INSANE PLANT GROWTH with NO CO2 NO FILTER | Step by step WALSTAD METHOD aquarium | EP1

Big thanks to Foo the Flowerhorn who was inspiration for this NO FILTER NO CO2 NO FERTS aquarium. This low tech aquarium setup was also inspired by Walstad method. As a substrate I used local organic potting soil that is a mix of black and white peat. Important is that the soil doesn't have any chemicals or pesticides. I removed big wood particles through the sieve and after that I left the soil in the water for 72 hours. During that time all the smaller wood particles and dirt remained on the surface. I placed 1 inch (2.5cm) of soil, 0.6 inch (1.5cm) of gravel and 0.4 inch (1cm) of fine sand. During next few weeks I expect the water to be cloudy and for sure soil will leach some tannins. I am starting with lighting period of 12 hours. With this much light it is recommended to add as much plants as possible (fill up more than 75% of substrate), fast steam plants and floating plants are the best choice. Although it is possible to place fish and other organisms on the first day (nitrifying bacteria are present in the soil), I have decided against it. There is always possibility of initial ammonia spike from the soil in case it was not capped correctly. If you are interested in making something like this read "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium" by Diana Walstad to fully understand this type of ecosystem from the biological and chemical aspect. Also check "Foo the Flowerhorn" who was basically the person that started "NO FILTER NO CO2 NO FERTS" aquarium trend.

00:00 Intro
00:16 Aquarium dimensions and volume
00:39 Foam mat
01:17 Aquarium background
01:36 Organic potting soil
02:28 Placing potting soil in the aquarium
02:59 Gravel
03:21 Sand
03:56 Red Moot root
04:26 Filling up with water
04:45 Poking substrate
05:31 48 hours later
05:42 Plants
06:56 Planting
07:54 Heater and water pump
08:10 Filling up with water
08:56 Final result

Aquarium - 45cmx27cmx30cm (18inx11inx12in)
Optiwhite glass 6mm | Tank Volume 37LTR | 10GAL
Soil - Organic potting soil (N:210 mg/l, P2O5:150 mg/l, K2O:170 – 390 mg/l, M: 100 mg/l)
Gravel - size 2-3 mm | Fine sand - 0.2-0.6 mm
Light - LED Power: 21W | Luminous flux 1950lm
Filter - NO | Water pump - YES
CO2 - NO
Heater - YES

Plants - Egeria densa, Bacopa caroliniana, Hygrophila polysperma, Limnophila sessiliflora, Hemianthus micranthemoides, Hydrocotyle tripartita, Anubias barteri nana, Cryptocoryne lutea hobbit, Elocharis parvula mini, Staurogyne repens, Salvinia natans

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/im_aquariums/

Music - Epidemic Sound:
Lo Mimieux / Cain / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/VOzYEJ2e8L/