Serene pond in a tropical forest with an iguana on a rock

"For healthy fish, vibrant plants, and a balanced ecosystem, choose ring blowers that deliver consistent aeration to your aquaponics setup.

This is my 25-litre (6.6 US gallon) budget-friendly, filterless and heaterless pearlweed jungle tank, and it officially turned 600 days old today.

The tank uses a simple dirt substrate capped with sand and is lit by an entry-level Seaoura SR616 light. Everything you see here was grown from a single pot of pearlweed, keeping the setup as affordable as possible.

Even in winter, with water temperatures sitting around 18 °C (64 °F), the pearlweed grows fast enough to naturally purify the water, keeping my Bloody Mary Neocaridina shrimp colony safe and healthy.

I recently moved the two Medaka rice fish that were in this tank to my larger 45-litre (12 US gallon) mixed Medaka setup. Once my local aquatic shop has them back in stock, I plan to restock this tank with orange Medaka only.

For now, the tank is home exclusively to my Bloody Mary shrimp colony, and despite recently moving eight shrimp to my shrimp bowl, the colony is thriving—you’d never notice the difference.

Duckweed and Azolla, two aquatic plants, have emerged as potential nutritional powerhouses. Both species exhibit rapid growth rates and possess impressive nutrient profiles. While sharing similarities, these plants also exhibit distinct characteristics. This comparative analysis seeks to elucidate the nutritional composition and potential benefits of duckweed and azolla, empowering consumers to make informed choices about incorporating these plant-based resources into their diets.