A posting on the Aquatic Plant Digest about an "edible" aquarium, sounded like it might make a fun project for our nine-year-old granddaughter, Isa. I sent our daughter the recipe, as posted by Shireen Gonzaga of Baltimore, Maryland, who had found it on the newsgroup, "rec.food.recipes." Components were to include Berry-Blue Jell-O and Gummy fish. Since the APD is devoted to planted aquaria, Shireen embellished the basic recipe with suggestions of her own. These included a Grape Nuts substrate, caramel "rocks," cinnamon stick "drift-wood," and parsley "plants."

Isa decided to accept the challenge, but found the resulting "water" was too dark to see the plants and fish very well. So she and her mother decided to eat the first one and make another, using mostly clear Knox gelatin and just a little of the blue Jell-O. In the picture above, you can see the assembled ingredients as Isa pours in the substrate.

The first layer of Jell-O is designed to just cover the Grape-Nuts, so that they form a stable layer and can't float up to the surface, when more liquid is added.

Pouring the first layer.

Adding caramel candy "rocks" and cinnamon stick "drift-wood."

Another layer of Jell-O to fix the rocks and drift-wood in place.

Into the refrigerator to set the first layers of Jell-O.

The next morning, Isa planted her parsley sprigs through the Jell-O and into the substrate.

Mixing up enough Jell-O for several more layers. (Grandma offers a steadying hand with the boiling water.) In each layer, Isa put in a few Gummy fish. The fish tended to float, mostly submerged. Then back into the refrigerator went the aquarium to set each layer. Repeating the process four times, she got her fish to appear at various levels.

And voila — an edible aquarium!

Comments and suggestions may be sent to John T. Fitch , who will forward them to the appropriate project personnel.