Betta Eco Tank: No Water Changes, No Filter (Low Tech Aquascape Tutorial)

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These are one of my favourite kinds of tanks to create. Nothing but plants, hardscape, water and fish....and a light. Ecosystem tanks, or tanks that don't have a filter or require water changes are so easy to keep. There is a little bit of work to get them going but no more so than setting up a normal fully filtered setup. We just need good nutrients in the substrate to get the plants to grow and then pack it out with fast growing plants. they basically do all the work. As the fish, shrimp and snails poop, they provide an ammonia source for beneficial bacteria and the plants. This is what is filtering the water and after a few weeks, there will be no need for water changes and the tank will be thriving!

Equipment (all links affiliate):

API® products

AQUARIAN® products

#plantedtank #aquascape #mdfishtanks

[MDFishTanks]

👇👇MD MERCH CLICK HERE👇👇:

These are one of my favourite kinds of tanks to create. Nothing but plants, hardscape, water and fish....and a light. Ecosystem tanks, or tanks that don't have a filter or require water changes are so easy to keep. There is a little bit of work to get them going but no more so than setting up a normal fully filtered setup. We just need good nutrients in the substrate to get the plants to grow and then pack it out with fast growing plants. they basically do all the work. As the fish, shrimp and snails poop, they provide an ammonia source for beneficial bacteria and the plants. This is what is filtering the water and after a few weeks, there will be no need for water changes and the tank will be thriving!

Equipment (all links affiliate):

API® products

AQUARIAN® products




#plantedtank #aquascape #mdfishtanks

[nancypatterson]

Don’t listen to anyone saying you over plant your tanks, that’s why I think you have the most beautiful tanks!

[curlzferrero]

I was taking notes like mad! So excited to get a proper aquarium set up for my rosy barbs and the smaller one for my own betta. For anyone who has trouble hearing the names (or spelling then, like me), these are the plants in order of use:
Weeping moss
Java fern
Anubias bonsai
Anubias petite
Sadge
Lobelia cardinalis mini
Rotala rotundifolia
Limnophilia Sessiliflora
Red root floaters (phyllanthus fluitans)
Vall (Vallisneria, aka eelgrass)
Hydrocotyle leucocephala (Brazilian pennywort)

[calvinsc]

I have been keeping my betta tank this way for 4 years. No filter, great water, beautiful tank and a happy betta.

[mollysgotmakeup]

I would love to see you do maintenance on this tank and show us how you keep the plants looking good. I struggle with some stem plants since I trim them when they get too long but I love how they get pinker at the top with new growth but if I pull the stems out it makes such a mess. Beautiful tank!

[SSfacts-cz]

I love this kind of betta that appears to constantly be giving us "jazz hands" ! 👐

[gwenjohnston-petrarch]

I grew up with fish tanks through most of my life, but these last decade or so I haven't had any tanks. I've relocated and was thinking the other day, how much I missed my fish tanks. I stumbled upon your channel and fell in love all over again. You make your videos so much fun and remind me of the happiness that my tanks used to give me. I'm on a quest to finish my move and setting up my tanks! Thank you for the inspiration.

[wassssssp]

Hey MD! You are an inspiration to me and helped me start my first planted tank. It also turns out Maidenhead aquatics is down the road from me! Can’t wait to check out your tank in person! Thanks alot.

[LukeMcGuireoides]

Wow! Phenomenal. Who wouldn't want one of those in their home?! After only around a weeks worth of effort, you have a self sustaining mini ecosystem, and it appears to be cheaper than any other piece of home decor of similar aesthetic value, if there even is any!

[AlexIsModded]

Thank you for such a fantastic video on how to create a self sustaining betta tank! My workplace got us all betta for our classrooms, and they supplied us with those ridiculous tiny plastic tanks. The parents of one of my students are providing a larger glass aquarium for our betta fairly soon. I'm definitely going to try out an aquascape like this one. I'm not going to copy your design, of course, but rather take your advice. I want our betta to have a proper tank, but also for my students to see a proper tank and really respect her and learn about her.

Our betta, her name is Queen, she is NOT chill. She has a sweet personality but she is quite active. She's all over the place and when the children go up to her tank she comes right up to look at them. She's super curious. Days ago I added some small seashells to her tank and one of them wouldn't sink, so she chased it around, and it was hilarious!

[ggoannas]

These fish really have personalities. Love them.

[jasminepalert]

My heart's pumping when you put the shrimps in there and the dumbo just stared 😂 beautiful tank. Love it!

[erikm]

I would be way too scared to use soil and not do water changes! I know anything is possible though! I’ve had four dirt tanks and I truly miss them. The best plant growth I ever had… no co2, not even any lights on two of them. Only ambient indirect sunlight, in a northeastern exposure. Best growth on THOSE tanks! But the first week, the ammonia spikes immediately, so I’d do water changes daily. Then lessen to weekly fifty percent. I need to try Walstead method now, in earnest. So thanks for the reminder!

Btw If you ever experience an issue with ammonia or nutrient buildup (when using richer soil substrate), it’s helpful to float tradescantia, pothos or philodendron cuttings off to the side, and let them grow water roots.That can REALLY detox the tank, and create almost a “mangrove” look underwater, for fish to hide in.

[darthmuppetthehungry]

“Plants do all of the filtration”
The thick substrate: Am I a joke to you?

[kevinlock]

those final stones always seem to make a massive difference. You see so many scapers harp on about clean lines but i love that natural scape look. Great job again

[sydneysangels]

I've been watching your videos for a while now and I'm always so impressed with how well you create details with pebbles against the main hardscape. It makes your tanks look so natural!

[kaylawilson]

You are really inspiring me to level up my tanks, I love how you break down the build. These tanks look so intimidating so I appreciate the tutorials!

[paul.b]

In my experience, you still need a nano internal filter (or perhaps small HOB) at the back, just to polish the water and with a tiny spray bar it stills gives gas exchange and removes toxic top film. All my tanks are Walstad and even Diane Walstad said she learnt some kind of mechanical filtration is necessary after years of experience!

[MKristen]

This tank is AMAZING!! It looks like you went to a pond and just scooped up the entire ecosystem for your tank.

[lucieciepka]

I wanted to tell you that you have inspired me. When my husband said “it will be nice to have an aquarium at home” I remembered the spinach soup with barely living fish that his grandpa has and I replied “No! We are not having that at home!” It’s been 6 years 😅
You have convinced me of the beauty of a tank with plants and with this type of ecosystem tank it will be much easier to take care of it and make sure that I’m not torturing animals.
So thank you! We will soon be hosting a 100l tank for a beta with the look of your red wood tank, I really loved that one.