Complete guide
The
living
AquaBrick ecosystem
Everything you need to know about how your jar works, how to set it up and maintain it — for an underwater world that lasts.
The natural cycle
A perfect balance
with no intervention
Your AquaBrick jar works like a self-sustaining miniature aquatic ecosystem. Natural biology does all the work — not you.
Aquatic plants absorb CO₂ and release oxygen through photosynthesis. Nitrifying bacteria, invisible to the naked eye, colonise the substrate and break down organic matter. Together they keep the water permanently crystal clear.
"Nature does the work. You enjoy it."
This cycle, known as the nitrogen cycle, takes 3 to 6 weeks to fully stabilise after filling. It's a normal and necessary stage — don't worry if the water is slightly cloudy at first.
The cycle in 4 steps
Getting-started guide
Setting up your jar
step by step
Your jar arrives ready to use — the diorama is already assembled and the substrate in place. All that's left is to follow these steps to bring it to life.
Ideal parameters
Weekly maintenance
Check the water clarity, remove dead leaves, make sure the light is working. Less than 5 minutes a week.
Aquatic animals
Our clear stance
on wildlife
AquaBrick is first and foremost a living decorative object — a brick diorama in an aquatic ecosystem. Here is our position on introducing animals.
Why this stance?
A healthy aquatic animal needs a water volume suited to its species, an effective filtration system, enough swimming space and regular monitoring of parameters.
The AquaBrick jar, designed to house a brick diorama, doesn't offer these optimal conditions. Out of respect for living creatures and honesty towards our customers, we'd rather tell you clearly.
If you want an aquarium with animals, we encourage you to choose a dedicated aquarium, sized for your species and equipped with suitable filtration.
What already lives in your jar
The little stowaways
🐌 Snails — welcome surprise guests
It's not unusual to see small freshwater snails appear in your jar a few weeks after filling. Don't worry — they're perfectly normal and even beneficial!
They arrive naturally hidden on the aquatic plants, as microscopic eggs attached to the leaves or stems — completely invisible to the naked eye on delivery.
Water parameters
Monitor without
worrying
A well-balanced ecosystem is easy to monitor. In most cases, you'll never need to test the water — if it's clear and the plants are growing, all is well.
If you want to go further, a basic aquarium test kit (~€5 at a pet store) will give you all the information you need.
"If the water is clear and the plants green — all is well."
The most common sign of imbalance is a bloom of green algae. This usually indicates too much light or excess nutrients. Solution: reduce the lighting duration and do a partial water change.
Solving common problems
Jar maintenance
Keep your jar
spotless
Regular but minimal maintenance is enough to keep your AquaBrick perfectly clean and crystal clear. Here are the essential steps.
The magnetic sponge is your best ally. Slide the outer part along the glass wall while moving the inner part through the glass — without putting your hand in the water. It removes brown algae and green deposits on the walls in seconds. Use it once a week to keep a perfect view of your diorama.
Aquatic plants grow! That's a sign your ecosystem is healthy. Prune regularly with small long-handled scissors (aquascaping scissors) to stop them taking over the space. Cut close to the substrate for stem plants, or remove yellowed leaves with tweezers.
Use the built-in tap to drain 20 to 25% of the water, then top up with dechlorinated tap water. This removes accumulated nitrates and renews minerals. It takes less than 5 minutes — that's the whole point of the AquaBrick tap.
Maintenance schedule
day
week
month
year
Total per month
~30 min
For a perfectly maintained ecosystem