ive been seeing bamboo in a couple tank pics...is it possible to grow bamboo in your fish tank? if its possible...where do you buy it, how do you plant it and care for it...can it be in a goldfish tank?

Thomas (A Penguin) has one growing out of a small Whisper filter. He filled the inside of the filter with small gravel, planting the roots of the bamboo in the rocks and securing it. It's thriving.

I wouldn't try it -- bamboo gets icky and slimey if it is completely submerged. I tried this years ago in a betta tank and it didn't work.

Tetra makes a very convincing fake bamboo for aquariums. I have a few in my office tank and many of my patients have commented about how real it looks.

Here is a link:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...fm?pcatid=15543

What you have seen in pics is most likely called "lucky bamboo". It is actually a terretrial (dry land) plant that does best in soil but it can be used in an aquarium as long as the leaves are above water. Here is a link with a little more info on the plant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracaena_sanderiana

Edit: oops, someone posted while I was typing.

I should have mentioned that Thomas' plant is lucky bamboo, not ACTUAL bamboo. And it is not submerged. Here's a pic.

You know I never really thought about useing Lucky Bamboo in a filter. but thats an awesome idea, Thanks!

I have what I guess is the lucky bamboo in my filter..except it is fully submerged. It doesn't seem to be growing though...is that because it is not supposed to be fully submerged?

Well it's not a aquatic plant, so it won't fare well fully submerged. I would bring it up a bit and expose the leaves to the air.

I have found bamboo at Lowes for about 4 dollars a foot..really good deal

Lucky bamboo does not grow very fast. A fast-growing plant is more ideal as a filtering plant because it will pull more waste from the water. Regardless of the intention, though, it is great that I never have to water my little bamboo plant anymore.

My Bamboo always dies when I get talked into taking it out of my goldfish tank. Plan to get some more soon for the tank. It may not last as long in there but longer then if I don't put it in there. lol I am good with growing water plants but not very good at watering houseplants. lol