Glass Box Diaries

Here’s a quick update on my Medaka Walstad Method aquarium, which is now 250 days old.

Like most Walstad-style tanks, it uses a capped dirt substrate — a thin layer of topsoil covered with fine gravel.

The tank is lit by an affordable entry-level Seaoura SR616 light. I recently increased the photoperiod from six hours to twelve hours per day at maximum intensity.

For most of its life the tank has been completely filterless, but about a month ago I added a small filter to increase water flow as an experiment for the shrimp. That said, I’ll probably remove it again soon.

The Hygger nano heater that was previously running on this tank did eventually fail. Thankfully it didn’t short out, electrocute anything, or overheat — it simply began losing power gradually. I’ve since replaced it with an EHEIM heater.

Unfortunately, I did lose one of the Medaka a couple of weeks ago. Since these fish typically only live for a couple of years, I suspect it was simply natural causes.

I currently have a few new Medaka in quarantine that will be moved into this tank soon.

The shrimp colony is doing incredibly well. I actually lost count of how many generations they’ve had months ago, but there are babies everywhere, so I’ll probably move some of them into other tanks soon.

This tank is also a bit of a “Skittles” test. I originally started with three red, yellow, blue, and orange Neocaridina shrimp to see how quickly their offspring would revert back to wild-type colours.

So far, most of them are either red, pale yellow, or wild-type, although I have spotted at least one blue baby in there as well.

Moving on to the plants, the cooler water temperatures recently seem to have pushed some of them into a slight dormancy period. That’s caused a few minor issues, but they should bounce back soon.

I’ve also made a few changes to the background planting. The back left now has regular Rotala Blood Red, the back right has Rotala Blood Red SG, and the back middle now features Pogostemon quadrifolius. This is a new addition and is still growing in.

There was nothing wrong with the previous plants — I just wanted to test how both versions of Rotala Blood Red would perform in the same tank. Since I already grow Limnophila sessiliflora in several of my other tanks, I also thought it would be a good opportunity to try a Pogostemon variety instead.

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

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4 days ago | [YT] | 474

Glass Box Diaries

Here’s a quick update on my 25-litre (6.6 US gallon) filterless guppy and cherry shrimp tank, which is now 686 days old.

This aquarium follows the Walstad Method, using topsoil capped with fine gravel as the substrate. The plants handle most of the filtration, naturally purifying the water and helping keep conditions stable and safe for the livestock.

The tank is lit by the entry-level Seaoura SR616, an affordable aquarium light. Recently, I doubled the photoperiod, increasing it from six hours per day at maximum intensity to twelve hours per day.

As you can see, the plants are already responding to the additional light. The Rotala rotundifolia is beginning to develop pink, orange, and red hues, while the Bacopa caroliniana is also starting to show some reddish coloration under the longer photoperiod.

For the most part, the guppies are doing well. However, one of them has lost a section of its tail at both the top and bottom, and the missing areas are almost exactly the same length.

Because of how suddenly it appeared, I suspect the damage may have been caused by the fish resting its tail against the heater during a heating cycle, rather than it being tail rot.

The cherry shrimp colony is also doing well and seems to be benefiting from the longer photoperiod, as it allows more algae and biofilm to grow in the tank, providing them with a natural food source.

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

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6 days ago | [YT] | 668

Glass Box Diaries

Here’s a quick update on my filterless, room-temperature Pearlweed jungle tank, which is now 663 days old.

This aquarium follows the Walstad Method, using just over 1 cm (about half an inch) of topsoil as the nutrient layer, capped with roughly 2.5 cm, or about an inch, of fine gravel.

The only plant in the tank is pearlweed, but as you can see it’s absolutely thriving—even though the fish room temperature is still sitting at around 18°C, or 64°F.

For lighting, I’m using a very affordable entry-level Seaoura SR616.

Recently, I changed the lighting schedule as a bit of an experiment, increasing it from six hours per day at maximum intensity to 12 hours per day.

I’ve also recently added two new platinum medaka to this tank while I quarantine them, although I may end up moving my other medaka into this aquarium as well since this heaterless setup is actually a much better fit for the species.

My Bloody Mary shrimp colony has been dealing with some stunting issues. It took me a while to figure out what was causing it, but I eventually realized that the general hardness had dropped quite a bit, which likely made it harder for them to molt properly.

I used to test the GH in this tank every month, but after the aquarium passed the one-year mark, I stopped checking it regularly because I assumed it would stay stable.

However, with the rapid growth of the pearlweed potentially consuming calcium and magnesium, and those minerals possibly becoming depleted in the substrate over time, the GH has now dropped out of the ideal range.

So I’ve started boosting the GH with shrimp mineral salt to see if I can get the colony growing back to a normal size again.

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

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1 week ago | [YT] | 619

Glass Box Diaries

Happy Aquarium Day! 🐠

I’ll be going live on the Hooked Aquatics TikTok at 7PM UK time (2PM New York, 11AM Los Angeles) - www.tiktok.com/@hooked_aquatics

#aquarium #fishtank #fishkeeping #plantedtank #plantedaquarium

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 513

Glass Box Diaries

This filterless, self-cleaning aquarium is designed to function as a balanced, natural ecosystem where plants, microorganisms, shrimp, snails, and fish work together to maintain long-term stability with minimal maintenance.

My Full Length Video Update On How The Tank Is Performing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymecL...

Fast-growing aquatic plants absorb ammonium directly as a nutrient source, preventing toxic ammonia and nitrite from accumulating. As the system matures, plants also utilize nitrate and dissolved minerals, helping regulate water quality, limit algae growth, and reduce the need for water changes.

The aquascape features a dense mix of submerged species including Limnophila sessiliflora, Cryptocoryne varieties, Staurogyne repens, Anubias, and Helanthium tenellum ‘Green,’ creating both visual depth and effective biological filtration. Aquaponic houseplants growing from the back rim, including Polka Dot Plant and Pothos, extend this filtration beyond the waterline, absorbing excess nutrients and further stabilizing the system.

Celestial Pearl Danios, Neocaridina shrimp, Amano shrimp, and snails form an active and functional cleanup crew, recycling organic waste into plant nutrients through natural mineralization. Their constant activity contributes to the tank’s self-sustaining cycle while adding movement and life to the aquascape.

At seven months old, the aquarium has reached a high level of maturity, with clear water, stable parameters, and thriving plant growth. The balance between plant mass, livestock, and microorganisms allows the ecosystem to remain healthy without mechanical filtration, gravel vacuuming, or liquid fertilizers.

These photographs capture the evolving beauty of a naturally balanced planted aquarium—demonstrating how ecological principles can create a stable, low-maintenance environment that supports both aquatic life and lush plant growth over the long term.

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

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 421

Glass Box Diaries

This is my golden white cloud mountain minnow tank, and today it’s 533 days old. It’s a room-temperature setup, currently sitting at around 18°C, or 64°F. Since we’re in the middle of winter, that drop in temperature has led to a few noticeable changes.

My Tank Setup And 1 Year Update Video For This Tank - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LptIJ...

My golden white clouds, yellow neocaridina shrimp, amano shrimp, and pink ramshorn snails are all doing perfectly fine at this temperature, but some of the plants are beginning to show signs of dormancy. The Hygrophila 53B is the clearest example, with holes developing in its leaves. Many people would immediately assume this is caused by a potassium deficiency, but this wasn’t an issue during the warmer months.

Instead, colder temperatures can cause many aquatic plants to enter a dormant state, similar to hibernation, where their internal processes slow down or temporarily pause. Keeping your tank above 22°C, or 72°F, is often enough to prevent this in most setups. However, this tank has already been through one winter, so I know growth will naturally pick back up again in spring.

Interestingly, the cooler temperatures do have some advantages. My white clouds actually seem to prefer this cooler water compared to the summer months. The dominant male has been actively maintaining his territory at the front of the tank, chasing everything else—including females—towards the back. Meanwhile, the non-dominant males and females have been breeding in those areas, although I haven’t spotted any fry just yet.

#aquarium #fishtank #fishkeeping #plantedtank #plantedaquarium

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4 weeks ago | [YT] | 464

Glass Box Diaries

One year ago, I rescaped my 30-liter (8-gallon) AquaEl Shrimp Set into a lush, beginner-friendly jungle-style betta aquarium, and these photos show how it looks today.

My Video Update On The Tank - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CxwA...

The tank is built around easy, forgiving plants like Anubias ‘Coin Leaf,’ Cryptocoryne, Limnophila sessiliflora, and a carpet of Eleocharis, with Seryu stone, spider wood, and Amazon frogbit creating a natural, overgrown feel.

Over the past year, this setup has gone through bacterial blooms, algae phases, filterless experiments, and plenty of plant trims, but it has steadily matured into a stable, living ecosystem filled with biofilm, baby shrimp, and ramshorn snails.

My betta, Marmalade, has explored every corner of this scape, interacted with floating plants, and even learned to steal food from her shrimp tank mates.

While her health has declined due to a tumor, this tank has given her a calm, heavily planted environment where she can rest easily near the surface.

Jungle-style aquariums have very few “rules,” which makes them perfect for beginners who want something natural, low-tech, and full of life.

#aquarium #fishtank #fishkeeping #betta #bettafish #bettatank #bettafishtank #plantedtank #plantedaquarium

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4 weeks ago | [YT] | 523

Glass Box Diaries

🚨 Huge shoutout to everyone who watched my videos last month! 🚨

Because of you, the channel pulled in over 2.5 MILLION views in January 🎉

For full transparency, my original goal was 1.5 million views, which we hit, but a short went viral and brought in an extra 1 million views, pushing the total even higher.

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 286

Glass Box Diaries

Planted Nano Community Tank Setup: A Perfect Project For Small Spaces!

This is my 45-litre (12 US gallon) nano community tank, home to ember tetras, pygmy corydoras, blue neocaridina shrimp, amano shrimp, and a nerite snail.
The hardscape is built from river cobbles and spider wood, glued together with aquarium-safe adhesive to create a stable foundation.

Long-Form Video Setup - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab4QK...
Short-Form Video Setup - www.youtube.com/shorts/a0JKj8...

I attached Anubias coffeefolia and Bucephalandra ‘Brownie Ghost’ directly to the spider wood, using them as natural decoration while keeping their rhizomes safely above the substrate. Most of the tank is filled with Fluval Stratum aquasoil to a depth of around 5 cm (2 inches), which makes planting much easier thanks to how lightweight aquasoil is. In the front left corner, I added a section of black sand to create a dedicated sand bed for the pygmy corydoras.

When planting, my initial goal was a filterless, plant-driven cycle, so the tank started out far more heavily planted than it is now. This helped the plants manage the bioload once livestock was introduced and kept everything stable early on. As expected with aquasoil setups, the first month included a bacterial bloom caused by nutrient release and residual gel on in-vitro plant roots.

I also added aquaponically grown houseplants along the back rim of the tank. These bring colour and texture above the waterline while contributing to natural filtration. By the end of the first month, water parameters had stabilised enough to stock eight standard pygmy corydoras, two albino pygmy corydoras, and ten ember tetras.

At the start of month two, algae growth increased more than usual, so I added six amano shrimp, ten blue neocaridina shrimp, and a nerite snail. Around the same time, I did a partial rescape—switching to a triangle layout, removing a large amount of stem plants, and adding a small nano filter.

Month three became a bit of an algae battle, as the light turned out to be far more powerful than expected. I gradually reduced the intensity from 100% down to 35%, which is still the setting I use today.

Now, five months in, I’m really happy with how the tank has matured. Algae is under control, the livestock are healthy and active, and I’ve even seen signs of ember tetras breeding among the roots of the houseplants above the waterline.

#aquarium #fishtank #fishkeeping #plantedtank #plantedaquarium #nanotank #communitytank

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4 weeks ago | [YT] | 419

Glass Box Diaries

Just published a new article that goes over the downsides of community tanks: glassboxdiaries.com/downsides-of-community-aquariu…

To be clear, community tanks are a great way to keep an aquarium—they let you enjoy multiple species living together in the same tank. I keep several community tanks myself and I’m planning to add more to my fish room.

That said, there are some common problems many beginners overlook when setting one up, so I wanted to highlight them and explain how to avoid them.

The long-form video version of this will be coming out later this week 🙂

#aquarium #fishtank #plantedtank #plantedaquarium #fishkeeping #tropicalfish

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4 weeks ago | [YT] | 451