What if that old aquarium gathering dust could become something far more interesting?
Instead of leaving it in storage or letting it sit empty, give it a second life as a paludarium. With a sound, watertight tank, you can create a miniature wetland that brings together land, shallow water, and plants growing across both environments, turning an unused aquarium into a living centerpiece for your home.
What Is a Paludarium?
A paludarium is a hybrid habitat combining land, water, and emergent plant life in one enclosure. It is essentially a meeting point between an aquarium and a terrarium.
Part of the tank remains aquatic, while another section rises above the waterline to create a humid terrestrial environment. Plants can grow up and out of the water, with their roots submerged while their stems and leaves remain above it. For shrimp keepers, submerged roots and wet hardscape surfaces double as grazing grounds for rich biofilm.
A well-planned paludarium becomes a miniature ecosystem: roots trail through the water, moss covers hardscape, and terrestrial foliage reaches toward the light.
Is Your Old Aquarium Suitable?
A watertight glass aquarium makes a great starting point, but the dimensions and structure will dictate your build options:
- DimensionsTall tanks provide vertical room for emergent foliage, while longer tanks offer more swimming area for aquatic livestock.
- LightingEmergent plants above the waterline often require higher light levels than fully submerged aquatic plants.
- VentilationFully enclosed tanks trap humidity, while open-top designs provide better airflow but require more frequent misting.
- Water DepthThe aquatic zone must provide sufficient volume and filtration space for your target livestock.
- Species CompatibilityPlants and livestock must match parameters regarding temperature, pH, and humidity.
How to Make a Paludarium: Step-by-Step
The goal is to establish a stable division between land and water, then tailor conditions to each zone.
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Create the Land-and-Water Separation
Build a raised land section using an egg-crate platform, PVC supports, or aquarium-safe expanding foam. This keeps the terrestrial area above the water reservoir and creates a defined land-water boundary.
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Add a Drainage Layer and Barrier
Above your false bottom structure, add a coarse drainage material such as lava rock or LECA. Place a mesh substrate barrier over this layer before adding your soil mixture. This prevents soil from sifting into the water column and clouding the aquatic zone.
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Add Water and Aquatic Substrate
Add aquarium-safe gravel, sand, or aqua-soil to the aquatic section. Fill the water area gradually, verifying that water stays contained in its designated area and does not submerge the terrestrial planting space.
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Install Gentle Filtration
If keeping shrimp, small fish, or invertebrates, mechanical and biological filtration maintains water clarity and oxygenation. A small sponge filter or an adjustable low-flow pump works best. Aim for adequate circulation to prevent stagnant dead spots without creating heavy current.
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Add Your Plants
Once the hardscape and water systems are running, add your plants according to their light and moisture requirements — submerged aquatic plants below, semi-aquatic mosses at the shoreline, and terrestrial species on the elevated land mass.
Before adding your plants, ensure you've properly prepared them. Go to our Preparing Nursery Plants for Shrimp Aquariums section below to find out how.
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Set Up Lighting
A full-spectrum LED fixture designed for plant growth supports both submerged and terrestrial foliage. Aim for 8–10 hours of light per day, adjusting as needed to control algae and encourage growth.
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Balance Humidity and Ventilation
The open water area naturally boosts humidity, but newly planted terrestrial species benefit from light misting while establishing. Monitor humidity and mist when the terrestrial section begins to dry. Increase ventilation if condensation remains excessive or mold develops.
Build the hardscape, fill the water zone, and run the pump to test for leaks, water levels, and circulation before planting. If you plan to keep aquatic livestock, cycle the aquatic portion separately and confirm that ammonia and nitrite are at safe levels before adding animals.
What Plants Can Go in a Paludarium?
Once the structure is ready, it's time to bring in the plants. This is where choosing the right species for each part of the tank becomes important.
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Selecting the Right Plants
A paludarium features three primary planting zones:
The fully underwater section. Use true aquatic species adapted to full submersion (e.g., Anubias, Bucephalandra, or Java Fern).
Roots remain submerged in the water column while stems and foliage grow into the open air above. Fast-growing emergent plants draw up nitrates and phosphates while taking in atmospheric CO₂.
Elevated areas out of direct water contact that stay humid. Ideal for terrestrial mosses, small ferns, and humidity-tolerant tropical foliage.
To help source species suited for this setup, explore the Blossomdale Aquarium Friendly Collection. Plants like Pothos 'Baltic Blue', Golden Pothos, and Syngonium 'Pixie' excel in emergent positions where their roots access water while foliage expands above.
Since paludariums combine both environments, the collection can help you explore plants that may work for the submerged, emergent, or humid terrestrial areas of your setup.
Preparing Nursery Plants for Shrimp Aquariums
While many houseplant species thrive in paludariums, freshly purchased potted plants should never go directly into an aquarium housing sensitive invertebrates like Neocaridina or Caridina shrimp. Nursery plants are often treated with fertilizers, systemic pesticides, or copper-based agents that are lethal to shrimp.
Follow this preparation process before introducing potted plants to your tank:
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01
Remove Pot and SoilTake the plant out of its nursery pot and gently manually remove all soil, peat, or substrate from the root ball.
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Rinse the Bare RootsRinse the bare roots thoroughly under lukewarm running tap water to wash away residual dirt and fertilizer pellets.
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Soak SeparatelyPlace the bare-root plant in a separate container of conditioned water and change the water regularly for several days before introducing it to a shrimp aquarium. This can help remove surface residues.
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Position Correctly EmersedMount the plant so only its root system extends into the water column. Do not submerge foliage that is not adapted to underwater growth, as decaying leaves elevate organic waste in the water.
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Prune Aroids Outside the TankPopular species like Pothos, Syngonium, and Philodendron are aroids, which contain calcium oxalate crystals. Always remove the plant from the aquarium before trimming, and let fresh root or stem cuts callus over before returning the plant to the water.
Summary Checklist: Paludarium Dos and Don'ts
Set Up Your Own Paludarium
That empty aquarium doesn't need to stay empty. With the right plants and a little planning, it can become a lush little wetland with greenery spilling above the water and roots growing below it.
If you're ready to start choosing plants, take a look at Blossomdale's Aquarium Friendly collection for Pothos, Syngonium, Philodendrons, Peace Lilies, and other plants suited to emersed growing.
And if you're keeping tank inhabitants, make sure to prep your plants before adding them to the tank. It's a simple step that helps keep them safe.
For more aquarium ideas, shrimp care tips, and planted tank inspiration, stick around Shrimpy Business.