I've been doing experiments to learn what it takes to build small self-sustaining aquariums for fish.
Here you can see my 3D aquarium with young guppies.
I moved fish to a larger aquarium when they grow up.
Now I've been using the same well established aquarium as a self-sustaining aquarium for little critters.
Remember, I don't change water in all aquariums ;)
My well established aquariums offer a unique opportunity for this matter.
It is fish waste (remains of food and fish poop) accumulated on the bottom making fertile soil - the source of food for plants and some critters.
There are at least 3 types of different critter coexisting in this aquarium along with land moss, a dwarf lily, duckweed, frogbit plants, common green, and filamentous algae.
Let's look at how things go in this aquarium starting from August 2018.
Words of gratitude to YouTuber Arnaldo M.B. for identifying these critters as Aulophorus vaga.
Thank you Arnaldo M.B!!
Here you can see this case-caring aquatic worms before I put them in my 3D aquarium.
They come with filamentous algae - another case of my interest.
Also, I added some snails and seed shrimp to keep the genetic health of existing colonies ;)
August 26th, 2018
Cases caring by aquatic worms get smaller in the past week!
Filamentous algae grows fast, taking all available space.
September 5th, 2018
The bottom part of the aquarium is thickly covered by a mesh of filamentous algae.
Critters are having fun in these aquatic jungles.
October 24th, 2018
Filamentous algae gets thinner and decreased in amount.
October 27th, 2018
Land moss is taking space instead of filamentous algae.
Worms are busy as always.
November 23rd, 2018
Here, you can observe life in the aquarium at normal speed.
Let's switch to a time-lapse recording.
Tiny critters and plants live in different dimensions.
Look how many critters are here!
Here is a real time recording of a tiny fury of actions!!
A seed shrimp bites an Aulophorus vaga worm.
Apparently, caring a case makes a lot of sense.
December 6th, 2018
I don't add or remove anything in this aquarium since August 2018.
No food, no water changes.
The aquarium has access to atmospheric air.
The top cover reduces water evaporation.
Eventually, I may need to add dechlorinated water.
Though, there is a way to avoid it ;)
And so life goes in cycles on its own in this aquarium month after month without me doing anything but watching it.
Here, you can see filamentous algae start growing again and so does the dwarf lily, while this land moss seems to grow continuously.
Have fun and happy aquariums :)
No comments:
Post a Comment