Complete Care Guide
Every ecosystem includes a step-by-step guide to setting up and cycling your aquarium through its first thirty days.
Getting Started
Setting up your Vessel
Before your medaka and plants arrive, prepare their new home. Follow these steps to set up your sanctuary.
- 1.
Unpack box contents.
- 2.
Give your aquascape stones and substrate a quick rinse.
- 3.
Insert the two provided plugs into the bottom of the vessel and add the substrate.
- 4.
Follow package instructions to set up the filter unit.
- 5.
Arrange the aquascape stones according to our suggested layout or follow your own vision.
- 6.
Fill the vessel with tap water until approximately an inch from the top. Pro tip — pour the water over your palm to prevent disturbance to your aquascape.
- 7.
Add 8 drops of water conditioner and one vial of nitrifying bacteria.
- 8.
Enjoy the soothing sights and sounds of your new water garden while waiting for your inhabitants' arrival.
Before You Begin
Upon Arrival of Live Fish
Acclimate your medaka gently to their new home. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition.
- 1.
Float the sealed bag with medaka in your prepared vessel for 15 minutes.
- 2.
Add 1/4 cup of clean, dechlorinated water into the bag with the fish.
- 3.
After 15 minutes, add an additional 1/4 cup of dechlorinated water.
- 4.
Wait an additional 15 minutes, then gently net the fish out of the bag and lower them into their new home. Do not add the liquid from the shipping bag into your vessel.
Cycling your sanctuary — the first month.
The nitrogen cycle is the living heartbeat of your vessel — here is how to bring it to life.
Week 1
Setup & Acclimation
Fill the bowl with treated, dechlorinated water, arrange plants and stones, and introduce your medaka trio. Feed sparingly — a tiny pinch once daily. Remove any leftover food using the provided pipette after 2 minutes.
Week 2
The Settling
Beneficial bacteria colonize the surfaces throughout the vessel and filter pad. Water may cloud briefly — this is the cycle beginning, not a problem. Small water changes (roughly 4 cups) every few days.
Week 3
The Bloom
A bacterial bloom (fuzzy growth) may appear on substrate surfaces as the nitrogen cycle progresses. Continue light feeding and partial water changes. The ecosystem is finding its balance.
Week 4
The Balance
Water clears and stabilizes. The nitrogen cycle is established — ammonia and nitrites read zero. Your sanctuary has cycled. Welcome to equilibrium.
This guide is included with every ecosystem purchase, alongside ongoing email support. The first month is the most fragile — but with patience and following the steps outlined here, your ecosystem will find its balance. We stand behind the health of our fish with an industry-leading guarantee — if they fail to thrive at any point within the first month, we will replace them free of charge.