How to Build Self Contained Aquarium Systems

The idea behind a self contained aquarium is a fish tank requiring no, or very little, outside influence. A perfectly self sustaining ecosystem requires the owner to do nothing, including feeding the animals, but in reality this is hard to achieve in the home. A more realistic goal is to create a fish tank which will only require the introduction of additional water to keep the levels up.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Plastic glass
  • Hand saw
  • Brine shrimp
  • Algae
  • Aquatic plants
  • Aquarium gravel
  • Aquarium decorations
  • Terracotta pots
  • Fish
  • Litmus paper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Rinse aquarium gravel with clean tap water to remove dust and other debris to prevent the water from becoming cloudy. Cloudiness will not affect the aquarium, but will stunt personal enjoyment.

    • 2

      Fill the bottom of the aquarium with a 2-inch-thick layer of gravel. Top up the tank with clean tap water.

    • 3

      Introduce aquatic plants to the aquarium. Insert the roots below the layer of gravel. Make sure there are a large number of plants so there is sufficient food. Include algae to act as a very effective water filter. Remember this is not a decorative aquarium, but a realistic representation of the natural environment.

    • 4

      Place pieces of broken terracotta pots or other aquarium decorations to give the fish somewhere to hide.

    • 5

      Release some brine shrimp and fish into the tank. Brine shrimp, like the algae, act like a water filter and are essential for keeping the oxygen levels in the water at an optimum level. Research the fish before introduction to make sure the plants are suitable for the animals they will be feeding. Clams and snails can also be introduced to stir up the gravel, oxygenate the water and help the plants grow.

    • 6

      Leave the aquarium where it will get some indirect sunlight and not be subject to rapid temperature changes.

    • 7

      Check the pH level of the water regularly using litmus paper. Know the optimum pH level for the particular fish in your aquarium.

    • 8

      Top up the water level regularly, since there is no rainfall as there would be in nature.

    • 9

      Cut out a piece of plastic safety glass as a lid for the aquarium. This can be readily purchased at hardware shops and can be cut with a hand saw. Remember this will need to be removed so the water can be topped up.