There comes a point in any planted aquarium where the plants themselves have outgrown the available space in the tank.
They need to be trimmed to keep at the right height, and there isn’t any space to plant the clippings, or you desire to keep only a certain amount of that plant in your tank, and now you are wondering what can be done with these leftover plants.
Let’s dive into four possible options to give these leftover plants new uses, and not have them go to waste.
1. Composting Aquarium Plants
One possible option, especially if you have something like a garden or flower beds is to consider using the leftover plants as a starter compost pile, or simply adding it if you have an existing compost pile.
Aquarium plants are an excellent option for composting as they will decompose rather quickly, and be able to add important nutrients, enriching the soil.
This will not only add great benefit to your soil in a natural way, but also allow you to help support a sustainable cycle in your gardening, or soil needs in general.
2. Donating to Schools or Community Centers
Another possible solution to helping with leftover plants is to look into possible community centers, or school opportunities where they may have used them.
The plants could be used as part of science or art classes and allow you to provide resources to others instead of having the plants go to waste.
There is also the chance that these places could have aquariums themselves, which gives them resources that benefit their tanks.
3. Selling or Trading with Other Hobbyists
If looking for an opportunity to help further your aquarium hobby, consider reaching out to other aquarists to see if they would be interested in purchasing your plants, or trading with you for something you might want.
This could include trading for different fish you may be interested in, and plants you might not be able to get your hands on any other way.
This is a great way to build your aquarium community in your area, as well as being able to interact with a greater community.
Selling your plants can also further your hobby as it can help provide funds by earning some extra cash to allow you to buy your next group of plants, or fish, or help keep your hobby going by helping to purchase everyday needs such as food, CO2 canisters, and other materials.
Look for local aquarium clubs in your area, online forums, or even reaching out to different groups on social media such as Facebook to help find other aquarium enthusiasts in your area to help in this endeavor.
4. Use in Terrariums or Paludariums
If you are interested in exploring the world of terrariums and paludariums, this could be the perfect option.
Using your leftover plants is an excellent way to introduce yourself to a new tank experience while keeping the cost lower as you don’t have to go out and purchase brand-new plants.
You may be wondering what terrariums and paludariums are.
Terrariums are a small plant ecosystem, typically using a clear glass or plastic container where everything is self-sustaining.
The water is continuously recycled as it is used from the plants, then turned into water vapor and used again.
Though Terrariums are usually without submerged plants, there are exceptions. Most aquatic plants can also survive out of water so they can still be used in whichever type you like.
Paludariums are very similar with the slight difference in adding water and aquatic elements to them.
In these, it is a closed ecosystem of plants that includes submerged plants that include aquatic plants underwater, as well as plants being grown out of water.
Typically paludariums will include at least 50% of their space for aquatic plants.
They are very much the middle ground between a Terrarium and an aquarium
Final Thoughts
Just because plants have outgrown your tank, doesn’t mean they don’t have any uses left.
Next time you are trimming, and or removing parts of plants from your tank, remember to consider different options for you to use them, rather than simply throwing them out.
Live plants provide so many benefits to your aquarium’s ecosystem and can continue to provide various benefits outside of it.