Sustainable Reefs and I decided on my setting up two 10-gal tanks for their big event in Charlotte, NC on May 2, 2026. One tank shows the standard ‘Walstad Method’ with a soil underlayer as described in my Ecology of the Planted Aquarium. The other is described in my article ‘Potted Plants for Breeding Fish,’ which is freely available here on my website. Hopefully, the plants will get somewhat established to withstand the car ride to Charlotte. Photos show the progression so far. Work in progress… I am awaiting on my local glass cutters to provide the glass lids.
The Expo organizers are wonderfully dedicated to hobbyist education via their major events, which are attended by 1,000s of people with free tickets provided to schools, universities, home-school organizations, etc. Events feature both the marine world of beautiful, cultured corals and the freshwater world of fish, shrimp, and plants. Vendors of all kinds including me and a fish veterinarian! I will have—as I did last year in Raleigh—a table for selling my books. Only this time I will also have the two tanks and can talk about their setup, plants, and their cost. Tanks will be auctioned off at the event.
Diana Walstad's Books and Articles 