Tabletop Taro Fish Pond

Fish ponds are a lovely addition to any garden.  However, if you live in an apartment then you have to get creative with the limited space in order to have a water garden.   A tabletop taro fish pond can be made with a few supplies and some colorful fish.

To make this you will need:

• Fish
• Taro
• Dirt
• Water
• Glass Container
• Plastic Bottle
• Pair of Scissors
• Mini shovel (or spoon in a pinch)
• Cinders or Gravel
• Fish Gravel or Decorative Rocks

A mini water garden wouldn't be complete without fish.  Koi are the fish of choice for large garden ponds due to their beautiful colors.  Since Koi are much too large for a mini garden, I needed a small breed of colorful fish. Fancy Tail Guppies are vivid, lovely and were the right size for this project.  Guppies are hearty little fish that don't require a lot of special care.  They are not finicky and pretty easy to keep alive and healthy.  They are the perfect fish for a mini tabletop fish pond.  

Next I needed a plant that can live in water but I didn't want to use the standard fish tank plants.  I was looking for something that looks like it would be found in a garden.  Taro was the perfect solution since it is often found as a decorative plant.  Taro is also an edible plant that is a staple in Hawaiian Cuisine.  

• For more information on Taro please check out this site: http://www.edibletropicalplants.com/2010/09/how-to-grow-taro.html
• If you happen to live on island of Oahu in Hawaii, you can purchase Taro at: http://www.koolaufarmers.com/contact/

Instructions:

• Cut a water bottle to the desired height.  
• Punch holes in the bottom for the water to move through.  I used my scissors for this, but it would be easier with an ice pick.  Be careful not to injure yourself.

• Dig up the taro and shake most of the dirt from the roots. 
• Place cinders (or gravel) in the bottom of the cut off bottle.

• Fill 1/3 to 1/2 way with dirt from the pot. 
• Place the taro in the bottle and place a few more cinders (or gravel) around the sides of taro roots. 
• Cover the roots with dirt, stopping about a 1/2 inch from the top of the cut off bottle.  Pack the dirt down by pressing gently.

• Fill to the brim with fish gravel or tiny stones.

• Then place it in a larger container and slowly pour water onto the taro.  

• Soak the planter for an hour or so.
• Pour more water through the taro.  Keep doing this until the water runs clear.
• Place fish gravel or small stones in the base of your glass container.  
• Place the taro planter down inside the glass container and secure it with the gravel.

• Slowly fill with the glass container with water.

• Let this set overnight to let the dirt settle.
• Add the fish once the water is clear. 

Voila a mini water garden to brighten your home! :)  

These could also be used to make unique center pieces for a party or event.

I will post more pictures as I discover more mini plants to complete the look.