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I've recently introduced a Sweet potato to my freshwater aquarium. It was initially started in a vase on the windowsill and the roots developed rapidly. After about 3 weeks, I transferred it to the tank. I'm curious to know if anyone else has attempted this. What setup did you use for yours, and does anyone know the approximate timeframe for it to produce leaves on top? Apologies if this is an unusual inquiry. I'm just seeking additional information, as this is my first time trying it.

When adding a sweet potato to your aquarium, it's essential to ensure the entire potato isn't submerged in water. A good rule of thumb I've come across is to keep about 1/3 of the potato in water and 2/3 in air – a jar of water works well for this. If the potato is fully underwater, it may rot, which can be detrimental to your tank's ecosystem. Some herbivorous plecos might enjoy blanched veggies, but generally, it's best to remove them quickly to avoid any risks to your fish.

boomer wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 9:15 pm When adding a sweet potato to your aquarium, it's essential to ensure the entire potato isn't submerged in water. A good rule of thumb I've come across is to keep about 1/3 of the potato in water and 2/3 in air – a jar of water works well for this. If the potato is fully underwater, it may rot, which can be detrimental to your tank's ecosystem. Some herbivorous plecos might enjoy blanched veggies, but generally, it's best to remove them quickly to avoid any risks to your fish.

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. I've got it set up currently with half the potato in and half out of the water. I'll be tweaking it soon to get that 2/3 in air ratio you mentioned, just to be on the safe side. Have you had any personal experience with this, or is it just something you've learned through research?

Are you planning on using the leaves once they sprout, or is this purely for aquarium aesthetics?

That's a great idea for extra greenery. We've actually propagated sweet potato by leaves before, and it was really successful - we even got a nice tuber out of it.

I've recently learned you can actually put a sweet potato plant in a freshwater aquarium, sounds pretty cool.

cichlidgirl22 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 01, 2022 6:55 am I've recently learned you can actually put a sweet potato plant in a freshwater aquarium, sounds pretty cool.

I think there's been a misunderstanding - sweet potato plants can't thrive with their leaves underwater. The key is to keep the leaves above the waterline, while only submerging the lower portion of the potato. I've always been cautious about introducing organic matter like this into my tank, as it poses a risk to my fish.

boomer wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 9:15 pm When adding a sweet potato to your aquarium, it's essential to ensure the entire potato isn't submerged in water. A good rule of thumb I've come across is to keep about 1/3 of the potato in water and 2/3 in air – a jar of water works well for this. If the potato is fully underwater, it may rot, which can be detrimental to your tank's ecosystem. Some herbivorous plecos might enjoy blanched veggies, but generally, it's best to remove them quickly to avoid any risks to your fish.

Yeah I'm with you on that