Filterless Walstad Method Cherry Shrimp Tank - Dirted Planted Tank Setup - Month 2 Update!

Описание: Here’s a quick update on my 6.6-gallon filterless cherry shrimp tank! This aquarium has been a fun little project because it runs without a filter, CO2, or fertilizers. Instead, the base layer of topsoil capped with gravel provides nutrients for the plants, and the shrimp do their part by grazing on algae, producing waste that naturally fertilizes the plants. It’s a simple system that shows how balance in a small aquarium can be achieved with the right setup.

When I first set up this tank, it went through the typical “ugly stage.” The soil released excess nutrients, which caused soft algae to pop up on the surfaces. But over the past month, my colony of cherry shrimp has been working hard to keep things clean. They’ve cleared a lot of that algae, and now the tank looks so much healthier. I started with about 15 shrimp from my main colony, and one female was already berried (carrying eggs). Since they were bred in my tap water, I added them straight in with no acclimation, and they adjusted right away, happily grazing on biofilm and algae.

I’ve been tweaking the plant selection too. Some of the original plants melted back, so I added Staurogyne repens for the midground, Marsilea hirsuta as a carpeting plant, and even attached some Bucephalandra to the hardscape. My Rotala H’ra needed replanting, but it’s bouncing back and growing nicely now. I also experimented with floating plants—Salvinia natans—but it ended up being too large for this tank, so I moved it into one of my bigger aquariums.

Overall, the tank is really starting to come together. The shrimp are thriving, the plants are settling in, and the natural balance of this filterless setup is becoming more stable every week. I’m excited to watch how this aquarium progresses over the coming months, and I’ll keep sharing updates as it matures.

If you’re into planted tanks, shrimp keeping, or natural-style aquariums, follow along for more updates and tips!

#aquarium #shrimptank #cherryshrimp