Aquarium Pothos (Bare Root) — Natural Nitrate Reducer for Fish Tanks

Natural Nitrate Control · No CO₂ Needed · Tank or HOB Filter · Ships Bare Root

Overview

Add a bare root Pothos to your order and put your tank's extra nitrates to work. This hardy houseplant grows happily with its roots in aquarium water and its leaves in the open air, absorbing nitrate and other leftover nutrients as fertilizer. Those are the same nutrients algae feed on.

Because its leaves grow above the water, Pothos takes its CO₂ straight from the air, so there's no CO₂ system or special aquarium light to buy. Set it up in your tank or hang-on-back filter in minutes, and over time it grows a dense curtain of roots that shrimp and fry love to explore.

What You'll Receive

• 1 bare-root Pothos cutting with roots
• Assorted variety, chosen by us based on current availability and plant health
• Shipped bare root, without soil or pot, ready to go into water

Every cutting is unique. Color, leaf pattern, and size vary naturally.

Key Features

• Natural nitrate control: roots absorb nitrate directly from your aquarium water
• Helps limit algae: competes with algae for the same nutrients, no chemicals needed
• No CO₂ or special light: leaves grow in open air under normal room light
• Flexible setup: works in the tank or in a hang-on-back (HOB) filter
• Shelter for shrimp and fry: dense roots create a natural hiding and grazing spot
• Easy to propagate: trim the vines and root new cuttings in water

Benefits

• Helps keep nitrate levels in check between water changes
• Adds a lush, trailing green accent above your aquarium
• A simple, low-cost way to start a riparium-style setup
• Gives shrimp and fry extra cover and biofilm to graze
• Grows into more cuttings over time, so you can expand your nitrate control for free

Product Specifications

Care Guide

Setup

Rinse the roots in clean water and trim off any soft or damaged pieces. Place the roots in your aquarium or in the media chamber of a hang-on-back filter, and keep every leaf above the waterline. Our Aquarium Plant Holder with Hooks holds the cutting securely on the tank wall.

Lighting

Normal room light works. Bright, filtered light speeds up growth and nitrate uptake, while very low light can fade variegated leaves. Avoid harsh direct sun.

Water & Temperature

Pothos does well in typical freshwater tropical tanks. It prefers warm conditions around 70–90°F (21–32°C), so keep it away from cold drafts and sudden temperature swings.

Feeding

No fertilizer needed. In a tank with fish, the nitrates they produce are exactly what Pothos feeds on.

Trimming

Trim long vines to keep it tidy, and cut back the roots if they start crowding a filter. Remove any leaf that slips underwater, since submerged leaves will rot.

Propagation

Snip a vine section with at least one node and set it in water. New roots typically form within 3–4 weeks, and every extra cutting adds more nitrate uptake.

Perfect For

• Freshwater community aquariums
• Low-tech and no-CO₂ planted tanks
• Shrimp and fry tanks
• Tanks that struggle with high nitrates
• Hang-on-back filter setups
• Riparium and paludarium projects
• Beginners looking for an easy, natural water-quality boost

Important Notes

• Leaves must stay out of the water. Pothos is a houseplant, not a submerged aquarium plant. Only the roots go in the water.
• Not a replacement for water changes. Pothos helps lower nitrates between maintenance. Results depend on plant size, light, and your tank's bioload.
• Toxic to pets. Pothos is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so keep it out of their reach. Wash your hands after trimming, as the sap can irritate skin.
• Variety is our pick. Color and leaf pattern vary. Photos show a representative plant.
• Dispose of trimmings responsibly. Never toss cuttings outdoors or into waterways. Pothos can spread aggressively in warm climates.

Live Arrival Guarantee

We guarantee live arrival when our temperature guidelines are followed.

If your plant arrives damaged, contact us within 2 hours of delivery with clear photos. We'll send a replacement within 2 business days.

Extreme weather packaging is required when temperatures are below 40°F or above 100°F.

Why Choose Our Aquarium Pothos?

• Rooted and ready: arrives with roots, so it starts working sooner than an unrooted cutting
• Natural, chemical-free nitrate support for your tank
• Zero extra equipment: no CO₂, fertilizer, or special lighting
• Affordable add-on to any plant or equipment order
• Carefully packed for safe delivery and backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee
• Curated by PlantedPro, a specialist shop for live plants and aquascaping

Your Top 5 Questions — Answered

Q. Does Pothos really lower nitrates in an aquarium?

= Yes. Pothos roots absorb nitrate as a nutrient, and lab research on pothos has shown it removes nitrate from water. How much it removes in your tank depends on plant size, light, and bioload, so one cutting is a great start and several cuttings do more. It works best alongside regular water changes.

Q. Will Pothos get rid of algae? 

= It helps. By using up nitrate and other leftover nutrients, Pothos leaves less food for algae. Algae also depends on light and maintenance, so pair it with a consistent light schedule and regular water changes for the best results.

Q. Is Pothos safe for fish and shrimp?

= With only the roots in the water, Pothos is a popular choice for freshwater fish and shrimp tanks, and many keepers add it specifically for shrimp to graze on. Rinse the roots before adding the cutting, and keep all leaves above the waterline.

Q. Can I put Pothos in my hang-on-back filter?

= Yes. Tuck the roots into the filter's media chamber with the leaves hanging outside. The steady flow keeps fresh nutrients moving past the roots. Trim the roots as needed so they don't crowd the filter or slow the flow.

Q. Is Pothos safe for cats and dogs?

= No. The ASPCA lists Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) as toxic to cats and dogs because it contains insoluble calcium oxalates, which can cause mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting if chewed. Place your tank or filter where pets can't reach the leaves.