Converting?
Can I convert a walstead inspired (but filtered and heated) tank to full walstead (no.heater/no filter) while it is stocked?
Full story;
I have a proper 2 gallon walstead bowl that has been running beautifully for over 1.5 years. Picture included. Stocked with 4 rasboras and mystery snails. I'm familiar with how Walstead works and the correct way to set one up. I haven't had to do a water change in 4 months, it is crystal clear and the parameters are consistently the healthiest of my three tanks. I just have to remove baby snails and trim plants periodically.
I also have a 5 gallon Wonderfactory all-in-one tank from Amazon. It has been running smoothly for about a year. It is well planted- not as dense as a walstead, but still full. There is a layer of potting soil, and capped with sand. During setup the cap broke so I capped again. You can see in the picture I wasn't worried because I was going to have a filter, heater and all that came in the set-up. I've had it stocked with a handful of rasboras, and a stowaway mystery snail.
This Friday I added some more plants and a betta. I know it is pushing the livestock boundary, and I have a place for the betta if this doesn't seem to work. However, when I got up Saturday morning both the filter and the water heater have died. They quit sometime during Friday night. To replace the filter in particular means a special filter that is compatible only found in their Amazon store, and, of course, they are out of stock.
So I wonder, can a tank that has a cycled and been designed as a filtered tank convert to a Walstead while stocked?
It has been 36 hours, all the rasboras are happy, the snail is sailing, the betta is bubble nesting. Should I just do water changes as needed and keep adding plants?
Suggestions?
Photo 1; walstead bowl
Photo 2, tank on Thursday before new plants added.
Photo 3, tank today with new plants and betta visible