Made to orderDesk or shelf
The Jarrarium
A complete micro ecosystem in a jar, built and seeded with live plants. I ship it anywhere in the US.
$62+ shipping
Shop · pre-orders open
Shop
Kits, local installs and merch. Everything here is a pre-order, a reservation or a request; nothing is charged on this page.
The bed through the glassShips to your door
SLESS kits
SLESS substrate kit
The SLESS substrate in ratio, measured by weight for your tank size: four mineral layers and the leaves that cross them, plus my written guide. Everything else is an optional extra, so you buy only what you need.
from $52+ shipping
- Sand cap10%
- Lava rock35%
- Volcanic ash50%
- Laterite5%
- Leaf litter3 to 10 leaves
- Guide, written by me
- Mineral ratios by dry weight.
5 gallon 16×8×10 in$52
10 gallon 20×10×12 in$81
20 gallon long 30×12×12 in$143
40 gallon breeder 36×18×16 in$256
Optional extras in the builder: hardscape, LED light, air pump, water conditioner, planting tools.
Prices do not include shipping. Shipping goes up with each item you add, and I quote it by email.
Ready to go · no glass
5 gallon standard kit
A standard 5 gallon setup, for a shrimp tank for example. Add your own glass.
- SLESS substrate kit, 5 gallon$52
- Hardscape, standard set$13
- LED light$39
- Air pump$38
- Seachem Prime$15
$157+ shipping
Made to orderLocal Deals & Aquarium Services
Central Florida only: installation, services and faster delivery.
Local deals
A local build is the installation fee for the tank size plus the materials at cost, itemized in your quote. The quote shows the exact tax and the date its prices end.
5 gallons
The Nanocube
A 5 gallon cube ecosystem: glass, the substrate system, hardscape and equipment.
$225installation + about $134 materials + the tank
10 gallons and up
Custom builds
Feature displays installed on site. Other sizes and bespoke builds are quoted on request.
Installation $250 + about $179 materials + the tank (from $36).
See the materials by tank sizeHide the materials
| Materials | 5 gal | 10 gal | 20 gal long | 30 gal | 40 gal breeder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLESS substrate kit: laterite, volcanic ash, lava rock pebbles, sand, leaf litter | $32 | $50 | $90 | $93 | $162 |
| Hardscape (wood) | $15 | $24 | $41 | $44 | $74 |
| LED light, air pump, water conditioner, thermometer | $64 | $74 | $85 | $85 | $92 |
| Rooted and hardy plants | $23 | $31 | $47 | $62 | $78 |
| Materials, about | $134 | $179 | $263 | $284 | $406 |
| + glass tank, the one you pick | from $30 | from $36 | from $80 | from $100 | from $150 |
At cost, before tax. Anything you already own and reuse comes off the price.
Specialty plants, on request
- Bucephalandra, several varieties$16.99 each
- Tiger lotus, small$19.99 each
- Red tiger lotus, small$19.99 each
- Dwarf aquarium lily, small$19.99 each
- Anubias nana 'golden' on rock$14.99 each
What a local deal includes
- I buy the materials and build the tank at your home in two visits: the setup day, then a second visit about a week later to test the water, refine, seed again and move your animals in once the water tests safe.
- Microorganism seeding, plus snails or shrimp if your fish allow it.
- Plants picked by tank size and by current stock availability.
- 10% off your first build, materials and fees.
Know moreShow less
Sized for the animals
An installed SLESS tank runs on its own when the tank fits the animals in it. Tell me which animals you keep or want and where the tank will go, and I choose the size and layout. If you have a fixed spot, tank size or equipment to keep, tell me that too and I will say what fits.
Already have a tank with animals in it?
New tank, current tank still running: I move your current tank to a temporary spot, keep it running and move your animals over once the new tank tests safe. Rebuilding your current tank into a SLESS tank: I tear it down and hold your animals in a temporary container while I rebuild it in the same glass. Either one adds an existing tank fee to the installation fee, by the size of your current tank.
Up to 20 gal$100Up to 40 gal$200Up to 100 galTBD
How a local build goes
- Your request
- My sizing reply
- Quote with photos and totals
- Tank secured
- Payment
- The two visits
Stand: the Calculator gives the water weight for a tank size. Your quote gives the stand top size and the weight rating it needs.
Aquarium services
Service visits
Separate from a build, booked one at a time and paid on their own. Service only; materials not included.
Up to 30 gal$15040 gal and up$250
What a visit includes
- A check of the tank and the animals
- Cleaning and a water change
- A microscope look at the microfauna
- A fresh microorganism and bacteria culture, with moss bits, as needed
- Aquascaping
- Relocation, with an additional charge by distance
Reserve free
Merch
Not in production yet. A reservation tells me to make a batch, and you are only charged if a run happens.
Design previewMugs, cups, custom
The Trophic Mug
My full spectrum micro ecosystem art, from microbes to fish, for mugs, cups and custom pieces. I am still making the designs.
Design previewWall and desk
Posters and mousepads
Two illustrated tank scenes: a shrimp forest and a corydoras bottom.
XXL poster
The Freshwater Aquarium Index
The most common and a few rarer organisms from the hobby and from ponds and lakes, arranged by trophic level on one XXL poster for stores, events or your wall. These are single drawings from it.
Also in development
- Anatomical postersShrimp and fish anatomy, drawn like a real field plate.
In the works
Coming soon
Reserve one and I email you when it is ready.
Design previewLogbook
The Aquarium Logbook
One book per tank: plan it, check it weekly, connect cause and effect, and keep its story.
Living decor
Bio decorations
A living wall panel that houses microfauna cultures instead of plastic plants.
Free tools
Tools and research
The tools need no account and no payment.
TANK PROFILE
Tank: 20 gal long
Substrate: SLESS
Livestock: cherry shrimp
Ask: what should I plant?
Prompt
Aquarium AI prompt kit
Fill in your tank once and get a prompt kit for Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini. You can choose to send me your answers to help me test the AI and the planner.
Early versionPlan
The Aquarium Planner
Build a tank step by step and check fish, shrimp, snails and plants against published ranges.
Measure
Aquarium Calculator
Gallons, litres, water weight and substrate for box, cylinder, hexagon, bowfront and bowl tanks.
The SUBEX report
The full 32 page report comparing commercial substrates, with its methods and limits, as a direct download through Gumroad. The fee is a citizen science contribution; the summary is free.
Download$6
"How NOT to Kill" guides
Species guides I am writing: origin, behavior, what kills them in home tanks, and breeding. Vote for the ones you want first; the votes go out with your request and set the order I write them in.
Three steps
How pre-orders work
- Add what you want
Kits, installs, merch, reservations and votes all go into one request list. It stays in this browser while you look around.
- Send the list
Your name, email and zip. A local install adds a few questions about your animals, the spot and the stand.
- I reply by email
With the final price, shipping and timing. You pay only if you agree.
To change a request, reply to my email or send a new one.