Botanicals - LiquidGardens

Natural Habitat Botanicals – Lotus Pods & Alder Cones for Aquarium, Vivarium, and Terrarium Use

Enhance Your Habitat with Functional, Natural Decor for Shrimp, Reptiles, Fish, Frogs & More

Transform your aquatic or terrestrial setup with this curated selection of natural botanicals designed to support bioactivity, shelter microfauna, and simulate nature’s beauty. This botanical family includes Lotus Pods and Alder Cones—two time-tested components known for their water-conditioning properties, visual interest, and habitat enrichment.

Whether you keep a blackwater aquarium, a bioactive terrarium, or a tropical vivarium, these botanicals help replicate the forest floor and riverbank environments from which many exotic species originate.

Botanical Bundle Includes:

Lotus Pods (Qty: 3)

• Large, perforated seed pods ideal for sheltering shrimp, fry, and small invertebrates

• Encourage biofilm and diatom growth for natural foraging

• Gradually release tannins and humic substances (teracatin, punicalin, punicalagin) to help lower and buffer pH—especially beneficial in blackwater or low-pH setups

• Visual texture enhances the natural aesthetic of both aquatic and terrestrial environments

Alder Cones (Qty: 25 )

• Small pinecone-like botanical rich in tannins and antimicrobial compounds

• Promotes natural blackwater conditions and supports healthy mucous membranes in fish and amphibians

• Especially useful in shrimp tanks and breeding setups

• Fast-acting and compact; excellent for small tanks or nano biotopes

Key Benefits:

• Natural Water Conditioner: Releases tannins that stabilize pH, soften water, and mimic conditions found in rainforest streams and jungle ponds

• Supports Bioactivity: Encourages colonization by beneficial bacteria, isopods, springtails, and other decomposers in terrestrial setups

• Microhabitat Shelter: Offers safe, natural hiding places for shrimp, fry, dart frogs, geckos, insects, and other sensitive species

• Aesthetic Appeal: Adds an earthy, rustic visual that enhances the realism of any naturalistic setup

• Safe for Sensitive Species: Ideal for Caridina shrimp, rasboras, bettas, tetras, and amphibians like dart frogs and reed frogs

Perfect For:

• Aquariums: Blackwater biotopes, shrimp tanks, community tanks, betta habitats

• Terrariums: Reptile and amphibian setups needing microclimates and climbing/hiding options

• Vivariums: Bioactive enclosures supporting decomposer clean-up crews

• Paludariums & Ripariums: Hybrid aquatic/landscaped environments

Usage Tips:

• Preparation (Aquarium Use): Rinse thoroughly. Boil or steep in hot water before use to reduce floating and leach initial tannins

• Placement: Scatter throughout the substrate, mount on driftwood, or use in leaf litter layers

• Replacement: Botanicals decompose slowly and should be replaced once fully broken down for continued effectiveness

Create a thriving, natural ecosystem with this botanical blend of Lotus Pods and Alder Cones. Whether you're crafting a moody blackwater stream or a lush tropical forest floor, these botanicals help you build environments that look, feel, and function like nature intended.