to use and how to set them up.

Why Put Houseplants Over a Fish Tank?

• Nitrate removal. Fast-growing land plants take up nitrate and phosphate from the water through their roots, much like aquarium plants do, but with the advantage of free CO2 from the air.
• Less algae. Fewer spare nutrients means less food for algae.
• Natural look. Trailing green over a tank looks great, especially on an open-top tank or a bowl.
• Shelter. Dangling roots give fry, shrimp and shy fish a hiding place.
• Works in fish-only tanks (e.g. goldfish, big cichlids) where aquarium plants get eaten or uprooted.

It is not a replacement for water changes or a filter. Think of it as a bonus.

Which Plants Work? (And Which to Avoid)

Plant	Malay / common name	Roots in water?	Notes
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)	sirih gading, money plant	Yes, very easy	The classic choice; grows fast and roots readily from nodes
Philodendron (heart-leaf)	philodendron	Yes	Similar to pothos, slightly slower
Arrowhead plant (Syngonium)	syngonium	Yes	Compact, nice leaf shapes
Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)	lucky bamboo	Yes	Popular in Malaysian homes; keep the stem mostly above water
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)	peace lily	Often, with the crown kept dry	Keep the base out of water to avoid rot
Monstera (cuttings)	monstera	Yes, as cuttings	Gets big; keep for larger tanks
Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius)	pokok pandan	Roots in water, with care	Some hobbyists try it; it grows large and the base must stay out of water. Treat it as an experiment
Plants with soil-borne pests or unknown species	–	Avoid	If you can't identify it, don't put it on the tank

Many of these plants (pothos, philodendron, syngonium, peace lily, monstera) contain calcium oxalate crystals and are toxic to cats, dogs and people if chewed, according to animal poison-control sources such as the ASPCA. Their roots sitting in the water are widely used by hobbyists without problems, but:

• Don't let leaves or stems fall in and rot in the tank.
• Keep the plant out of reach of pets and small children.
• Wash your hands after trimming, as the sap can irritate skin.

You can find suitable houseplants in Indoor Foliage Plants on FishyHub. For pothos and monstera care out of water, see our monstera care guide.

The Big Risk: Soil and Pesticides

Houseplants from nurseries can carry pesticides, fungicides and fertiliser in their soil and sometimes inside the plant tissue (systemic pesticides). Shrimp are especially sensitive, and fish can be affected too.

The safest route:

1. Take a cutting of a stem with at least 2–3 nodes (the bumps where leaves and roots grow) rather than using the whole potted plant.
2. Rinse it well and remove all soil.
3. Root it in a jar of plain dechlorinated water for 2–4 weeks first, changing the water every few days. This also flushes out some residues.
4. Only then move it to the tank.
5. For a shrimp tank, consider a longer rooting period first, and watch shrimp closely when you add it.

If you use a whole potted plant, wash every bit of soil off the roots, which is hard to do perfectly. Cuttings are easier and cleaner.

Pokok dalam Akuarium: Step-by-Step Setup

1. Choose your plant and grow roots in a jar as above.
2. Decide how to hold it. Options:
   • Tuck the stem through a gap in the lid or a hole in a mesh cover.
   • Use a hang-on planter cup or a small plastic basket clipped to the rim.
   • Put it in the hang-on filter or top filter compartment. Roots there get lots of nutrient-rich flow (make sure roots don't block the filter).
   • Use a suction-cup holder on the glass.
3. Only the roots go in the water. Keep leaves and most of the stem above the surface.
4. Give it light. Room light or a window nearby works (keep direct sun off the tank glass to avoid algae and heat). The tank light helps leaves near the top.
5. Trim roots when they get long enough to clog the filter or take over the tank.

Placement Tips for Malaysian Homes

• Open-top and rimless tanks are easiest. Trailing pothos down the back or sides looks natural.
• Covered tanks need a notch or a hole in the lid. Don't leave gaps big enough for jumpers like bettas. See penutup akuarium.
• Hot rooms: the plant shades part of the surface, which can help a little against heat. A fan still works better.
• Humidity in Malaysian homes suits these tropical houseplants well.
• Aircond rooms with dry air may make leaf tips brown. That's not harmful to the tank.

Will Plant Roots Hurt My Fish?

Generally no, if the plant is clean and only roots are in the water. Watch for:

• Rotting roots (brown, mushy, smelly): cut them off.
• Roots clogging the filter intake: trim or move the plant.
• Fish nibbling roots: goldfish and some cichlids may graze on roots. That's usually harmless, but if they eat a lot, move the plant to the filter compartment.

Other Ways to Add Plants

Prefer a fully submerged look? Try floating plants, which do similar nitrate work inside the tank, or easy aquatic plants. Browse aquatic plants and read our plants without CO2 guide or the floating plants guide.

FAQ

Boleh letak pokok sirih gading dalam akuarium?

Boleh, tapi hanya akar sahaja yang masuk dalam air. Daun dan batang perlu kekal di atas permukaan air. Guna keratan batang yang dibersihkan dan direndam dalam air biasa dahulu selama 2–4 minggu supaya tiada tanah atau racun perosak.

Pokok pandan boleh hidup dalam akuarium ke?

Ada penggemar yang cuba, dengan akar dalam air dan pangkal pokok di atas air. Pandan boleh jadi besar, jadi lebih sesuai untuk akuarium atau kolam yang luas. Anggap ia sebagai percubaan dan perhatikan keadaan ikan.

Do plants over the tank replace water changes?

No. They reduce nitrate and help with algae, but water changes are still needed to remove other waste and replenish minerals.

Is pothos toxic to fish?

Pothos is toxic if chewed by pets and people, and its roots are commonly grown in fish tanks without issues. Keep leaves out of the water and use clean, pesticide-free cuttings.

Can I put the plant in my filter?

Yes. A top filter or hang-on filter compartment works well, as roots get plenty of flow. Trim them before they block the media.

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Bring some green above the water: browse indoor foliage plants, aquatic plants and floating plants from sellers across Malaysia on FishyHub.