Three aquariums,
in my own home.

The layout follows that fallen tree: open spaces between the branches, different layers of vegetation, and life around wood and leaves that slowly break down.

Large groups of lemon tetras, emperor tetras and hatchetfish bring movement to the open water, each occupying a different part of the water column.

The tetras move through the central spaces between the branches and vegetation, while the hatchetfish remain close to the surface. Corydoras constantly explore the lower layers, sifting through leaf litter and substrate in search of food.

Above the water, Monstera and Pothos grow out of the aquarium, drawing nutrients directly from the water. Shrimp, snails and microorganisms occupy the less visible layers of the ecosystem, processing organic matter and contributing to the system's nutrient cycles.

The tank has been running since 2023. Plants grow, populations change, and the whole thing matures a little more every year.

Inspired by the quiet, tannin-rich waters of the Orinoco basin, this Microcosmos brings a fragment of the transition between land and water indoors. Long-leaved aquatic plants, riparian vegetation, fallen leaves and wood create a layered landscape where water and land flow into one another.

In the open water, Nannostomus marginatus move gently among the vegetation. They hang almost motionless in the water, just below the surface. Closer to the substrate, Apistogramma viejita explore the spaces between leaves and wood, constantly investigating their surroundings and sifting through the fine substrate for food.

Between those layers, Ancistrus move slowly over wood, leaves and plants. Each species has its own place and behaviour in the tank.

The result: a calm, warm aquarium where something is always moving.

A network of fallen branches and roots creates a dense three-dimensional structure, while Cryptocoryne and other low-growing plants emerge from the sandy substrate, giving the aquarium the character of a submerged forest understory.

The whole should feel like those tropical forests: shaded, humid and richly layered.

Small groups of Chili Rasboras move quietly between the branches and vegetation, while blue shrimp explore the wood, leaves and substrate, grazing on biofilm and microorganisms.

This tank was started in August 2026. You can follow how it grows in the journal.