Aquascape Tutorial: NEON TETRA Blackwater Aquarium (How To: Step By Step Fish Tank Build Guide)

[@MDFishTanks]

NEW MERCH CLICK HERE: teespring.com/en-GB/stores/md-fish-tanks Im re-doing my neon tetra blackwater aquarium. I love having a blackwater tank next to the discus, but I feel I can do much better than the previous setup. Hope you enjoy 😊 Equipment (all links affiliate): LIGHT USED: US (similar) amzn.to/2GVEGuP UK amzn.to/3hlRsiB FILTER: Filter: US amzn.to/3kO0l6K UK amzn.to/33a4Qml STAINLESS LILY PIPES: US amzn.to/2FqHpvR UK amzn.to/2RlfrnC TANK: amzn.to/2S3uGSl INDIAN ALMOND LEAVES: US amzn.to/2R6G6bh UK amzn.to/3tqm1tr CATAPPA LEAVES: US amzn.to/3xZxXG3 UK amzn.to/3uwmID3 SMALL HANG ON BACK FILTER: US amzn.to/2Mw63OO UK amzn.to/39rx3b5 NANO INTERNAL FILTER: US amzn.to/3oxGBWm UK LED FLOODLIGHTS: US amzn.to/3t6HOHD UK amzn.to/3orIdRv CANISTER FILTER: US amzn.to/3iNeVtW UK amzn.to/2Fo774a GOOSENECK CLIP ON LAMP: (similar as product is now discontinued) US amzn.to/2IlwLVA UK amzn.to/2LNat13 MINI WATER PUMP: US amzn.to/2oAmf5y UK amzn.to/2mjHDez TANKS: US amzn.to/2SOocHG UK amzn.to/2SPA24i STRIP LED LIGHT: US (similar) amzn.to/2SNgbm7 UK amzn.to/2Fn9aW1 ASTA LED LIGHT: US amzn.to/3k9EmpY UK amzn.to/3p5XUPY AQUARIUM RACKING: Shelving: US amzn.to/2SrYZ5k UK amzn.to/2GFWKJ2 AIRPUMP (FILTER SYSTEM): US amzn.to/31z8FA9 UK amzn.to/37GIoUa FILTER SPONGES: US amzn.to/3dQLUfM UK amzn.to/3dS2k7K MEDIA BAGS: US amzn.to/34Kaf2N UK amzn.to/3lAj3z1 STAINLESS LILY PIPES: US amzn.to/2FqHpvR UK amzn.to/2RlfrnC BOWL AQUARIUMS: US amzn.to/2M4FwFO Amazo UK: amzn.to/2Vx73CL HARDSCAPE AND PLANTS: www.aquariumgardens.co.uk/

[@CoralWeezer]

What kind of tree were your twigs from? And what kinds of food do you feed your shrimp?🦐

[@jorgeandpets]

I like the tanto

[@MD4UT]

What kind of setup do you use for your water changes if I may ask?

[@sugarbabie1681]

Where can I get the python attachment? I hate kicking up my plants every Sunday

[@evita1643]

MD, in this video u used your old version of filling & draining the tank. Can you link me to the video in which you explained where you got it / how to make one? Would like to give one to my husband for Christmas. Thank you!

[@bec2137]

watching this with morning coffee after finishing my last university finals of my last semester feeling like 😌😌😌😌

[@gabriellebockoras5890]

Congrats

[@suzanneh1605]

Adventures are just beginning! Well done for finishing!

[@juliab3812]

Congratulations 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@kainapplekreatures5855]

Congrats on making it through all that stress!!

[@FangAoLi]

Congratulations!

[@birdgirl8390]

I don't know why but the discs always crack me up 🤣 them side eyeing everything dad does is just 😙👌✨

[@jungminjoanne]

Every time I watch his video I can feel that he really cares for his fish not just the look of the tanks! He always treats them with caution even when moving buckets with fish in them! 😊👍

[@lenamohn9730]

Even if I wasn't interested in aquariums I'd still have to watch your videos. You always bring a smile to my face.

[@twunderaquatics1770]

You really have a natural talent for scapes. I can't never get enough of scapes. Thanks

[@LittleKingdom3]

Your videos are so underrated and just breathtaking.

[@hades8537]

Really

[@Leib33]

@Little Kingdom, who's underrating my buddy's videos? I'll slap 'em right upside their thick skulls.

[@LittleKingdom3]

@@Leib33 underrated means good.😂

[@dennisbinkhorst2039]

How come 'underrated'? MD's got 285K followers.

[@imranpatel4612]

Absolutely in love with the wood structure you made here. You never fail to impress me

[@carolebraswell982]

I always liked neon tetras, but how they look in a blackwater aquarium is AMAZING!!!

[@leecregeen234]

Been keeping fish for over 35 years I had COVID bad last year and lost some interest in my own aquarium watching your videos has made me set up my 450L display tank again planted with some tetras and other small community fish, plants and fish doing well👍

[@unCoopervised]

I’d love to see a short of just that tank with the rest of the room dark. No lights except this tank’s light. 😎

[@budiawan1784]

Komposisi kayu dimataku bagus. Terimakasih sudah membagikan pengalaman membuat Blackwater untuk tetra.

[@pedrorivera4696]

Back in the 80s, when a kid, I used to have a few tanks and actually was doing aquascapes, without realizing it by collecting rocks and sunk wood that I'd find in the rivers of Brazil, where I live. I started watching these videos as I want to setup an aquarium for my daughter and so much have changed since then, I'm fascinated with it. Really inspiring.

[@Shades1535]

This tank is so calming to me I absolutely adore it. It’s like all the neons settled down instantly when they were put in🥰

[@slummedxoxo919]

This is so relaxing to watch in the moring while smoking a joint and drinking coffee

[@AquaViva1]

The ultimate 3D background. Nice one!

[@faedoyle4147]

This is the perfect example of a snapshot of nature!! It’s just so perfect!!❤️❤️

[@sankark2835]

Hlo

[@johnpiccioli650]

Insanely nice! You are a scaping freak, so good! Love your commentary, very entertaining and informative. You are inspiring! I think I may give a black water tank a try. Thanks for sharing and keep them coming.

[@esanmarques90]

Growing up in the amazon, this tank really takes me back down memory lane .. thank you sir.

[@CrystalHempstock]

Wow, the first tank I haven't seen you put live plants in!! 🤯

[@wongweijian8800]

14:17 & 14:34 MD wasn't lying when he said "little sieve" 😂

[@graydonschilds1832]

You should get a plant growing up top so it's root system grows throughout the wood, that would be awesome. Even a potato sprout would work well and be a bit of extra help with the nitrates.

[@jennys9043]

Yes! That or some floaters of some kind. I love floaters on blackwater tanks. Idk if it’s like that in nature

[@kevinwilcox1835]

Water lettuce/cabbage: it sucks out nitrites from the tank. Got mine from local nursery/hardware store. Bonus - keeps down algae. - Careful those with covers to their tanks - doesn't like its leaves with humidity. Turbulence from filter (and air stone) should keep its growth in check. More hiding places for small fish; fry and green roughage.

[@aleon645]

When I first started watching your videos I did not like them. Idk why I can’t explain it. Now however, I really enjoy them. Outstanding job capturing the natural look of their environment. Beautiful scape

[@Raine-97]

Finished my Finals last night. Now it’s 7 am, I am making coffee and breakfast 🍳 while watching this video. Will be heading to the pet store later today to purchase my fish for my 40 gallon. So excited. Love your content, it always gives me a great start to my day. Amazing content! Keep doing you. ❤️😊

[@NikoPikoo]

Oh man I love neon-tetras! I want to have some of my own some day.

[@cSquaredFactotum]

I just love blackwater. Absolutely beautiful tank.

[@phl1psen]

I love how curious the discus are. always in the background watching :D

[@BexlarsIRL]

I absolutely adore your videos. I've never had a fish tank in my life, but it's a topic that really interests me, and you make it so accessible and fun :)

[@christopher_scott]

I think I need to do another black water tank! Maybe one day my scapes will look this good!

[@hgimmune6737]

Hiiii

[@glizzystuffer2439]

Huge fan bro

[@TheSwanbackjacks]

Love to see glowlight tetras in there . The orange would pop!

[@chalicewell5756]

He alrady has a black water tank with glowlight tetras. He post it a few weeks ago😁👍

[@rbb3316]

You are so patient so calm What a wonderful person

[@harissetiabudi9078]

new thing for me to try as a new aquascape user. thanks for the video, very motivating. greetings from Indonesia 🇮🇩

[@amx1820]

No plants!? Thought I was never gonna see that in your studios:))

[@ThePanda013]

Blackwater is like a dead decaying part of the river, that's why there non. I wish one day I can make my own blackwater aquarium 🥴

[@mufidirawan7987]

Yes he have a tank with plants

[@skrimper]

@@ThePanda013 gotta have a couple floater plants and some moss or "weedy" looking plants to really sell the still, organic river look 😉

[@johncochran5509]

Really inspirational. This looks very much like the tetras’ natural habitat. If you haven’t talked about this, I’d love to hear how you maintain a natural “cluttered” tank like this over the long haul, especially how you vacuum the substrate around all the leaf litter and sticks.

[@gunnerjonzy]

late reply, but he has said he doesn't gravel vac any of his tanks

[@skrimper]

Leaves can be removed and replaced monthly or you can let them break down. If taking them out, just vac before you put more in

[@GinaMacArt]

Hahaha... the disk fish were all lined up looking motionless and waiting for a feed maybe, while you were doing the tank. Your tanks are awesome. I used to have a 6' tank with tropical fish in my bedroom. It was so relaxing to watch them and a great way to go to sleep. 😂❤🙏🇦🇺🐨

[@philcarlino6942]

Now that’s a proper blackwater. Excellent work!

[@davidlillecrapp2960]

Great build! Where I live in Tasmania the river water is the colour of tea from the button grass and peat bogs in the high country. If I wanted to achieve this effect, I would definately go to my local creek!

[@facebookb803]

Looks awesome! I can't help but laugh at how the discus just follow him around.

[@CODHELPUS]

Just a stunning and atmospheric aquascape..keep them coming please, I copy them all the time, thanks MD

[@ilkeguvenir2775]

This is an art and you are an artist i think.

[@justinmueller6709]

"... the finner sticks..." love it xD great scape :)

[@rahulanand9937]

I have no words for you man you are outstanding I mean watching this tank it makes me spellbound.

[@nubi7652]

I love Blackwater tank because it look natural :)))))

[@MissyR2538]

I love, love, love what you did here and your enthusiasm is infectious really, you make me want to go out and buy up all this aquarium stuff and get to creating, you do awesome work, dude. Love it!😊

[@888fluffy]

i'm so jealous of that kinda mountainous looking bogwood scape, so beautiful

[@blairthompson5449]

The simplicity of this tank is stunningly beautiful

[@zaki_1337]

Could've added some black neon tetras as well. Video quality is amazing!

[@Raine-97]

I just got some a couple of weeks ago as tank mates for my male betta. I never noticed them before, but they are adorable! I have neons with my female sorority.

[@zaki_1337]

@@Raine-97 That's great!

[@SH-os1ck]

My God, why did I have to come across your channel :(..... Now I want a fish tank room!

[@ALKaorix]

Neon tetras in bucket MD: “Let’s get started so they aren’t in there for too long” Also MD: leaves them in there for 1 day till the tank cleared up. 😂❤️

[@MDFishTanks]

2 days lol. (dont worry, the water was changed about 5 times in this period with water from mature tanks. 😊)

[@zacklomax2721]

Keep it up with these naturalistic tanks! So much better than any “aquascaped” tank!

[@bettinazn4951]

It looks just magic ! You're absolutely right, if you got it, you just know where to place the stuff in order to create a special effect. Greetings from Germany

[@dennisbinkhorst2039]

Probably the best tank I've seen you do thus far. And yes, I have seen practically every video you posted.

[@-YouMeCat]

Admiration is a feeling furthest away from understanding.

[@suzanneh1605]

Love it, natural, beautiful....and I think I'd like the filter on the right side😆

[@martinkruse7675]

All I can is that I'm such a big fan of you and your channel!

[@prettyameeetrine9499]

спасибо большое за красоту и за твое умение в оформлении аквариумов.

[@mufidirawan7987]

That discus is beautiful, in my country discus is very expensive

[@KianIsANut]

Your fish tank build guides are your best videos!!!

[@grzegorzuznanski9998]

Hello. You are creating very nice aquariums. Your every project is amazing. In front of your every tank can sit down and hours by hours watching them getting full relax. I like it.

[@EuroGupper]

This reminds me of home. We have natural blackwater with white savanah sand substrates. Our people think it has healing power because of the various leafs that cause the blackwater. We have various fish that thrive in these waters and Tetras are one of those species

[@milkweeddreams8828]

All I can say is WOW, my fave so far, especially 'the release'...you got dis MD, well played...!!!

[@Army-veteran-dude36]

Awesome dude. When it comes to aqua scraping, You rock dude.

[@whirlywhirlybird7976]

Well .. you have inspired me to get into scaping!... Thanks you just cost me alot of money.. im on my 3rd tank already in 4 months! (and a few bucks on 1 of your hoodies!) haha all respects here!.. love the content keep it up! Cheers from Montana USA!

[@jay1033]

I love the scape! The neon tetras look awesome especially with that amount of tannins.

[@leviouzza9985]

When the first time i see the video is look like something else . And then when i play it wow. Its look amazing . I love your design about tank fish. Reallly naturely

[@evalouise9158]

Yessss, again, just when I need some joy your video pops up 😂

[@kevinwilcox1835]

Love it ! What I feel would make it look even better: Set up a desk lamp replicating a shaft of sunlight breaking through the overhead canopy of trees. No fear of casting any plants in the shade. Thanks for being inspiring. Love your work.

[@truthfactreality6814]

Much better md. looks more natural. Skills are coming along nicely. I’m more into biotopes too

[@philipwilkinson988]

I love your densely planted tanks but have to say this is fantastic.

[@fullborev8906]

Simply beautiful! The whole tank setup, video and music is very well done. It is very inspiring!

[@Curtis75156]

Really worked out well. Pleasantly surprised the neons "pop" as well as they do in the blackwater.

[@michaelsoliday4708]

I’ve watched literally all your videos !!

[@KittenCece]

Love the peace your videos bring

[@antisocialguy8069]

Love the way your discus is begging for attention

[@mattiaravelli2209]

That looks absolutely stunning. Was still quite unsure about black water tanks, as I really like the lush green tanks, but tbh this scape and fish combo has changed my mind hahaha

[@b.michiels9760]

I love the background full of wood, it's impressive. Great job 👏

[@keithmcgrath687]

Amazing scape and so low tech. Neons are popular for a reason; they look good and active.

[@feralon9570]

The discus just follow you around like little stalkers! lol Nice scape again, absolutely stunning.

[@lukealmighty8828]

I'm not a fan of black water tanks but that dose look amazing! How the fishes colour come out in the water really cool

[@MuhammadYasir-2526]

Wow amazing and so relaxing. Pls make HDR version of these videos.

[@luiseduardopolancomartinez7837]

Amazing blackwater tank, i think your discus feel jealous 😂

[@bassfactory5938]

Give all fish tank tour ones bro🥰🥰😄😄😄😄😄😄

[@budscroggins2632]

love re-watching this episode

[@EricLabelleUX]

Looks amazing! Nicely done! Those little guys look well at home

[@pkoppart]

Imperfect perfection - that's what nature is all about. Yet another great video mate!

[@lykersss2901]

Love your Channel and your Videos!!!

[@Rayhouse]

Nice Cora Zea music... Really blends with the end result!

[@MarksShrimpTanks]

bit late to the party but that tank was awesome!!

[@martanowaczyk6460]

I love dramatic scapes this is soo cool.

[@HAL-cp4mt]

A couple of apistogrammas in there would be so cool.

[@ethanstiles159]

best tank i’ve literally ever seen :O so amazing!! every time you top urself!

[@iJuStIn23]

MD PLEASE MAKE A CHERRY BARB TANK!!! THEY CONTRAST BEAUTIFULLY WITH REAL PLANTS AND WOULD LOOK INCREDIBLE IN ONE OF YOUR BUILDS!!! ILL NEVER GIVE UP COMMENTING THIS!!!

[@SlickNick3]

I really enjoy that hardscape! Great job!!

[@ghatfield_]

easily one of my favorites you’ve done!!

[@fishfanatic7007]

Beautiful I wish I had that ♥️. Also I think you should try and set up a pea puffer tank

[@evalouise9158]

He’s had one before!

[@fishfanatic7007]

@@evalouise9158 o thank you I am watching that video now just wondering i’m getting some and I want to know how I should skape the tank stuff like that.

[@kevinwilcox1835]

Given the impression one can simply go out to field, collect wood and put it in the aquarium: Safe woods for use in an aquarium Alder Apple Beech Birch Cherry Hawthorn Heather Oak Pear Sycamore

[@jalexoneschanel1356]

Always sanitize the wood first

[@troydowns7748]

Is this list a safe choice for leaves as well, or should I stick with the leaves he uses here?

[@lillyblomqvist3330]

Owh YES!! This scape got absolutley awesome!!

[@aquariumcockpit9949]

That Turtle hoodie though!!

[@yashborhade317]

Hey md A challenge for u Create this same Blackwater structure with all those branches and all in a small 1 foot aquarium for betta And a tip aa red full moon betta it's the best try it in your video Like guys if u like this idea and want him to do it for all betta lovers

[@vette63]

That was stunning but I kept getting drawn back to the discus tank next door. I've had salt water tanks, with all the beautiful reef colours but that discus tank was outstanding.