Uploaded December 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
This is 13th month update. The fish are called Sparking or Pygmy gourami.
The addition of driftwood caused chain of events that were unforeseen. One gourami really liked the driftwood and decided to make it his. He guarded it from all other gouramis but let the shrimp use it. Two original gouramis became sick from not being able to eat very much b/c the alpha gourami that guarded the driftwood drove all of the other gouramis away. I tried to feed the whole tank, but other gouramis were hiding deep in the plants most of the time and would not come out to eat. So the original gouramis resorted to eating the shrimp. The shrimp population in this tank has plummeted quite a bit. I think eating too many live shrimp made them sick. One got pop eye, and another internal parasites. They were moved to a hospital tank, but they did not recover. I decided not to include the footage in this video.
If you would like to see one of the original gouramis unedited raw footage with the internal parasites, you can see it here: (it's sad, don't watch it)
youtube.com/watch?v=7DCTnEs32fQ
12 months update youtube.com/watch?v=2VuDVhCpJyA
11 months update youtube.com/watch?v=PsUkQGY8vR0
10 months update youtube.com/watch?v=T8ZAWAVwlSU
9 months update youtube.com/watch?v=Im9lDTRTAOk
8 months update youtube.com/watch?v=OLh-4Tzc-2M
7 months update youtube.com/watch?v=pyftwc1NLyU
6 months update youtube.com/watch?v=Rpi4CcHQHTg
5 months update youtube.com/watch?v=dU5izzyxqeA
4 months update youtube.com/watch?v=FtdkRe6VjSs
3 months update: youtube.com/watch?v=xut0YAvE8eQ
2 months update: youtube.com/watch?v=BBGcPGQvO9Y
The setup video: youtube.com/watch?v=ZvmGJuquuLE
NO filter, NO CO2, NO Ferts Planted Tank Series:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2155euLw9DN6EU2zBTlDj8-q572aZv7w
This is a Walstad Method tank. The credit goes to Diana Walstad for publishing the organic soil substrate method.
Check out her book in the link below if interested.
The book I read to make this aquarium:
Ecology of the Planted Aquarium by Diana Walstad(Hard cover) amzn.to/2tB4xiZ
Ecology of the Planted Aquarium by Diana Walstad(digital) amzn.to/2svT0Sy
4.6 gallon low iron rimless tank amzn.to/2yKTWST
5.4 gallon low iron rimless tank amzn.to/2y5YZeO
50W heater amzn.to/2tAQOsy
Heater cover so plants won't get burned amzn.to/2sw42ap
Tiny thermometer amzn.to/2tAwFmg
Magnetic thermometer amzn.to/2LRCrXd
(I'm using the tiny thermometer with a small rubber band to hold it in its place.)
Mini round shape magnet scrubber amzn.to/2zx6k8D
Miracle gro organic choice potting mix amzn.to/2tyHm9g
2~3mm gravel 20lb bag amzn.to/2gJ5tOl
2~3mm gravel 5lb bag amzn.to/2y3e3ih
Aquarium scissors amzn.to/2BXY1GW
Aquarium Tweezers amzn.to/2EWyAZe
TetraMin Flakes (gourami and shrimp food) amzn.to/2Gouypo
Shrimps:
Amano Shrimp amzn.to/2PdYOY6
Blue velvet Shrimp amzn.to/2Oaw7yT
Cherry Shrimp amzn.to/2yfoU64
Chocolate Shrimp amzn.to/2P83jDv
Yellow Shrimp amzn.to/2OA2Ehr
CRS amzn.to/2IIOntq
Sunkist Shrimp amzn.to/2PcLQtS
Ghost Shrimp amzn.to/2ydKms1
Nerite snails amzn.to/2IF9sF8
The Best Growing Plants in this tank:
1. Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort) amzn.to/2srT6HY
2. Duckweed amzn.to/2sl3G4p
3. Azolla imbricate (mosquito fern) amzn.to/2LapS8z
4. Najas Guadalupensis (guppy grass) amzn.to/2LLN8L8
5. Bacopa caroliniana amzn.to/2LIPFpj
6. Ludwigia Sp. Mini Super Red amzn.to/2J0SAfu
The rest:
Hemianthus glomeratus (pearl grass) amzn.to/2LIIPA5
Egeria densa (Anachris) amzn.to/2LJCUuO
Didiplis diandra amzn.to/2LJj4j2
Rotala rotundifolia (indica) amzn.to/2JbzLFF
Dwarf hairgrass amzn.to/2sjG2W1
Music:
Erik Satie
Gymnopedie No. 1 -- played by Wilfried Welti youtube.com/watch?v=KIXCLCGrIQU
Gnossienne No. 1 - played by Michael Rettig (piano) and Miran Zrimsek (Cello) youtube.com/watch?v=lqVpudW97cc
Gymnopedie No. 2 - played by Kevin MacLeod
This is 13th month update. The fish are called Sparking or Pygmy gourami.
The addition of driftwood caused chain of events that were unforeseen. One gourami really liked the driftwood and decided to make it his. He guarded it from all other gouramis but let the shrimp use it. Two original gouramis became sick from not being able to eat very much b/c the alpha gourami that guarded the driftwood drove all of the other gouramis away. I tried to feed the whole tank, but other gouramis were hiding deep in the plants most of the time and would not come out to eat. So the original gouramis resorted to eating the shrimp. The shrimp population in this tank has plummeted quite a bit. I think eating too many live shrimp made them sick. One got pop eye, and another internal parasites. They were moved to a hospital tank, but they did not recover. I decided not to include the footage in this video.
If you would like to see one of the original gouramis unedited raw footage with the internal parasites, you can see it here: (it's sad, don't watch it)
youtube.com/watch?v=7DCTnEs32fQ
12 months update youtube.com/watch?v=2VuDVhCpJyA
11 months update youtube.com/watch?v=PsUkQGY8vR0
10 months update youtube.com/watch?v=T8ZAWAVwlSU
9 months update youtube.com/watch?v=Im9lDTRTAOk
8 months update youtube.com/watch?v=OLh-4Tzc-2M
7 months update youtube.com/watch?v=pyftwc1NLyU
6 months update youtube.com/watch?v=Rpi4CcHQHTg
5 months update youtube.com/watch?v=dU5izzyxqeA
4 months update youtube.com/watch?v=FtdkRe6VjSs
3 months update: youtube.com/watch?v=xut0YAvE8eQ
2 months update: youtube.com/watch?v=BBGcPGQvO9Y
The setup video: youtube.com/watch?v=ZvmGJuquuLE
NO filter, NO CO2, NO Ferts Planted Tank Series:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2155euLw9DN6EU2zBTlDj8-q572aZv7w
This is a Walstad Method tank. The credit goes to Diana Walstad for publishing the organic soil substrate method.
Check out her book in the link below if interested.
The book I read to make this aquarium:
Ecology of the Planted Aquarium by Diana Walstad(Hard cover) amzn.to/2tB4xiZ
Ecology of the Planted Aquarium by Diana Walstad(digital) amzn.to/2svT0Sy
4.6 gallon low iron rimless tank amzn.to/2yKTWST
5.4 gallon low iron rimless tank amzn.to/2y5YZeO
50W heater amzn.to/2tAQOsy
Heater cover so plants won't get burned amzn.to/2sw42ap
Tiny thermometer amzn.to/2tAwFmg
Magnetic thermometer amzn.to/2LRCrXd
(I'm using the tiny thermometer with a small rubber band to hold it in its place.)
Mini round shape magnet scrubber amzn.to/2zx6k8D
Miracle gro organic choice potting mix amzn.to/2tyHm9g
2~3mm gravel 20lb bag amzn.to/2gJ5tOl
2~3mm gravel 5lb bag amzn.to/2y3e3ih
Aquarium scissors amzn.to/2BXY1GW
Aquarium Tweezers amzn.to/2EWyAZe
TetraMin Flakes (gourami and shrimp food) amzn.to/2Gouypo
Shrimps:
Amano Shrimp amzn.to/2PdYOY6
Blue velvet Shrimp amzn.to/2Oaw7yT
Cherry Shrimp amzn.to/2yfoU64
Chocolate Shrimp amzn.to/2P83jDv
Yellow Shrimp amzn.to/2OA2Ehr
CRS amzn.to/2IIOntq
Sunkist Shrimp amzn.to/2PcLQtS
Ghost Shrimp amzn.to/2ydKms1
Nerite snails amzn.to/2IF9sF8
The Best Growing Plants in this tank:
1. Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort) amzn.to/2srT6HY
2. Duckweed amzn.to/2sl3G4p
3. Azolla imbricate (mosquito fern) amzn.to/2LapS8z
4. Najas Guadalupensis (guppy grass) amzn.to/2LLN8L8
5. Bacopa caroliniana amzn.to/2LIPFpj
6. Ludwigia Sp. Mini Super Red amzn.to/2J0SAfu
The rest:
Hemianthus glomeratus (pearl grass) amzn.to/2LIIPA5
Egeria densa (Anachris) amzn.to/2LJCUuO
Didiplis diandra amzn.to/2LJj4j2
Rotala rotundifolia (indica) amzn.to/2JbzLFF
Dwarf hairgrass amzn.to/2sjG2W1
Music:
Erik Satie
Gymnopedie No. 1 -- played by Wilfried Welti youtube.com/watch?v=KIXCLCGrIQU
Gnossienne No. 1 - played by Michael Rettig (piano) and Miran Zrimsek (Cello) youtube.com/watch?v=lqVpudW97cc
Gymnopedie No. 2 - played by Kevin MacLeod
