If you’ve got an old, empty goldfish tank gathering dust in the garage, don’t toss it out! With a little bit of creativity and a few supplies, you can easily transform that glass fish house into a stunning desert oasis for cacti. It’s a fantastic way to show off your favorite prickly plants and adds a unique, modern touch to your home decor.
Cacti in an Aquarium: Prep & Materials
Before we get started, gather up these essentials for your new arrangement:
- Your favorite cactus or a mix of several varieties
- Specialized succulent or cactus potting mix
- Clay pebbles or pumice for a drainage layer
- Thorn-proof gardening gloves (rose gloves work great!)
- Decorative stones of various sizes, driftwood, or other fun accents
Pro tip: Before you start planting, give everything that will touch your succulents a good scrub with hot water. It’s also a smart move to sterilize your cactus soil—just pop it in a heat-safe dish and bake it at 300°F (150°C) for about 20 minutes to keep things clean and pest-free.
How to Plant Your Cactus Aquarium: A Step-by-Step Guide
Once your materials are prepped, planting your cactus is actually a total breeze. Just follow these steps:
- Start by pouring about a 2-inch layer of clay pebbles or pumice onto the bottom of the tank. This is crucial for drainage!
- Arrange your larger decorative pieces, like rocks or roots, on top of that drainage layer.
- Add your cactus soil. You’ll want a layer about 4 inches deep, though you should adjust this based on the size of your plants’ root balls.
- Use a spoon to dig out small holes where you want your plants to go.
- Carefully place your cacti into their new homes.
- Gently press the soil down around the base of each plant to get rid of any air pockets.
- Finish it off by adding a thin “top-dressing” layer of fine gravel, grit, or clay granules for a polished look.
Now, find a nice warm, sunny spot for your aquarium—just make sure it’s not sitting in harsh, direct midday sun, which can overheat the glass. Give your cacti about a week to recover from the “moving stress” before you water them for the first time. When you do, use lime-free water (like rainwater or filtered water).
By the way, there’s no need to worry about fertilizing right away. Most store-bought cactus mixes come pre-loaded with nutrients, so you can wait about six weeks before you start feeding them.
