Small or Large Aquarium Wicking Pot? How to Choose and Set It Up
By Nathan Trowbridge · Mossari
Choose an aquarium wicking pot by the plant’s root ball and the space around your tank, not by aquarium volume alone. Mossari’s Small Aquarium Wicking Pot suits compact tropical plants. The Large Aquarium Wicking Pot provides a larger planting chamber for a fuller root system or display.
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How does an aquarium wicking pot water a plant?
A wick reaches into aquarium water. Capillary action brings moisture into substrate above. Roots stay in their growing medium rather than directly in the tank. No pump or plumbing is needed, but the wick must maintain its water connection.
For roots growing directly in water, choose an in-tank basket or propagator. For a chamber sitting closer to the waterline, see the low-profile planter guide.
When should I choose a small or large pot?
| Format | When to choose it |
|---|---|
| Small pot | Choose the small format for a modest rooted cutting, small trailing vine, compact fern, or juvenile foliage plant. It can suit tighter displays where a larger pot would crowd the lid or light. Leave room for the root ball and growing medium; move the plant on when it outgrows the chamber. |
| Large pot | The larger chamber suits a plant needing more root space. It can create a fuller above-tank planting without crowding a compact pot. A larger chamber still has limits: a heavy mature plant or vine pulling sideways can make the arrangement unsuitable. |
Which houseplants should I try?
Small pothos, heartleaf philodendron, Syngonium, peace lilies, and moisture-loving ferns are candidates when their light and humidity needs are met. Selected tropical begonias can suit appropriate airy media with observation. Cacti and many succulents needing a thorough dry-down are poor starting choices.
Will it fit a rimmed or rimless tank?
Both pots list rimmed and rimless compatibility. Check the mounting guide against your rim, glass, lid, and braces. The selector offers an XL bracket option for larger rimmed setups; gallon capacity is a cue to check fit, not a substitute for measuring.
Which substrate and how much do I need?
Mossari’s inert blend contains coco coir, coco chips, and perlite without added fertilizer. The enriched blend adds root-zone nutrition. A 3-cup small bag is portioned for one Small Wicking Pot; a 6-cup bag is listed to fill one Large Wicking Pot or two Small Wicking Pots. The root ball reduces the amount you actually use.
Keep substrate in the chamber. Do not pour enriched mix into the aquarium or assume tank water provides complete nutrition for every plant.
How do I install and maintain it?
- Follow the Mossari bracket and assembly guide.
- Position the wick into water and prepare the media as instructed.
- Add a healthy plant and check assembly stability.
- Provide suitable light above the tank and inspect moisture during establishment.
- Maintain water contact after evaporation and water changes; prune foliage clear of equipment.
Can I raise the pot with extensions?
Both formats list compatibility with Mossari extensions. Keep combined added height at or below 5 inches and recheck wick reach and stability. Raising a pot does not guarantee better lighting or watering.
Will the plant clean the aquarium?
Plants may use some nutrients carried in aquarium water. Continue filtration, maintenance, and water-quality checks. A planter adds greenery; it does not replace the aquarium’s care.