Simple Walstad Aquarium 2 Years Later – Simple Planted Tank For Cherry Shrimp, Guppies, And Medaka!

PRODUCTS USED IN THIS AQUARIUM
Aquarium (Or Similar) - https://glassboxdiaries.com/nanotank
Light - https://glassboxdiaries.com/seaouralight
Heater (Best Of A Bad Bunch) - https://glassboxdiaries.com/hyggerhg083
Filter (Optional) - https://glassboxdiaries.com/nanohobfilter
USB Water Pump (Optional) - https://glassboxdiaries.com/usbwaterpump
Water Test Kit - https://glassboxdiaries.com/watertestkit
Tap Water Conditioner - https://glassboxdiaries.com/tapwaterconditioner
Stainless Steel Aquarium Grids - https://glassboxdiaries.com/steelgrid
Window Privacy Film - https://glassboxdiaries.com/privacyfilm
Fluval Big Bites - https://glassboxdiaries.com/bugbites
Hikari Mini Algae Wafers - https://glassboxdiaries.com/minialgaewafers
(Affiliate Links - I Get A Commission From Qualifying Purchases)

MY WALSTAD RELATED ARTICLES
The Best Filtration Plants For Walstad Method Tanks - https://glassboxdiaries.com/lowtechplantindex/nutrient_demand-high/
The Best Floating Plants For Aquariums - https://glassboxdiaries.com/lowtechplantindex/plant_type-floating/
The Best Walstad Method Soils - https://glassboxdiaries.com/walstad-method-soil/
The Best Affordable Aquarium Lights - https://glassboxdiaries.com/best-aquarium-lights/

PLANT LIST
Rotala Rotundifolia - https://glassboxdiaries.com/plant/rotala-rotundifolia/
Bacopa Caroliniana - https://glassboxdiaries.com/plant/bacopa-caroliniana/
Cryptocoryne Bekettii Petchii - https://glassboxdiaries.com/plant/cryptocoryne-beckettii-petchii/
Christmas Moss - https://glassboxdiaries.com/plant/vesicularia-montagnei-christmas-moss/

👍 Recommended Aquarium Accessories - https://glassboxdiaries.com/aquarium-accessories/
💡 Best Affordable Lighting Units For Low-Tech Planted Tanks - https://glassboxdiaries.com/best-aquarium-lights/
🌿 Find The Perfect Plants For Your Planted Aquarium - https://glassboxdiaries.com/lowtechplantindex/
📱 Socials - https://glassboxdiaries.com/socials

Simple Walstad Aquarium 2 Years Later – Simple Planted Tank For Cherry Shrimp, Guppies, And Medaka!

This is my 25 litre (6.6 gallon) filterless Walstad method aquarium, which has now officially reached the 2-year mark. This tank is home to guppies and a thriving Neocaridina cherry shrimp colony, and it runs entirely without a traditional filter. Instead, it relies on plants, substrate biology, and natural processes to maintain stable water conditions.

In this video, I take you through the full journey of the tank—from the initial setup, through the first year of development, and into everything that happened during year two. I cover how I built the substrate using a soil and gravel cap method, how I created a moss carpet using stainless steel grids, and why I chose specific plants like Rotala rotundifolia and Bacopa caroliniana to handle natural water purification.

I also go over the early stages of the tank, including cycling without adding ammonia, and how the system stabilised over time. Once established, I introduced a cherry shrimp colony, which quickly began breeding and growing in number. Later on, I added fish, including Medaka rice fish and eventually guppies, and share how both interacted with the ecosystem.

Throughout the video, I highlight the real challenges that came up over the two years. This includes managing floating plants to avoid light blockage, dealing with an ammonia spike caused by overfeeding, and troubleshooting a black beard algae outbreak linked to phosphate buildup from uneaten food trapped under the moss carpet.

I also show how I resolved these issues, including removing the moss carpet, using temporary filtration to clear debris, and making adjustments to feeding and maintenance routines. These experiences give a more realistic look at running a long-term, low-maintenance planted tank.

As the tank matured, plant growth became dense and self-sustaining, with Rotala playing a major role in keeping water parameters stable. The shrimp colony reached well over 100 individuals at its peak, with consistent breeding and minimal water changes—mostly just topping off for evaporation.

Now at the 2-year mark, I show how the tank looks today, including improvements in plant colour after increasing the lighting period, and how the overall ecosystem has evolved into a stable, balanced setup.

Finally, I go over my future plans for the tank. This includes possibly switching from guppies to Medaka to allow for a fully unheated setup, managing long-term plant health as older growth begins to weaken, and investigating shrimp size reduction, which I suspect may be linked to overpopulation and competition for minerals in the water.

#aquarium #fishtank #fishkeeping #plantedtank #plantedaquarium #walstad #walstadmethod

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
00:39 - Setting The Tank Up
06:35 - Planting The Tank
09:47 - Tank Accessories
11:27 - Cycling The Tank
13:23 - Stocking The Tank
17:29 - Year 1
24:58 - Year 2
29:39 - The Tank Today
03:42 - Plants For The Future

Видео Simple Walstad Aquarium 2 Years Later – Simple Planted Tank For Cherry Shrimp, Guppies, And Medaka! канала Glass Box Diaries