This video documents the construction and evolution of a custom-built, bi-level aquarium designed to facilitate and observe the natural climbing behavior of aquatic animals. The project begins with building a uniquely shaped glass tank and sculpting a waterfall hardscape from large stones, which are modified with a chisel and supported by a carved expanding foam scaffold. After overcoming initial leaks with epoxy and silicone, the tank is filled and planted, creating two distinct but interconnected ecosystems.
The aquarium is sequentially stocked with various species, starting with colorful Neocaridina shrimp and snails, followed by minnows, a gourami, and hillstream loaches (catfish). The central observation is the successful, voluntary migration of both shrimp and catfish from the lower basin to the upper basin by climbing the waterfall. The video concludes by showcasing the developed ecosystem, where different species inhabit and traverse both levels, creating a complex, multi-story environment.
A Multi-Level Aquarium Ecosystem: Construction and Observation
0:00 Project Inception: Inspired by shrimp climbing against water flow, the creator decides to build a custom bi-level aquarium with a waterfall to house animals with similar instincts.
1:26 Hardscape Construction: A retaining wall and waterfall are built using large gray stones. To manage weight, the creator chisels the main rock and uses expanding foam as a lightweight structural base, carving it to fit.
4:08 Sealing and Setup: The rock structure is secured with epoxy. An initial water test reveals leaks through the foam, which are then sealed with silicone. A substrate of garden soil capped with sand is added to both levels.
5:56 First Water Flow: The system is filled, and the pump is activated. The waterfall functions as designed, creating a gentle flow between the upper and lower basins.
6:37 Initial Stocking: The tank is planted with various mosses and aquatic plants. Seven different colored shrimp and some snails are added to the lower basin to begin populating the ecosystem.
8:31 Successful Shrimp Migration: A shrimp is observed having climbed the waterfall to the upper basin unassisted, confirming the premise of the experiment.
10:41 Predator Introduction: As the ecosystem matures and microfauna develops, White Cloud Mountain Minnows are added to the upper basin as a predator. The shrimp continue to thrive and reproduce.
12:11 Long-Term Challenges: The creator notes that the limestone hardscape raises water hardness over time, requiring periodic water changes to maintain stability, which makes the system less hands-off than desired.
14:19 New Species Introduced: A sparkling gourami and several hillstream loaches (described as catfish) are added to the now lush upper basin to combat algae.
16:24 Catfish Migration: The creator films at night and successfully captures footage of a catfish climbing the waterfall, demonstrating that the behavior is not unique to shrimp.
17:27 A Thriving Ecosystem: The video concludes by showing the mature, interconnected two-level system where various creatures have found their niche, successfully migrating between the "floors" of the habitat.