Making a nocturnal, underground paludarium was not the plan when I set out to build a DIY fish tank rack. After carving foam into the shape of a shallow cavern with a waterfall and wild moss, I knew exactly what tropical species would be right at home inside. I never expected the aquarium section would lend itself to amphibious life, but after a year of careful adjustments it has become an (almost) self-sustaining oasis.

Follow along as the fish tank develops the natural way; with no filter, and no co2 injection.

Behind-the-scenes, sneak peaks and a Discord community:   / tanksfornothin  

Chapters:
0:00 - Opening
0:28 - Construction time
2:05 - Carving a cavern
5:20 - Introducing inverts
7:11 - 3 month society
8:28 - Wild waterfall
10:01 - Loachy personality
12:52 - Bug squad
14:23 - Upgrades
15:55 - Safe zones
17:06 - Blind and boisterous
20:00 - Water vs land
21:50 - Meet the goofballs
24:45 - Nightlife
25:27 - Watching and waiting
26:32 - Diversity = stability

Music:
Kevin MacLeod - Danse Macabre ¹
Baroque - RuneScape
We Always Thought the Future Would Be Kind of Fun - Chris Zabriskie ²
Words You Will Never Understand - C418 ³
Kitchens Are Best for Making Sound Effects - C418 ³
Axolotl - C418 ³
Mining by Moonlight - Kevin MacLeod ¹
English Country Garden - Aaron Kenny
Comfortable Mystery 1 - Kevin MacLeod ¹
Atempause - C418 ³
Black Mass - Brian Bolger
I Will Perhaps Never Meet You in Person - C418 ³
The Curious Kitten - Aaron Kenny
Drunks on Bicycles - Martin Landström
Who Cares but Me - C418 ³
Around - Modulogeek ⁴

¹ (https://incompetech.com) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
² (http://chriszabriskie.com) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
³ (https://c418.org)
⁴ (https://modulogeek.com)


The lights I used in this video: https://amzn.to/4cgjUzI
The pump I used in this video: https://amzn.to/4eERMb3
Please note that these are affiliate links which means Amazon may provide me with a small commission if you purchase either of these products.

Additional sound design by ‪@CoffeeWaffee‬
Additional illustration by Mia Moore (www.miamoore.studio)