Poubellarium: Easily Create and Maintain Your Outdoor Poubellarium Pond

What is a poubellarium?

The word doesn’t sound impressive — it seems like the unlikely marriage of a trash can and an aquarium. Yet behind this somewhat rustic name lies an ancient practice: the poubellarium has been used for millennia in Asia and other continents, in the form of jars filled with water, without any filtration technique, where small fish and plants coexist.

🛒 Everything you need in one place: discover our category dedicated to poubellariums — containers, plants, and accessories selected for your micro-pond.

In Europe, with our more marked temperature variations, a minimum volume of 100 to 150 liters of water is recommended to ensure a more stable temperature throughout the seasons.

Which container should you choose for your poubellarium?

Not all containers are equal. Many plastics are toxic to fish: it’s better to opt for large clay jars or barrels cut in half and waterproofed.

🛒 Ready to get started? Discover our category dedicated to poubellariums — containers, plants, and accessories selected for your micro-pond.

This type of container can also be found in garden centers — provided you choose a store with a section dedicated to aquatic ponds, the only guarantee of a truly suitable material.

Another important point: without a filtration system, biological cycles take longer to stabilize. Allow at least 1 to 1.5 months before introducing your first fish.

What are the ideal plants for a poubellarium?

Focus on oxygenating plants with strong filtering power, such as Ceratophyllum demersum. Long recognized for purifying pond water, it develops a powerful root system that efficiently captures excess nutrients.

Other easy-to-find species work just as well:

• Water irises (commonly found along pond and river edges)
• Water hyacinths
• Water mint

You can also enrich your ecosystem with submerged oxygenating plants known for their effectiveness:

Callitriche palustris, Ceratophyllum demersum, Egeria densa, Elodea canadensis, Hippuris vulgaris, Hottonia palustris, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Myriophyllum spicatum, Myriophyllum verticillatum, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus aquatilis, Stratiotes aloides, Vallisneria gigantea.

⚠️ Note: Crassula helmsii and Utricularia vulgaris may be subject to sales or planting restrictions depending on the region — check local regulations before adding them.

Place your plants in small submerged baskets, to be covered with a few pebbles or, better yet, with pouzzolane: this porous volcanic rock promotes the development of beneficial bacteria for the balance of your poubellarium.

🛒 The winning duo to get started well:

• Planting baskets for pond & pond
• Lava rock / pouzzolane 16-32mm

No plants on hand yet? Our selection of plants for pond and garden allows you to compose your poubellarium in just a few clicks.

Which fish to put in a poubellarium?

Choosing the fish is probably the most important decision for the success of your poubellarium. Without filtration or water circulation, it is better to rely on small, hardy, and undemanding species.

The Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) is often considered the ideal fish for an outdoor poubellarium: small in size (3 to 4 cm), very hardy, it tolerates temperature variations better than the guppy and can even survive a mild winter if the tank does not freeze completely. It is available at Aquiflor in Nodebais. 

The guppy remains a safe bet, especially if the poubellarium is installed away from the cold (conservatory, indoors, covered terrace): it is a tropical species that prefers stable water, ideally between 22 and 26°C, and reproduces easily.

A few rules to follow, whatever your choice:

• Start with a small number of individuals (4 to 6 maximum) to avoid overloading a still young ecosystem.
• Avoid goldfish and koi carp, which are far too large and voracious for this type of environment.
• Never introduce fish before the nitrogen cycle is complete (1 to 1.5 months after filling with water).
• Observe their behavior during the first days: swimming at the surface or near the edge may indicate a lack of oxygen or water that is still unbalanced.

Filling with water and introducing the fish

After filling, wait about three days before introducing your fish, allowing the chlorine to dissipate naturally.

Avoid large fish — especially goldfish, which are too big for this type of environment. Instead, favor guppies: start with only 4 individuals to give them time to multiply and gradually adapt to their new environment.

Ideal location: In France as in Belgium, a poubellarium thrives better on a sheltered terrace. In winter, plants wither and the water can freeze on the surface — conditions that guppies tolerate very poorly outdoors without protection.

Never place your poubellarium in the shade: plants need sufficient light each day to maintain a stable temperature between day and night.

Securing your poubellarium

Two simple habits to adopt from the start:

1. Add branches that extend beyond the container. In case of a fall, small animals (hedgehogs, amphibians...) can climb out of the water without drowning.
2. Plan for overflow drainage. Drill a hole near the top of the container and cover it with a fine mesh filter like a mosquito net. This will keep a stable water level even during heavy rain, without risking accidentally draining your fish during overflow.

Maintenance: the key role of bacteria

Remember to regularly add bacteria to transform ammonia from fish and plant waste into assimilable elements. A simple step that directly contributes to the good health of your fish.

🛒 Must-have at home: Nitriboost Aquipond 1L — for regular addition in seconds, without complicated dosing.

Ready to create your poubellarium?

Container, plants, pumice, and bacteria: you now have all the keys to start your miniature ecosystem. Need a hand to finalize your selection?

👉 Discover our full selection of pond plants and accessories

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about the poubellarium

Which fish to put in a poubellarium?

Guppies and goldfish are best suited for outdoor life. Guppies tolerate heat well but fear the cold; goldfish withstand temperature fluctuations better.

Can guppies be left outside in winter?

Guppies do not tolerate low temperatures well. As soon as the mercury drops, it is advisable to bring them inside or provide an insulated winter refuge.

What container should be chosen for an outdoor poubellarium?

A rainwater collector, a waterproof planter, or a container of 100 to 300 liters works perfectly—the key is sufficient volume and good light exposure.

Should a poubellarium be filtered or heated?

No, that's exactly the point: a poubellarium works as a self-sustaining ecosystem, without mechanical filtration or heating, thanks to oxygenating plants and natural balance.

How to prevent the water from turning green or evaporating too quickly?

A good density of oxygenating plants naturally limits algae, and slight shading in summer reduces evaporation.