If you want to add lucky bamboo to an aquarium, keep in mind a few simple methods that can help you to maintain the bamboo quality, fish health, and your aquarium’s aesthetic.

How to Plant Lucky Bamboo in Fish Tank? You can plant lucky bamboo in your fish tank with a proper supply of air, lightning, carbon dioxide, water quality, and appropriate substrate.

Generally, it can live up to 2 years. When you provide sufficient sunlight and other nutrients with a suitable environment, it can live for 8 to 12 years.

How to Plant Lucky Bamboo in Fish Tank?

Plants are the best choice to enhance the beauty of your aquarium. Lucky bamboo gives a premium and extremely natural look to your aquarium. It provides a hiding place to fish and also stimulates their natural habitat.

Chinese believe that lucky bamboo is a sign of well-being and safety. It is very satisfying and perfect for an aquarium. It easily bends and twists that give an outclass appearance. When you add these vibrant green plants to crystal clear water, it comes out with an outstanding visual.

Before adding it to your tank, make sure it is the right choice. You must know the correct type of it to avoid causing harm to fish.

Sufficient supply of carbon dioxide

This plant requires the proper supply of carbon dioxide for its growth. It gets carbon dioxides from the fish and uses it in photosynthesis. You can add some fertilizers to enhance its development; it helps underwater plants.

Depth of plant

Plant it deeply below the substrate to prevent the roots from coming out of the substrate when they grow larger. These roots become unnecessary food to the curious fish.

Planting deep enables the plant to maintain its stability and positioning and absorb fish waste more efficiently. You can also add pebbles to stabilize the plant. Plant it around 4 inches deep in the substrate. 

Properly aerate the fish tank

Plants use oxygen by aerobic respiration. They get energy through the breakdown of sugars and their conversion into energy. Provide sufficient oxygen to the plant by aerating your aquarium.

It gets more oxygen when you allow more air to come into the aquarium. It also helps to oxygenate a fish tank without a pump.

Larger aquariums have a large surface area that provides better oxygenation, but not the smaller ones. You must add air stones, air pumps, and good quality filters to the tank for enough oxygen.

Add Appropriate Lighting

It grows in tropical forests under the shade of tall broad-leafed plants, so they require a medium amount of sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause the yellowing of plants and can also burn leaves.

Use Suitable substrate

To plant lucky bamboo in your tank, you have to add a thick and multi-layer substrate. It will not stand in a few inches of substrate. This is used to anchor plants in gravel.

Better use soil substrate as it provides nutrients in addition to anchoring it. Also, the plant’s root dies when dry, so better to use soft soil for a better supply of water to the base. You can add sand or gravel for a planted aquarium.

Maintain water quality

Maintain the water pH at 6-6.5. You can use tap-water as lucky bamboo is not sensitive to water hardness. Remember, there should be no chlorine in the water as it stresses the roots and slows plant growth. Fluoride is also very toxic, so if your tap-water has fluorine in it, do not use it.

The water must be clean to ensure the plant and animal’s health. Remove all the contamination and waste. Use a good quality filter and frequently change the water of the aquarium. Set the temperature of water between 59-80 degrees Fahrenheit. It is ideal for these plants as it grows in tropical areas.

Is lucky bamboo safe for an aquarium?

Yes, lucky bamboo is safe for your aquarium as it does not harm fish and invertebrates. However, it is not an aquatic plant but does not contaminate the water of the tank. It filters the water and protects fish from chemicals and toxins.

How long a lucky bamboo plant takes to grow in an aquarium?

It grows slowly, and its growth depends upon exposure to sunlight, but excessive light can cause damage this plant. After developing roots, it can grow 19 inches within 5-6 months. Its growth consists of ten to twelve phases, and each takes two weeks.

Lucky Bamboo is usually expensive because it grows slowly and difficult to propagate. The larger you want it, the more expensive it will be. Lucky bamboo is comparatively less-expensive and cost-effective than the real one and looks beautiful if you place a fish tank at home.

Benefits of adding a lucky bamboo plant in a fish tank

Act as a natural filter

A filter is a must for an aquarium to ensure the water purity and maintenance of fish health. Lucky bamboo is an excellent filter for your fish tank.

They can absorb nitrates and ammonia from the water and prevent their accumulation. This plant uses these compounds as fertilizers so, it does not require extra fertilizers from other sources.

Home for aquatic bacteria

The roots of lucky bamboo serve as a home place for aquatic bacteria. In this way, the fish and other plants remain safe from the harm the bacteria can cause.

Release of oxygen and eliminates carbon dioxide

This plant releases more amount of oxygen that is essential for the inhabitants. Better oxygen supply improves the quality of life. It converts carbon dioxide into oxygen when you submerge it fully into the water.

Enhances the beauty of the fish tank

Greenery is a necessary part of an aquarium to make it look natural. Lucky bamboo is the most natural addition to an aquarium. Also, it looks clean and organized when you place it appropriately. It acts as a peaceful home for the inhabitants. 

Home for fish

The fish are comfortable in an environment that resembles their natural home. Lucky bamboo protects small fish who uses to hide from big fish in the tank. Also, fish love to swim around the plant.

It looks like they are dancing around the bends and twists of the lucky bamboo, displaying a pleasant show for the eyes. It also provides a mating location to fish during mating season.

Myths of lucky bamboo

Release of Toxic substances

A most common myth about lucky bamboo is that it releases toxic substances, which is wrong. Instead, it removes all the toxins, ensuring your fish health. Remember, real bamboo contaminates the water rather than the lucky bamboo. It is safe for your fish tank.

You can not provide fertilizers to lucky bamboo

The fish wastes and other compounds like nitrites and ammonia are enough for lucky bamboo. You can add some amount of aquarium-safe liquid fertilizer. It can grow faster and healthier but remember to change the water frequently to prevent any toxicity.

Keep the leaves above the water

It isn’t necessary to keep the leaves above the water level. It will not decay any way whether you partially submerge it or completely. You have to provide all the essential nutrients to your plant to keep it healthy and prevent decay.

Also, the leaves are responsible for producing oxygen, so when they are underwater, the fish can use this oxygen easily. You should add this plant if you plan to hide the fish tank from others.

Grow it in the filter

It is wrong to grow it inside the filter. Although lucky bamboo itself acts as a filter but panting it in the filter can block the filter. When it grows, the roots may come out of the filter and can cause other problems.

Yellowing of lucky bamboo

Sometimes the lucky bamboo starts turning yellow that is unpleasing. There are many reasons for this yellowing. They include adding too many fertilizers or chemicals in the tank, improper regulation of temperature, too much exposure to light, or any plant disease.

Too many fertilizers

You have to be very careful with it. When you add too many fertilizers, it increases the amount of ammonia and nitrates in the tank. It results in the yellowing of bamboo.

Impure water

 Impure or contaminated water is also a reason. Change it twice a week to maintain the health of all plants and aquatic animals in your aquarium. By doing it, your bamboo will return to its original color.

Too light and improper temperature

Excessive exposure to light can cause it to change color. Also, temperature affects the plant’s health and color. Avoid providing extra light by keeping it out of sunlight and maintain water temperature.

Difference between real bamboo and lucky bamboo

Real bamboo

Real bamboo and lucky bamboo look alike, but they are significantly different from each other. One difference between the two is the ability to thrive and survive in an aquarium.

Real bamboo belongs to the bambusoideae subfamily, and it is not an aquatic plant. It belongs to the grass family that requires a sufficient supply of sunlight and water to grow.

When you place it in the tank, it starts rotting immediately and results in contaminating the water. It is very toxic for fish as it releases ammonia and other nitrogenous compounds into the tank. 

Lucky bamboo

Lucky bamboo having a scientific name, Dracaena Sanderiana resembles real bamboo but is not original bamboo. It is an entirely different species. Many people add this plant to their fish tanks.

It originates from the Central African country of Cameroon and relates to flowering lily. It grows in tropical forests under a canopy where humidity is high, which allows it to survive seasonal flooding and dry periods.

It is also not an aquatic plant, but its origin and mechanism allow it to survive up to many years in the water. It is relatively rough and hard and does not start rotting in water. It can survive when you submerge it partially or fully.