Lucky bamboo is a classy plant that may elevate the look of any fish tank. If its conditions are met, it grows rapidly and effortlessly, making it a great plant for both novice and seasoned aquarists. As opposed to regular bamboo, this is a different species. Most people’s idea of grass is a tall, sturdy plant that thrives in dry soil and not water. This special type of bamboo, known as “lucky bamboo,” can resist both wet and dry periods of the year.
Some people question lucky bamboo’s effectiveness and safety in aquatic environments. Maintaining the health of this stunning plant is actually quite simple. Regardless of the size of your aquarium, Lucky Bamboo will thrive there. Its routine may be altered to suit your needs, and it requires minimal attention. Here, we’ll discuss how to include this plant in your existing aquatic ecosystem.
How Do You Place Lucky Bamboo In A Fish?
Considering that lucky bamboo thrives on fish waste, the tank atmosphere may be optimal for growing this plant. If you take good care of your lucky bamboo plant, it will flourish into a robust specimen that filters the water in your fish tank while posing no harm to your aquatic pets. Placing lucky bamboo in fish tanks can be done in two ways.
Partial Submersion
Bamboo planted at an angle needs to be set into the substrate at least a few inches deep to prevent it from flopping over. When the first leaves appear on a plant, you can fill your tank to within a few inches of that level.
The bamboo will benefit from both direct sunlight and its ability to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide on its own.
Full Submersion
Repeating the preceding steps, you’ll secure your plant to the substrate and then fill around it until the plant is hidden. You’re good to go at this point, but you should check that the water your plant is in is rich in oxygen and nitrogen.
While both approaches are feasible, they do require considerations for maintenance over time. We’ll go through several considerations and strategies you may use to successfully place lucky bamboo in your fish tank.
Trimming
If you wish to put lucky bamboo in a fish tank, you should start by trimming the roots so the plant can establish new roots in the aquarium. Your plant’s roots and shoots will both benefit greatly from regular trimming throughout their development. They will continue to expand as the bamboo’s stem stays the same, and they may eventually weigh too much for the stem to bear.
Chemicals and Water
Only use distilled or filtered water to water your lucky bamboo. Water should be well-oxygenated and changed frequently to avoid stagnation if you want your plant to thrive healthily. Make sure you know what sort of chemicals are safe and what kinds are hazardous to this plant.
Lighting
Neither the fish nor the lucky bamboo in your aquarium can tolerate bright light for very long. That doesn’t imply you have to keep it in the dark, but the leaves will quickly burn in bright sunlight. The light should be filtered or redirected to prevent damage.
Depth
This sort of plant requires a deep substrate in the bottom of your tank so that its roots can be buried even after the plant is fully mature.
Fertilizer
Those who don’t subscribe to the lucky bamboo in a fish tank theory often voice this concern. Yes, you won’t be able to fertilize the plant while it’s submerged, but there’s no need to. So long as lucky bamboo has access to water with sufficient nutrients, it won’t require any more fertilizer.
Carbon Dioxide
Even though it’s not recommended, you can try to grow lucky bamboo underwater, but you’ll need to take extra care of the plant to keep it green and healthy. Therefore, you’ll need to supply carbon dioxide on a consistent basis. Doing so will kick off the process by which the plant transforms carbon dioxide into oxygen, thus enhancing the state of health in your tank.
Please keep in mind that lucky bamboo won’t turn CO2 into oxygen if its leaves are above water.
How To Grow And Care For Lucky Bamboo In An Aquarium?
Lucky bamboo is relatively low maintenance despite widespread falsehoods. It originates in the harsh, ever-changing conditions of Africa’s ecosystems. In that case, it should do fine in an aquarium. Naturally, there are optimum circumstances for the plant. Since lucky bamboo is atypical, it is crucial that its requirements be met.
Size of Tank
A tank with a capacity of at least five gallons is required to maintain constant water levels. You can grow a small clump of shoots in a five-gallon aquarium. To fully appreciate the beauty of lucky bamboo, however, larger plants are recommended. You can either completely submerge the plant in a large aquarium, or you can allow it to grow to the surface and continue submerging as it gets bigger.
Water Parameters
It’s interesting to note that lucky bamboo isn’t actually a water plant. However, it thrives in either a shallow or deep water environment. For this reason, understanding optimum water conditions is crucial. Fortunately, this plant can thrive in a wide variety of aquarium environments. It’s so adaptable that aquarists typically care more about the conditions in which their fish thrive than they do about those in which their plants thrive.
You shouldn’t run into any problems if you follow these guidelines.
- Temperature of water: 59°F to 80°F
- ph range: 6.0–6.5
- The hardness of water: 0 to 8 dGH (Soft water)
Lighting
The ideal lighting conditions for lucky bamboo are dim to moderate levels of light. With any more exposure, it can develop more rapidly. But excessive amounts can lead to danger. The leaves will be severely discolored and maybe burned if exposed to too much light.
Generally speaking, plants favor a day/night lighting cycle. If you have a window in your home, lucky bamboo will thrive there. If you insist on using artificial light, make sure it is dimmed for at least 10 to 12 hours every day.
Substrate
Lucky bamboo can be planted in soil or without a substrate. The residents of your tank are the most important factor in determining the optimal option. In a strict sense, this plant can grow without any kind of medium. There only has to be around three inches of water for them to survive. Substrate materials will safeguard the roots of plants in heavily populated aquariums. Coarse gravel or loose pebbles provide a great substratum.
What Are The Benefits Of Lucky Bamboo In An Aquarium?
Lucky bamboo is one of the most interesting plants to have just for its appearance alone. It is high, thick, and strong. Because of this, it will not move with the currents like other aquatic plants. It stays put and makes a fascinating maze for your fish to explore.
If you have a fish tank, growing lucky bamboo will bring several benefits as it matures. These advantages include, among others:
1. Used to Purify Water
Maintaining a healthy aquarium environment is dependent upon regular water changes and filtration. The health of your fish will suffer if hazardous substances are allowed to accumulate in the tank water.
Lucky bamboo can be used as a natural water filter to remove nitrates and ammonia from tank waters. The nitrates in your tank work as fertilizer for the plant, allowing it to expand and repair itself. The fortunate bamboo will flourish, and the tank water will be safe for fish and other aquatic organisms.
2. Gives Fish a Place to Rest and Play
Lucky bamboo, if kept in good condition, can provide fish with a safe haven in your aquarium’s water. These plants not only help fish survive but also provide cover for smaller fish trying to avoid predators. The oddly shaped shoots can also provide fish with a fun place to play. In addition, your fish will have no trouble navigating it because it is solid and will not shift position with the water current.
Seeing the fish navigate the bamboo’s crooks and curves can be a beautiful sight.
3. Boosts Your Aquarium’s Curb Appeal
The lucky bamboo in your aquarium will help it to look more complete and natural. This popular plant is not only good for your health, but it also provides a beautiful aesthetic for your aquarium. You can use them to give your tank water a more natural and green appearance, which will help you relax.
Can Lucky Bamboo Grow In Water With Fish?
There’s no doubt that lucky bamboo will look beautiful in your fish tank. Lucky bamboo can be a great, low-maintenance tank partner for many fish species, including betta fish if the parameters they both need are met.
In reality, many tropical fish, including betta fish, thrive in more naturalistic aquarium settings with the addition of plants like lucky bamboo.
Why Is Lucky Bamboo In Your Aquarium Turning Yellow?
The yellowing of your Lucky Bamboo is an indication that it is suffering from some kind of illness. If you know what to do if your lucky bamboo turns yellow, you can save it. You can restore health to your lucky bamboo by determining what caused the yellowing and acting accordingly.
You need to figure out what’s causing it and correct it so they can regain their original upbeat disposition.
Using Water From the Tap
When leaves or stalks begin to turn yellow, water quality is a likely suspect. Don’t ever use tap water on your lucky bamboo plant. Because tap water sometimes contains chemicals like chlorine and fluoride, which can be damaging to plants, this is a recipe for failure from the get-go. If you keep putting your lucky bamboo plant in water with chemicals, it will eventually die.
Unsuitable Water Temperature
Always use fresh, room-temperature water when maintaining your lucky bamboo. Your lucky bamboo may turn yellow if you water it with cold water.
Due to Insufficient Water Changes
Simply providing a lucky bamboo plant with clean water can keep it flourishing. Keep the water in which your fortunate bamboo plants are growing fresh by routinely changing it out. The nitrogen and oxygen in the freshwater are essential for plant growth. Fresh water also has essential trace components for the plant.
Unfiltered Sunlight
Sunlight is likely to blame if the lucky bamboo leaves on your plant are turning a yellowish color as if they were being scorched. Lucky bamboo requires brilliant indirect light rather than direct sunshine. Make sure your plant isn’t sitting in direct sunlight by moving it. Likewise, if your plant is exposed to too little indirect light, it will weaken and take on a yellowish or pale hue.
Excessive Amounts of Fertilizer
Over-fertilization is the most common cause of yellowing in lucky bamboo. Over-fertilization should be suspected in the case of both leaf and stalk yellowing on a plant. Lucky bamboo plants typically don’t need to be fertilized. They’re capable of surviving for a long time without being fertilized. Fertilizing is optional, but if you do it, choose a fertilizer designed for lucky bamboo. In most cases, you shouldn’t give it to them very often.
Inadequate Heat and Dryness
After eliminating the other possibilities, cold weather may be the reason for the yellowing of your lucky bamboo leaves. Temperatures between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit are optimal for growth.
Why Is Lucky Bamboo Rotting In Your Aquarium?
Lucky bamboo plants that are rotting seem to be a clear sign of bad luck. But if you keep a close eye on your lucky bamboo and take immediate action if you notice a problem with the roots, you can keep your plant healthy and free of rot. Keep reading to find out how to prevent the rotting of a lucky bamboo plant, even when it is grown in water.
Due to Added Fluoride and Chlorine to Tap Water Supplies
Rainwater is preferable to tap water for watering lucky bamboo because the plant is sensitive to the chemicals in tap water, which can cause the leaf tips to turn brown and rot.
Overuse of Fertilizer
Fertilizing lucky bamboo with a few drops of a general houseplant fertilizer once every two months during the growing season is all that is needed. The plant will turn brown and rot if fertilizer is applied too frequently or in too high a concentration.
Altered Their Growing Medium from Water to Soil or Vice Versa
Because the root system of a lucky bamboo plant grown in water is different from that of a lucky bamboo plant grown in soil, plants often take on a brown, dying appearance when transplanted from one medium to the other.
How To Tie Down Lucky Bamboo In An Aquarium?
Growing lucky bamboo in an aquarium can be a great fit for any devoted fish keeper, whether they’re looking to add some feng shui to their space, liven up a dull fish tank, or simply expand their collection of aquatic plants.
Lucky bamboo is a lot of fun to grow in aquariums and even more fun to arrange!
And here are the things you’ll need:
- Lucky Bamboo Stalks
- Tie or twist ribbons
- Container (fish tank, mug, or glassfish bowl)
- Cutters or shears
You’ll Want to Arrange Some Lucky Bamboo
In order to start, you must set up your Lucky Bamboo. We’ll use three straight lengths of lucky bamboo, two measuring 6 inches and one measuring 8 inches.
Use Rope to Join the Lucky Bamboo Stalks
Once you have the design in mind, you can use twist ties or ribbons to fasten the bamboo in place. There should be at least two ties used to keep the lucky bamboo in place. You’ll need two ties—one to secure the pots on top, and another to secure the soil below.
You Will Remove Any Extra Ties
Remove any excess ties, leaving about 1/2 inch. In the event that you need to take the plant apart, re-tying it will be a breeze. It will be challenging to reuse the ties in the future if you do not leave any extras.
Put Everything Together
A bowl or tank is a good place to put the lucky bamboo. The plant will remain upright if rocks are placed beneath it. The lucky bamboo can be planted all the way to the bottom of the tanks, or a layer of rocks can be placed at the bottom of the tank before the plant is added.
Remember: Always rinse the rocks first to avoid contaminating the water and plants with dirt and debris.
Using Lucky Bamboo In An Aquarium Filter?
Some aquarium keepers say placing lucky bamboo inside the filter is the key to successfully keeping the plant in a freshwater aquarium. If you want to keep non-aquatic plants close to your fish but are concerned about the health of both, this is a reasonable compromise. The bamboo within the filter won’t have any trouble surviving so long as its roots are submerged, and its leaves are kept outside. Some people who have large tanks line the back with additional little filters and plant life in each one.
But as we’ve already established, lucky bamboo won’t hurt your fish, so there’s no point in doing this. You may have some difficulty maintaining order if the plant’s roots grow too large for the filter. And most individuals who start cultivating lucky bamboo in their aquariums do so for purely cosmetic reasons.
Although the plant’s filtering abilities would be maintained if kept in the filter, this would not be the aquarium aesthetic people seek.
FAQ
Is Lucky Bamboo Toxic To Fish?
It is safe for fish and other aquatic animals, and it is not a real aquatic plant. They make a lot of oxygen for the aquarium and do well when they are only partially submerged.
What Is The Difference Between Bamboo And Lucky Bamboo?
Lucky bamboo is a houseplant that looks a lot like real bamboo but actually comes from a whole different family of plants. There are more than 1,200 species of bamboo, which all fall within the grass family. However, lucky bamboo is actually a member of the asparagus family.
How Fast Does Lucky Bamboo Grow In Water?
Lucky bamboo grows in a healthy manner if you take appropriate measures. On average, lucky bamboo can add 19 inches to its height in only a single growing season or 6 months.
Does Lucky Bamboo Need To Grow Above The Waterline?
Lucky Bamboo can grow underwater if desired! Lucky bamboo is not an aquatic plant; however, it does well in water. Lucky bamboo may survive in water, provided it receives adequate light and carbon dioxide.
Does Lucky Bamboo Give Off Oxygen?
As part of the process of photosynthesis, lucky bamboo gives off oxygen, just like all other plants. Your fish and invertebrates will benefit from the oxygen produced by your plant if it is completely submerged in water, as the oxygen is delivered mostly through the leaves.
Is Lucky Bamboo Safe For Betta?
You can safely put a Lucky Bamboo plant in your Betta tank, just like you can with other water plants. Lucky bamboo and betta fish get along very well. The fish waste helps the plant grow, and the fish love playing and hiding in the foliage.
Will Lucky Bamboo Grow In Sand In An Aquarium?
The roots of lucky bamboo serve as a source of nutrition. Therefore, keep it out of the substrate that would otherwise block it. Sand is typically not well-aerated, thus, it will not allow the plant to absorb nutrients without some sort of restriction.
Conclusion
Lucky bamboo is a versatile plant that provides a number of advantages when added to an aquarium. This aquatic plant is something to think about if you want to boost the well-being of your fish while also enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your water tank. Care should be taken to ensure that the fortunate bamboo, and not the actual bamboo, is planted.
Growing lucky bamboo in an aquarium requires some knowledge of the plant’s specific needs for water conditions, temperature, and lighting, but it’s a fun and easy experiment for anyone interested in starting a tropical aquarium. You should be aware that the real bamboo, in contrast to the lucky bamboo, has a rotting structure and can be fatal to your fish.