2007, My dirty journey begins.

[@Batmancontingencyplans]

Can you please label future videos of this aquarium as No filter Aquarium? It really makes them easier to find...

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thanks, I've changed this aquariums playlist to say no filter :) Hopefully that will help.

[@packsaddlemann]

Your experiences in aquariums are substantial but the insights you got from them is even better. I really admire your take on these dynamics.

[@aquaticsbynature]

Wow, thank you so much. Its certainly been an interesting journey over the years, and one that I’ve loved every minute of and still do :)

[@JohnJB-et1cw]

This is so much more inspiring than all those videos with super clean tanks with chemicals and 60% waterchanges twice a week, your patience and trust in nature is inspiring.

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thank you so much :)

[@kenrooke9047]

I am in the process of rereading the Walstad book I purchased about 5 years ago. It is a great reference tool and even if you don’t have a chemistry background you can still get by with the question and answer entries. From this presentation it again reinforces the need for patience and letting nature take its course. Love the rambling as usual and look forward to the next release. Thanks 😊

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thanks Ken, same here I don’t have much of a chemistry background, but that book is just so wonderfully put together that anyone can gain an understanding of what’s necessary.

[@NeoVeritas7]

It's definitely reassuring to see such longevity. Would love to see some pheonix rasbora creeping about that tank.

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thank you, :) Unfortunately because I used this tank for my Don’t top off with tap water video the waters way too extreme for them right now. A bit too chilly too . 🤔

[@andicarson1339]

Thank you for your ramblings! ❤

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@jorge627]

- Let's make an experimental tank! (FIfteen years long).

[@aquaticsbynature]

Lol, well why not, it’s been fun :)

[@abelangjq]

I have 3 tanks like this as well. No tech, not even lights(does have 12hrs of shaded daylight), just a pond in a tank, with duckweed, hornwort, mosses, khuli loaches, neocaridina, snails, microfauna, and rice fish(in one tank). Also surprisingly clear watered. Hoping to add fairy shrimps(in the tanks without rice fish) and see how it goes.

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thanks, sounds really nice :)

[@jeremycourt7008]

That sounds so cool.

[@dianaheaphy8294]

I really enjoyed this video! I think your little tank is beautiful! I will look for updates!

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thank you so much. I will at some point do a follow up. :)

[@Moonlight76876]

I enjoyed your video. Thanks for sharing.

[@aquaticsbynature]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@kiefferwebb142]

First comment! I love seeing this kind of progress on the style of tank I keep! Thank you for your updates. And for the record, chili rasboras are a really nice nano against green plants 🪴

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thank you :) I absolutely adore brigittae :) My rather strange avatar was actually an old blackwater tank with then in it :) Unfortunately because If my top off experiments for the last video the water in this tank is way too hard for them .

[@jonisolis9645]

I like giant duckweed, it is nice and easier to control. Instead of braking down this tank what about just trying to make it into a nice aquascape by adding to it. Like adding some driftwood and maybe changing a few of the plants other than the wonderful crepts.

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thanks, yes its quite a nice aquarium plant. Although just as impossible to get rid of in this tank. It just keeps seeding and coming back lol Not that I mind :)

[@mitchl5220]

I haven't seen Bithynia snails sold in the hobby but they're such nice looking snails

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thanks, I have seen them for sale here, but they’re native here, so easily encountered. Nit sure how widespread they are in nature 🤔

[@mitchl5220]

I live in the UK and have never seen them! I go pond dipping a lot to look for invertebrates too and the only snails I find are bladder snails, great pond snails, wandering snails and ramshorns@@aquaticsbynature

[@aquaticsbynature]

You can sometimes buy them on that big online auction site, plus there are specialist wildlife pond suppliers that so them. They shouldn’t be too difficult to track down :)

[@fabiansfish]

Awesome stuff! Your videos are so inspiring!

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thank you :) much appreciated!

[@edwardlevett2459]

Great content James thank you

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thanks Ted :)

[@jonisolis9645]

Please do a video on the bithynia snails. I never heard of them. Thanks.

[@aquaticsbynature]

It’s definitely on the list lol no idea when though….so many things I’d like to cover :)

[@thesolaraquarium]

Ahh the uncapped dirt tank. I have one like this but it is only 3 months old and 6 litres😂 A tank like this will start looking amazing after about 4 weeks - unlike any other tank you set up. I recommend not putting a fish in these tanks for at least the first few months if you decide to keep some later. Without fish you will see some amazing microfauna living off the dirt. It will be full of little things swimming around. As you say the green water is temporary, will not kill the plants and I rarely see it. Seems that below 20 litres, heavily planted, green water may not happen at all. Large uncapped dirt is harder. The reason I have a 6 litre uncapped, is because I tried an 80 litre a year ago and failed😢. I went back to small again.

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thanks for your detailed comments. Yes these little tanks are absolutely wonderful for studying microfauna. So much fun and interest per gallon :) It’s strange that this kind of tank doesn’t seem to scale well, but I’ve found exactly the same.

[@janl7078]

Thanks for posting this candid, informative and inspiring video. A dirted tank 17 years old is quite a marvel. I am amazed the soil isn't capped. Is the soil clay like? Generally speaking and not specific to this aquarium, have you ever had issues with snails eating plants?

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thanks for your comments :) Yes the soil I use has a reasonable clay content :) I’ve always found the vast majority of snails to be absolutely fine, they tend to only eat plants which are actually dying or decaying. But there a few exceptions, especially with some British native pond snails.

[@caloocanboy5800]

Bruh me and the tank are the same age😅, I just set up my first planted tank and wanna keep it as long as I can.

[@aquaticsbynature]

Good luck with your aquarium journey :)

[@chongli297]

Hi James! That's quite amazing. Did the daphnia population crash after clearing up the green water?

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thanks :) Yes daphnia aways does a boom and bust in these situations. Much as many critters do, especially with new tanks.

[@Hyphessobrycon]

hi there! i really love your videos. as an ecologist and current Masters student in the ecology field i am fascinated with your insights and find myself striving to achieve the same in my aquariums. i do have a question for you. in your tanks that are increasing in age have you ever faced leakage issues? i have a dirted tank that is going on 10 years old at this point, an old, weird dimension of about 25 US gallons. however, the silicone sealant near the top has failed. i am not sure whether to continue running tue tank at 3/4 full or tear it down to reseal it and lose 10 years of progress

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thank you so much for your comments :) A few people have asked similar questions about the tanks seals. I think it must have something to do with the construction methods used for some tanks. Or maybe poor quality silicone used in some tanks. But in 40 odd years I’ve never really had an issue with tank seals.

[@rahulratre7741]

I like watching your video brother and i will setup my owm first planted tank. But can you please answer if metal, calcium and magnesium bad for aqurium planted tank water

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thank you :) Things like calcium and magnesium are ok as they tend to just indicate hard water, just avoid crazy extremes. Metals are generally taken up very quickly by plants so aren’t normally a problem long term. I always try and keep the TDS stable as in my Don’t top off with tap water video :)

[@jonisolis9645]

Do you feed this tank now and if so, what and how often?

[@aquaticsbynature]

Yes it’s gets a little bit of dried food once a day this time of the year when it’s cool. More in summer when it’s warmer:)

[@jonisolis9645]

"2007 dirted tank", could be the name.

[@aquaticsbynature]

Actually you’re right that’s much better thanks. :)

[@aquaticsbynature]

Done :) Well, sort of anyway lol

[@bobs5596]

this is genius. life is good. daphnia, scuds, worms, cyclops. stentors, hydra, rotifers, amoebas. diatoms, algae, spirogyra, who needs fish. where's my microscope....

[@aquaticsbynature]

Wonderful thanks, in some ways fish spoil things lol 🤔

[@pieterboersma5518]

Why do you nip of the leafs cryptocoryne plants? Pieter Holland 🇱🇺

[@aquaticsbynature]

Hi Pieter, I was just removing the leaves that were covered with mineral deposits from the experiment I did for my Don’t top off with tap water video. They looked unsightly and were no longer beneficial to the plants.

[@no-knickers-emma1112]

I have decided to top off with botted spring water after watching your video. I'm using just over a bottle for two aquariums. With the type of fish stock I have, I have turned down the temperature a bit. I want all my tanks(4) running at 70f.

[@aquaticsbynature]

Thanks :) Just a small word of caution some spring water is very hard, so check the TDS before you buy a load of it :)

[@no-knickers-emma1112]

@@aquaticsbynature Never thought of that so have just tested the spring water TDS. My tap water is 198ppm. That's correct going by my water company. Spring water I've been buying is 95ppm. Seems OK to me.

[@aquaticsbynature]

Yes that’s certainly better, but depending on what’s making up the 95ppm and what plants you’re growing it may still creep up. So definitely keep an eye on things long term.