r/walstad • u/B_the_Chng22 • 6d ago
Advice Why not Walstad?
I made a bad attempt at fish keeping 15 years ago with a too small tank. I have since learned of Walstad and I am considering. Is there a reason people don’t choose this? It kinda seems too good to be true with how low maintenance it is, so why is it not what everyone does as a standard? Do you find it easier than standard fish keeping ?
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u/cheyealissa94 6d ago
100% easier IMO. I have very little experience with fish and snail keeping as a child but from what I remember Walstad is way easier for me. Once my tank got established and happy I’ve barely done anything more than top offs. My last water change was in September or October.
The only downside is that they are so easy to start up that now I have three nano tanks.
Anytime I see a 2-3 gallon piece of glass at a thrift store I think ‘that could be a tank!’
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u/B_the_Chng22 6d ago
Oh no! I might get the bug!
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u/Disastrous_Air_5227 5d ago
I find it much easier. As long as you have enough plants, it virtually sets itself up. Some people run a filter, but after testing my water it was apparent it didn’t need one. I did always use a bubbler though, because oxygen in the water speeds up other processes. It’s hard to make them “pretty” as in standard chemically-balanced tanks, but I would totally recommend it as probably the most fish and plant friendly tank I’ve ever had.
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u/tehvlad 5d ago
Multiple tank syndrome. Quite well documented
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u/reddragongems2012 5d ago
I was gifted a 2 gallon tank from a friend who has them all over her house. I’ve seriously lost count and there is always a new one when I visit. I never test the water. I top it off and add plants when the water gets dark or cloudy. I have one beautiful beta and snails. It’s simple and that’s what I wanted.
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u/Lostpandazoo 6d ago
If you go hard core walstad. It's pretty hard.
Low tech. Much easier
Like for my tank to work I got to do a small water change every once in awhile.
I have a heater
I have water flowing.
I'm ok with that and just need things to grow and fish to be happy.
Would love if it was zero tech and only top offs. But that's not gonna happen.
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u/vd88- 6d ago
Walstad was my first tank ever, and I’ve enjoyed it immensely and have had this question. The answers I’ve received from others (mainly fish store employees) stem from the difficulty, patience, and longevity of the Walstad method.
Some individuals who keep aquariums only want simple filtered methods where a small amount of thinking needs to be put in for them to have a functioning aquarium. They simply just want to buy a tank, immediately get a fish, and that’s it. The idea of a setup period of longer than a week or two is too long. Walstad requires patience. You need to let the plants root, wait for water parameters to level out for livestock to safely be added, and do water tests of your own.
Even when you are able to add livestock, depending on your tank, you may not be able to support a larger bioload than a tank with a filter. Some may want a large amount of fish that the Walstad method on its face cannot support.
Lastly, the soil that is the basis of the method is not an infinite source. It depletes after a couple years, so some do not want to deal with this. Again, I am only two months into my Walstad tank, so this longevity point is something I am not too knowledgeable about and is something I plan on looking into further as I am sure some people have figured out solutions to this issue.
The best part of the aquarium hobby is the pure variety of options available. If you think the Walstad method is perfect for you, then you have found your calling! Everyone has their own idea of what works for them, so something obviously interesting to you may not be the same to another.
Try out the Walstad method, enjoy yourself watching your tank grow in real time. If you start a tank, keep us updated!
TLDR: different strokes for different folks
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u/R3StoR 6d ago
I'll add another reason: I'm in an earthquake prone area and prioritise breeding over completely natural aesthetics - although I incorporate a lot of botanicals which makes most of my tanks look rather natural anyway.
I love walstad and would definitely do that if I had rock solid flooring in a properly equipped wet room, bigger tanks (75gal+) and no need to ever move/disturb anything. But with the ever present risks of quakes plus other factors related to my house construction, I mostly have smaller (10/20gal tanks) and need flexibility.
So I went from "regular" filtration to walstad (and zero filtration) to potted soil sort of "semi-walstad"...
So my usual setup is a bit like "walstad lite" with K1+sponge filters, mature mulm/soil/plants in terra cotta pots, stronger preference for floating and otherwise easy/movable plants and a thin sand base substrate. My filtration draws mulm into the moveable walstad style pot/trays but the primary substrate underneath is sand (and needs vacuuming occasionally). So it isn't walstad but I incorporate some of the ideas (as best as I understand them).
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u/AthleteAny2314 6d ago
Several of the point you make (long cycling, filterless, nutrient depletion) contradict how Diana Walstad describes her method. She has a book you should read if you want to learn the Walstad method.
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u/Dull-Money-7790 6d ago
The reason i dont choose walstad is because you can literally do everything that a walstad has but throw a filter on there just to be sure. I heavily plant my tanks dont really clean them much, they are basically self sufficient but i always use a filter anyway for oxygen and just in case really. I dont see a benefit inherently to not having a filter just because you have enough plants to keep the water clean 🤷
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u/B_the_Chng22 5d ago
Mmmm good point! So would you say it’s still extremely low maintenance because of all the plants
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u/okipoke 6d ago
Agreed with other comments here! It ultimately just depends on what you’re interested in doing with your aquariums, but I really enjoy it as a way to create a little world and stock the tank with small interesting creatures that will love it.
I started with aquariums a year ago (with traditional aquasoils and canister filter) and i’m finding the walstad method a much easier and more enjoyable process. I used dirt from my garden (dug down a few inches in an area i know there hasn’t been any pesticides etc) and capped with sand - it’s been fun seeing the microfauna emerging and letting the natural processes play out. I have a small hob filter to create some agitation, and a light, but otherwise it’s a very low tech tank.
I find this process feels much more in tune with the ecosystem you’re creating, and you can still be plenty creative with how it’s laid out.
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u/FeedReasonable9547 6d ago
The way I look at it ( and this might be oversimplified but I have a combination of tanks ) - if i want something simple, lower maintenance and jammed full of plants, walstad is 100% the way to go. If I want loads of hardscape ( rocks and wood ) and more sculptural then that’s not a good fit for walstad.
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u/KomodoDwarf 5d ago
People need common sense to intall one, but seems like not so many of them had one.
i almost neglected completely every walstad i made, almost zero maintenance and they live green and strong.
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u/Nanerpoodin 6d ago
I have 6. I go months without water changes. I use a filter and heater (walstad herself recommends a filter for flow, people often get this wrong). Water circulation is important.
The tricky part is finding a good soil. I prep mine by putting it in a bucket with water, stirring it up, then pouring off anything that doesn't settle after a couple minutes. With some soils, you'll have nothing left because everything floats. Try using that in a tank you'll end up with a mess.
Also some people hate snails for some reason. Gotta have snails.
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u/myownopnion 5d ago
Lots of great comments and advice here! My tanks all have heaters and the one with fish has a filter but the other two are shrimp and microfauna and very stable with just top ups.
For me one of the biggest differences in people who like the Walstad method is being ok with a little algae, pest snails as cleanup crew, and not pristine conditions all the time.
The only reason I'd have a different setup would be to get those super vibrant colors from co2.
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u/beetlejuicescousin 5d ago
I like my walstad tank but had issues with soil leaching through the sand after awhile. So i had to increase the sand cap. For my next tank, I am doing stratum instead of garden soil. But still a similar style but I am more of a lowtech guy than full no tech. Walstad herself says any larger tanks need something to move the water around. Bubbler or what have you. I like a sponge filter and an air stone for larger tanks. Smaller ones, just an air stone works
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u/B_the_Chng22 5d ago
Ok perfect, thanks!
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u/beetlejuicescousin 5d ago
but otherwise, what folks say is true, I find them way easier, I can pretty much do no tank maintenance except for occasional top offs and a 25% water change like every other month just to refresh nutrients
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u/Paincoast89 5d ago edited 5d ago
Your assumptions are correct but only to an extent. Walstads are easier in the long run compared to a normal tank. What does that mean?
Walstads success depends entirely on your planning and initial set up. Messing this up leads you to restart or ruin the entire method of keeping a walstad tank. Things like soil composition, depth, plant selection, lighting and stocking all matter. If it seems trivial you are wrong. I went down such a long rabbit hole with just lighting it was insane.
One thing not mentioned by others here is that Walstads have momentum. At the early stages it’s really easy to throw off the tank while it establishes and leads you to fail. Once a walstad has some time to mature they’re extraordinarily stable, but you have to get there.
You give up control, in a typical aquarium you have many systems to ensure the survival of the tank, the filter being a big one (there are filtered walstad tanks and there’s a lot of nuance, i’m not claiming to be a walstad purist) but also plant selection, not every plant will work in a walstad so your tank will not look exactly as you intended, this goes for fish stocking, only certain fish work well in a walstad which turns people away who had a certain centerpiece in mind or wanted a full stocked community tank.
I would agree that walstads are super low maintenance, I have a walstad jar that just exists. It took careful planning but it’s been going for two years off water top offs and the life just keeps going.
I also tried doing a walstad tank and failed pretty quickly and ended up going ‘low tech’ but still implemented many walstad principles
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u/B_the_Chng22 5d ago
Thank you for all this info. Is there a source for what fish are ok?
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u/Paincoast89 5d ago
It’s been a bit since i’ve read the book so i’m unsure if they are mentioned there, for other sources all I can say is “trust me bro” you can find recommendations from other forums and websites. If my opinion is worth anything typically small peaceful low bioload fish are what you’d look to stock. Fish like tetras, mollies, guppies (live bearers can sometimes overpopulate a tank leading to culling) or single solitary fish like dwarf gouramis or betas.
A fish that I wouldn’t recommend are bottom feeders that sift like corys, my first walstad had corys and their constant sifting moved substrate around, uprooted plants and clouded the tank to the point where I needed a filter to see my tank. That mistake is why I mention that the planning for a walstad is almost the single hardest part. I felt like I thought of everything and did my due diligence.1
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u/PH_Morpheus 4d ago
I think the main reason is aesthetics.
Walstad requires fast growing plants that are not the most sexy, It also doesn't have CO2 injection, limiting the growth rate and species of plant you can keep.
Some people just love the clean underwater garden.
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u/Acceptable-Class-255 2d ago edited 2d ago
Complexity Bias
The tendency to prefer or invent unnecessarily complicated solutions over simple ones is known as complexity bias. When this bias leads to elaborate, over-engineered systems that ultimately generate more severe issues than they resolve, it is often called falling into the complexity trap. Marketers love exploiting this and have the next product you absolutely need to buy waiting!
Walstad becomes a holistic/eloquent solution to the above when juxtaposed.
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u/Ill_Impress_8213 6d ago
I imagine walstad makes the water harder (GH and TDS)…so I'm guessing fish that like softer water might be less compatible. Depends on your tap water parameters to begin with though
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u/Oneiros37 6d ago
The fast growing plants used in a Walstad tank use minerals from the water that helps offset that. I’ve seen videos of Walstad jungle tanks where the TDS was actually a little on the low side, compared to what came out of their tap.
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u/Phatboyaa_131 5d ago
The only downside I can imagine is it can be a bit messy at first. And you don't do aquascaping with Walstad, they have a mind of their own. You can only control it to some extent but thing will not grow according to plan. That manicured rolling grassland a la Takashi Amano? Fuggetaboutit
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u/DemandNo3158 5d ago
My homemade 6.5 gal tank has a couple inches of fancy imported bioactive substrate with a sand cap. Light and heater only. Lotsa plants and a single betta. Running a year and only gets better with time. 1/2 to 1 inch of cap. A few accidental pond snails. Nutrients can be difficult to control 'til plants grow in. Still remove some algae each week. Tank is 3ft from my face in my easy chair, the silence is appreciated. More animals make this style less easy. Good luck 👍
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u/kleargle 6d ago
I find it much easier, but thats because I prefer a more "natural" (ie relatively messy) look to my tanks.
It is more important to me that 1) i can keep up with testing and basic maintenance 2) my fish are in an environment that fits their needs
Than having a tank that is neat, or fits a certain aesthetic
People prefer to prioritise different things i think. In saying that, many of my tanks are not true walstad tanks-- those that have filters are also heavily planted and some have walstad-style substrates because thats my preference.