My Walstad Method Journey: From Dream to Disaster

A personal account of discovering planted aquariums, attempting the Walstad method, and learning from costly mistakes

The Dream Begins in Trivandrum

It all started when I was in Trivandrum, Kerala for work. I wanted to have a fish tank and wanted to have fishies. I started googling about fishes and what kind of fishes I could have, which gradually led to my fascination with planted tanks.

A planted tank, also known as an aquascape, is an aquarium that features live aquatic plants as a central element, alongside fish or other aquatic animals. These tanks aim to mimic natural aquatic environments, with the plants serving both aesthetic and functional purposes—they produce oxygen, absorb harmful chemicals, and create a stunning natural landscape.

I was literally dreaming of having such a setup, but I was staying alone in a PG in Trivandrum. I didn’t really want to have an aquarium there as I tend to move a lot, and I didn’t want fishes suffering alone. So I temporarily shelved my idea of having a planted aquarium.

The Idea Returns in Chennai

Eventually, I came back to Chennai for good as I quit the job in Kerala. That’s when my idea of having a planted fish tank resurfaced. I was literally googling about this idea—how do I set up one, what do I need, and so on.

What a Traditional Planted Aquarium Needs:

High-quality filtration system (canister filters, etc.)
CO2 injection system (pressurized or DIY)
Specialized lighting (LED grow lights with specific spectrums)
Substrate (aqua soil, gravel, sand layers)
Fertilization system (liquid fertilizers, root tabs)
Water testing kits (pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate)
Heater and thermometer
Regular maintenance tools

an example of a planted aquarium

All these require quite a bit of money and tons of maintenance. I know myself—I would put an insane amount of effort to make something or set up something, but when it comes to maintenance, I would do it but wouldn’t spend much time on it. So I was kind of disappointed that I couldn’t set up a planted aquarium.

But my curiosity and interest didn’t fade away. I kept digging for alternative solutions.

Discovering the Walstad Method

That’s when I discovered the Walstad Method for planted aquariums. This was my eureka moment!

What is the Walstad Method?

The Walstad Method, developed by Diana Walstad, is a natural approach to planted aquariums that mimics nature’s own systems:

No CO2 injection required - Plants get CO2 from fish waste and organic decomposition
Minimal filtration - Usually just a simple sponge filter or even no filter
Natural substrate - Garden soil capped with sand or gravel
Low-tech lighting - Standard LED lights, no special spectrum required
Minimal maintenance - Nature does most of the work
Biological balance - Plants, fish, and beneficial bacteria work together

Why is it Tricky?

The Walstad method is deceptively simple but requires careful attention to:

Soil selection - Wrong soil can cause ammonia spikes or cloudiness
Plant-to-fish ratio - Must be heavily planted to work properly
Cycling period - Tanks need weeks to establish proper bacterial colonies
Water parameters - Initial period can be unstable
Patience - Rushing the process often leads to failure

I was like, “Damn, this is perfect! This is what I need.” The next few weeks, I would just watch a lot of videos and read Reddit posts on how to get this thing set up.

Planning My Ideal Setup

I had a clear vision of what I wanted my Walstad tank to look like:

My Dream Walstad Tank Features:

Natural driftwood creating caves and hiding spots
Dense carpeting plants in the foreground
Tall background plants creating depth
Peaceful community fish like tetras or rasboras
Colorful shrimp adding movement and interest
Natural rock formations for additional hardscape
Soft, warm lighting creating a cozy atmosphere

The Shopping and Preparation Phase

Then I bought the things for it: a clear fish tank which was around 2 feet, drift wood for decoration, a simple motor for filter, light for plants, and other essentials.

my tank setup from start to finish

The Soil Challenge

The toughest part was going to the local garden shop to get sand, soil, and fertilizer. In India, the things suggested by Walstad weren’t available, so I had to research a lot on what fertilizer I should get. I even made a Reddit post to get suggestions, which landed me on this mix:

15% vermicompost (for nutrients)
30-40% cocopeat (for structure and water retention)
Rest regular potting soil (base growing medium)

The Sand Cleaning Nightmare

The most painful thing I caused myself was cleaning the sand. I had to clean it well for the water to stay clear since I bought cheap, uncleaned river sand. I spent literally half a day cleaning this sand—my back broke and my hands became sore. Then I had to boil it to make sure it had no harmful things that could affect plants or any living things inside.

Lesson learned: Invest in pre-washed aquarium sand. The few extra rupees are worth saving your back and sanity!

preparation of soil of sand

Plant Selection and Setup

I bought plants that have low requirements for CO2 and light because those work well with Walstad tanks:

My Plant List:

Sagittaria subulata (Dwarf Sag) - 3 plants for carpeting
Floscopa Scandens (Underwater Bamboo) - 3 stems for background
Limnophila Aromatica Mini - 3 stems for mid-ground color
Cryptocoryne Retrospiralis - For natural look and easy care
Various other low-tech species

some of the plants i bought

The Setup Process:

Added soil first for about 1-inch height
Carefully added 2 inches of sand on top
Let it settle for a day
Planted carefully the next day
Added water very slowly to avoid disturbing plants

The water was overall clean, and the plants mostly didn’t get uprooted. I let it cycle for a week.

First Inhabitants: The Snails

Technically, after a week, I should have been testing the water for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate content, but the test kits were expensive. So I thought I’d just wait it out and add the first inhabitants.

Mistake #1: I skipped water testing due to cost. This would come back to haunt me.

Initially, I added four nerite snails. They looked absolutely beautiful gliding across the glass and grazing on the early algae growth.

After testing whether the snails could survive for 2 more weeks (not recommended and such a bad idea!), I added shrimp. Cherry shrimp are quite sensitive to water parameters, but they seemed to be doing fine. I even added a coconut shell that I personally cut with a saw and smoothed the edges so fish or shrimp wouldn’t get hurt.

Beautiful nerite snails & Cherry Shrimp

The Fish Arrive

Since everything was alive for about a week, I added my first fish: 4 blue neon tetras. They were so adorable and tiny. The plants were also doing fine—sometimes 1 or 2 plants would get uprooted, but I would replant them again. I would watch these fish and snails roam around daily. It was beautiful.

The First Disaster: The Two-Week Absence

Then life happened. I had a function in my native place that I had to attend with my parents, so I had to abandon my Walstad tank for 2 weeks. Biggest mistake ever. I knew things could go wrong, but I couldn’t avoid this travel.

When I came back, all the plants were gone—poof! Fish obviously gone. Only some snails survived. I was heartbroken. I mean, I kind of knew this could happen, but I had some stupid blind faith.

this is how it looked after 2 week return

Lesson learned: Walstad tanks need supervision, especially in the first few months. Never leave a new setup unattended for extended periods.

Second Attempt: The Rocket Killifish

After a week of cleaning up the mess, I decided to try again. I bought a new set of plants and set them up in my tank. This time I waited for 2 weeks to make sure the plants were established before adding livestock.

Enter the Rocket Killifish

This time I bought Rocket Killifish—one of the most beautiful fish I have ever seen. When they arrived, I was literally in love. They were absolutely stunning with their torpedo-shaped bodies and vibrant colors. I bought 4 of them, plus 2 shrimp.

Again, I would spend time each day watching these fish move. It was mesmerizing. Occasionally, I would do 20-30% water changes when I noticed any algae growth, cleaning out the moss when needed.

my beautiful rocket killifish

The Slow Decline

Everything was going fine for a month until one day, one fish died. I was super worried—what happened? Why? I would examine the tank for any signs of bad water or problems, but everything looked fine.

Until it wasn’t.

Slowly, all the fish died. The shrimp too. The plants started withering away and getting uprooted one by one. It was like watching my dream slowly crumble.

The Gradual Collapse

Week 1: First fish showed signs of stress, became lethargic
Week 2: Plants started losing their vibrant green color
Week 3: Shrimp began hiding more, fish appetite decreased
Week 4: First fish death, plants getting uprooted daily
Week 5: Remaining fish showed labored breathing
Week 6: Complete system collapse

Even the hardy nerite snails that had survived the first disaster started passing away one by one.

Where I Went Wrong: The Analysis

Looking back, I can identify several critical mistakes:

Mistake #1: No Water Testing

I should have bought test kits and regularly checked the parameters of my water to understand what was happening in my tank. Water chemistry is invisible but crucial.

Mistake #2: Wrong Sand Choice

I ran out of my original sand and topped off with white sand I had bought, which was too fine. This likely prevented proper water circulation and nutrient flow from the soil to the plant roots.

Mistake #3: Impatience

I rushed the cycling process both times, not allowing the beneficial bacteria colonies to properly establish.

Mistake #4: Inadequate Research on Local Conditions

I didn’t research enough about Chennai’s water parameters and how they might affect a Walstad setup.

Mistake #5: No Backup Plan

I had no contingency plan for when things went wrong, no quarantine tank, no emergency supplies.

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Essential Equipment I Should Have Had:

Water test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH)
Proper aquarium sand (not too fine, not too coarse)
Backup filtration for emergencies
Quarantine tank for new additions
Water conditioner for water changes

Process Improvements:

Patience is key - Don’t rush the nitrogen cycle
Test before adding livestock - Every single time
Start small - Add fish gradually
Keep detailed logs - Track water parameters, feeding, changes
Have an emergency plan - Know what to do when things go wrong

The Walstad Method Reality Check:

While the Walstad method is “low-tech,” it’s not “no-tech.” It still requires:

Proper setup with correct soil and sand ratios
Adequate lighting for plants to photosynthesize
Heavy planting for biological filtration
Patience during the establishment period
Basic monitoring of water parameters

The Silver Lining

Despite the failures, this journey taught me invaluable lessons about aquarium keeping, patience, and the importance of proper research. The Walstad method can work beautifully when done correctly, but it requires respect for the natural processes involved.

My tank failures weren’t due to the method being flawed—they were due to my shortcuts, impatience, and lack of proper preparation. Each mistake was a learning opportunity that made me a better aquarist.