Thriving Walstad Shrimp Jar - Day 200 Update! My Planted Yellow Cherry Shrimp Ecosphere! #aquarium

🌱 Welcome to the 200-day update of my thriving Walstad method shrimp jar! This jar has been a low-maintenance dream, and it’s exciting to see just how far it’s come! This setup is in a 6.5-liter (1.7-gallon) jar, complete with a clip-on Hygger LED light 💡. For substrate, I used topsoil capped with gravel, creating a foundation for plants that help naturally purify the water 💧. 🌿 Starting with the plants, Rotala rotundifolia is a superstar here, absorbing toxins in the water and turning them into nutrients to fuel its growth. Meanwhile, the Christmas moss is slowly filling in, giving the jar that lush look! Interestingly, the shrimp seem to favor grazing on the algae and biofilm growing on the lava rock 🪨, providing them with a natural source of food. When I first started, I only had five shrimp in this jar. Now, there are over 30! 🦐 The population has self-regulated, adapting to the available food sources in the jar. Water quality has remained stable overall, though pH, GH, and KH levels have gradually risen. Despite these shifts, the shrimp are thriving! They’re active, healthy, and clearly happy in their tiny, natural ecosystem. 🏞️ In terms of maintenance, it’s been incredibly easy. Aside from adding a small amount of food each day and topping off evaporated water, I haven’t had to do much since the 100-day mark. 🌞 My plan is simple: let this mini ecosystem continue to develop naturally. 🌱 I’m excited to see how it evolves as it approaches the one-year milestone – who knows what surprises it might hold? Hope this inspires anyone curious about low-maintenance shrimp jars and Walstad setups. #aquarium #fishtank #shrimptank #shrimpjar #cherryshrimp #neocaridina #plantedtank #plantedaquarium #walstadmethod