HOW TO Aquascape on a small budget NON-CO2 injection

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

My new Aquascaping Book available for pre-order - amzn.to/36FlCd7

[@lewiscran2474]

poor tetra 3:00 bottom left

[@Bam-Bam1]

Great budget friendly design. My wife told me she would leave me if I ever bought rocks. Now I'm single. 😎

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

😂

[@seren6696]

I live in Arizona, we have plenty rocks here🙂

[@USEDtoRule]

luckily i'm not married yet 😝

[@followchristwithme37]

You should have watched more budget friendly design before buying rocks. :)

[@AssassinGreen]

Not only are George's videos informative and knowledgeable, the cinematography is like watching a David Attenborough documentary but viewing a budget home aquarium as the subject. Brilliant! Thanks for the video as always George.

[@gr0undrush]

Think we should have set you a 'Bargain Hunt' challenge on this one and given you a budget of £100 to source everything either online or collected from nature. Maybe you or Aquarium Gardens could set it up as a competition. Everything purchased or collected with no use of old plants/substrate/equipment allowed (so as not to disadvantage those who don't have access to them).

[@tracylee4297]

Great idea!

[@boniboni4912]

Yes that would be very interesting!

[@samantha8740]

Yesssss

[@sammelyanets8781]

This video will be helpful to so many people! Those putting their feet in the water of planted scapes, those trying to save money, and those that want a low maintenance planted tank!

[@anthonyragan2696]

I envy you your skill with tweezers. When I plant with them, half the time I pull the plant up again. Love the hardscape in this tank.

[@sangeeth123gachu]

I keep the index finger on the top of the plant before releasing the tweezers. I have no idea how George is doing it either.

[@charleyedwards2121]

Anthony Ragan try chopsticks

[@boniboni4912]

Charley Edwards that’s a good alternative! As where I live none of the LFS sell that type of stuff!

[@king_fisherr]

I LOVE how this turned out. I can't wait to see what it looks like grown in.

[@nidhinchandran2121]

Can u please put another video showing the grown out version of this tank, just to c how it has grown up without CO2.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

There’s a playlist here with regular update videos - kzbin.info/aero/PLKedE6P1X5OzHvLkpRy5WEFF6gjX0U3mN

[@zaink7037]

George Farmer - really like that you respond to comments on your old vids. I have one question. I bought a new tank and soon to set it up with low tech plants. Is sand okay to use? Thanks

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Yes, but coarse sand is better than fine sand. 👍

[@GoodSamaritan1972]

@@GeorgeFarmerStudios George is really awesome in this way. He is so connected with his viewers....💖💖💖....always answers back promptly and with such sincerity. God bless...

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks 🙏

[@mattyrimmer]

Cheers george, im a student aquascaper so this is very helpful for me and my fish tank!

[@69juamex]

Excellent, good to know that we (beginners) can try something like this without investing to much money.

[@V4zz33]

Really happy to come across your videos just before buying my very first tank - micro community in about a 500L tank, I'll have fish and shrimp -, and that you're from the UK so I know that I can get the same stuff that you're using, which makes it easier to go by your recommendations. Thank you for your really good educational and entertaining videos!!!

[@uomorana71]

even on this budget aquarium the touch of the master makes all the process easy and the result is really good

[@Loricarii]

You've really got that "magic eye" for scapes. I could not see what you saw in just that hardscape. It did not speak to me at all! But with the plants it became so beautiful, and then your roots just lifted it up. I can not do this - not even a little bit! Really nice!

[@moniermalyar]

I have kept Helanthium Tenellum in my Tank without co2 and with good ferts it grows like crazy. Also carpets really well in small tanks. I don't want to be a back seat driver but I think it would be a great idea to make a video where you review your viewers' scapes as sort of "scaping inspiration" the people who submit the pictures would be fine with constructive criticism and I think that it might also be fun to see what kind of an impact you have on your audience. As I said this is just an Idea so if you don't think it'll fit your channel it's fine but I've been looking for something like this for a bit and I haven't found videos on said topic. Thanks for all the amazing content and greetings from Austria.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

That’s a great idea and something I’ve been thinking about 👍

[@upyermaw2732]

I love the idea :)

[@martijngottgens6417]

Looking out for that!

[@Robs-me6mb]

Brilliant idea!

[@kurtjohnson667]

A great way to help others. Rather than just showing us amazing scapes.

[@unitedtanksofamerica4095]

Great video, one of the things that prevent many beginners from diving (pun intended) into the planted aquascaped tank is the initial cost but you showed plenty of good budget minded options to get started until someone decided to invest more later. Let's face it most of us get bit by the aquatic plant addiction bug and soon want to try a more High-tech setup with Co2. I agree Tropica 1-2-Grow are great values for the number of plants one can get out and pest free option.

[@christianhildalgo]

This is going to come in handy... I'm getting my fifth tank saturday. Now, it will be a very precise blackwater biotope, but it does have plants...

[@JohnFormstone]

Look forward to see how this non Co2 tank develops, Great video, i'm especially interested to see how the monte carlo develops.

[@mrjesseholt]

this has to be my favourite tank i've ever seen, i wish i could pick it up and put it in my living room

[@drdoolittlefishhobbyist6055]

George I love the fact you give the aquarium sizes in both gallons and litres and as I watch a lot of aquarists videos I find it very frustrating that the americans and Canadians only ever describe their tanks in gallons even though a lot of us brits watch their vlogs. Please spread the word that it would be a great help if they explained the sizes in both gallons and litres.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks 👍

[@M0DQO-BeachMobileDx]

Another stunner from you George.. well done and you do inspire many budding aquascapers... looking forward to an update video on the budget tank progress. Thanks again!

[@TheJestermint]

I was just wondering what plants to put into my new low tech 15 gallon. Thanks for always being a fantastic source for inspiration!!

[@Robs-me6mb]

Nice video. Aquascape aside, the microphone is a great investment. Really clear sound. The video editing and music are also awesome too. Thanks for all things 'scapey'. Its going to be interesting watching this tank grow up!

[@markthorne5026]

Looking forward to seeing this tank mature. Great choice with the green neon tetras, the colours really pop against the black background

[@pc166829]

Love your video's George. I am a new starter to aquascaping at 66. Very informative.

[@robbiebatdorf8333]

Good job a budget friendly build. It applies to so much of us. Have watched a lot of your beautiful scapes as an outsider but this one pulls me in!

[@rehanahmed2573]

Excellent video George. I'm truly interested in seeing how this scape progresses. Love all your scapes!

[@paulschofield985]

Cracking job mate.. it looks spot on especially with how little it’s cost to set up.. Totally loved the video.. looking forward to the next one..

[@jeffspastime6004]

Great job George. Very interested in seeing how this does over the next few months.

[@mozzah]

Wow you really deserve more attention than this, you make amazing videos

[@cruxc4459]

I tip my hat to you sir. You are a very talented individual

[@Beregar79]

George mentioned local rocks but you can also use local driftwood and even local mosses and aquatic plants. Many aquarium plants also grow locally but might have pests so you need to quarantine and disinfect them. Alum is good and safe for disinfecting them but does very little against most algae. Cheap Aquascaping materials include BBQ Lava rocks, stove stones (usually olivine diabase for sauna), and you can also often get slate fragments free or very cheap from local yard stores/garden centres. Play sand is a decent inert substrate that can be used on its own but you can also use stuff like unscented cat litter, turface and clay based potting soils as high CEC substrates. The last one tends to float though. Cap them with a bit of cosmetic sand or gravel and it's all good.

[@GoodSamaritan1972]

You are hands down the best aquascaping channel on youtube....

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks so much. 🙏

[@bill_poth]

Wow looks so beautiful. I love your videos there really inspiring. Doing a budget tank scape is definitely going to encourage new scapers.

[@MakeilasAqua]

Love it! I remember in some of your older videos you mention how moss adds a much more mature look to an aquascape. I think for a low budget tank java moss could be bought cheaply in most shops or taken from an existing tank, and it would add another layer of complexity to the tank.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Great idea! 💚

[@karenwolfsen]

have to love those free stones! I had collected quite a few before I began my aquariums . Keep up the great work !

[@kccc1209]

Nice! I'm just getting started with aquascaping, so I'm still learning about the plants -- looking forward to seeing how this grows out.

[@tankers3656]

Loved it bud! The hardscape came out quite nicely. Looking forward to updates on this too! 👍

[@HM-lk3pq]

Another great but very important video, thanks for your time Mr. Farmer!

[@dannettepeters1507]

I could watch aquascaping videos all day long!

[@jpsutton1345]

Thanks, George. You helped me a lot setting up a low tech 29 gal. I would like to see this tank now that it has had time to grow out.

[@lloyd011721]

id love to see an update of this tank every month

[@theprivatesector9797]

I very much appreciate how you compare USD into pounds very helpful keep up the great work!

[@michaelsorensen7567]

A pound in England buys about what a dollar does in US despite conversion rates.

[@jamiedurup5308]

Nice video, like the scape... kind of expected something slightly different as it was ‘on a budget’. Would of been good to see you set yourself with a budget (£100 for example) and showing people interested in the hobby what that kind of money could get you - finding a second hand tank on Facebook or gumtree, as well as equipment, low cost DIY media and then showing locally sourcing hardscape and then value for money plants and substrate (maybe a dirted tank?). Many people are interested in aquascaping but are put off by the initial start-up costs

[@hazeld768]

Jamie Durup i was going to write this ..you have saved me the trouble. (very expensive budget tank )

[@deslejohan868]

@@hazeld768 vt4

[@boniboni4912]

I know as a broke person always on a budget this is very important, Facebook market feature has made wonders for me, found some vallisneria and hornworth for 1.50 dollars, and a 28g second hand tank very cheap as well! Rocks can be collected, wood not so much for me as I live in a desert, maybe I can take some mangrove twigs or cholla wood but nothing too fancy!

[@JanWS]

Great video. I so want to get back into the hobby again after a very long break, and your channel has been a key part of that decision and inspiration. I cant wait to see updates on this tank, so please keep us posted regularly. A very cool project, and already looking quite marvelous.

[@82TUCCI]

Thank you George, you can't see a better tutorial on planting and aquarium. Cheers

[@harristan5206]

George, you definitely have a very good knowledge of aquatics plants, love your vids keep it up !!

[@Richard-zm6pt]

It's pretty, George. I hope we get to see it as it matures. Thank you for another very helpful video. Twenty minutes well spent with my first cup of coffee this morning.

[@JtonlineInfo]

Hi George, this video & your basic hardscaping series has inspired me to 'scape my Fluval Uno 800 30x80x40cm tank that I bought some 10 years ago, and you now have another channel subscriber. I've retained the gravel and added a layer of Tropica Plant Growth Substrate underneath. I've added to the single piece of bogwood I had and have put some small rocks in too (I don't know what type 'cause the LFS just labelled them as 'rocks'). I had a T8 fluorescent in the hood, but when that failed, I fitted a SuperFish LED replacement. I don't know what light level there is at the substrate, but hopefully it's enough for the small plants without any CO2 injection. A couple of Echinodorus Amazonicus (Amazon sword) plants were all that I had and, despite only being in gravel, had grown too big for the tank so I've removed them and now have Littorella uniflora (Tropica 1.2.Grow!), Micranthemum 'Monte Carlo' (Tropica 1.2.Grow!), Cryptocoryne usteriana (Tropica pot), Ludwigia palustris (Tropica pot) and Myriophyllum mattogrossense (Tropica pot). Plants were mail order from Aquarium Gardens. They are out of stock of Evolution Aqua Complete Plant Food, so I'll look for an alternative stockist so I can start daily dosing. Fingers crossed, everything survives. :)

[@1468shasty]

Awesome video! But anyone wonder where that random one fish came from 😂😂

[@sunnycal2293]

I sure am enjoying watching you scape aquariums.

[@pochakola]

Love that your channel is getting more recognition. How long do you find yourself keeping a scape before you rescape it? Or do you constantly tinker with a scape over time Also, what is the music at the very end from 19:20 onwards

[@patriciapowers3751]

Really helpful video. I’m doing an aquascape this weekend and am quite nervous. Hope mine turns out as lovely as yours did.

[@Bokooda]

Thanks, more clear and concise information from an experienced hobbyist for us who are just starting out...

[@hammoaquatics171]

Hi George, gutted I didn't win anything on the last competition 😛but this video makes up for it. Very helpful indeed. Keep on doing what you are doing! Keep on scaping

[@sharonbendtsen2973]

I really like the scape can’t wait to see how it grows

[@JT-wv5zs]

Terrific subject matter George! Thinking of getting into aquascaping my nano tank on a budget. This vid really helps. Ta

[@nathanreynolds4759]

Wow this will help a lot with the scaping of my new tank thanks!

[@michaelkane2470]

Hey George,chatted with ya before,I’m in Saint Augustine F.Love y’all’s set up.

[@philvellacott4679]

Really looking forward to seeing this one develop...

[@rongrinter5893]

Very useful I’m going to be doing an 8 footer. Will have my work cutout.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Good luck Ron!

[@dazza3560]

Looks good, you have a way to make it look so easy! I’m very curious to see how the Monte Carlo does as I’d love to have a carpet plant in my low tech tank, tho my substrate is only sand I use root tabs. Plants generally grow well - running 2 T8’s. Look forward to see updates on your budget setup.

[@randysearle2702]

great place to start for a beginner like me! Thanks George, really enjoyed the budget series

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks Randy 👍

[@phluke1990]

Exactly the sort of video I’ve been hoping for, very much appreciated george, bit more saving and tank number 3 will appear 😀

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Great news 👍

[@danielwhitehead1562]

Thanks George really helpful, love you're videos they're so inspirational. So much so I have decided to start up my own youtube channel and I will over time build some natural aquascapes

[@JohnlynHD]

I;m watching a lot of youtube videos on aquascaping but yours are by far the best. Seen them all and some many times. A great part of this hobby is the learning process. Can I ask you a question? Are Rhododendron and Azalea harmful to use in a planted tank? I have access to Rhododendron roots. It's become invasive and the Local Authority is doing it's best to remove it. Some people suggest you don't touch Azalea or Rhododendron. I want to use it as it's free!

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thank you. Sorry, I don’t know about the plants you mention

[@JohnlynHD]

Didn't explain myself well at all in that question. What I should have said was the root of the plant as used in the hard scaping. Sorry

[@elliottfordham880]

Another great scape George second hand products from eBay always help lower the cost of the scape, great advice!

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Cheers mate 👍

[@tylersherwood7074]

You are an excellent inspiration. I love your videos, and I am now getting a 10 gallon(37.85 liter) tank. I have found some rocks to make a great iwagumi scape. Since I am on a budget, what low tech plants would you recommend?👍

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Marsilea hirsuta is an easy carpeting plant suitable for an Iwagumi 👍

[@chrisgreen1331]

Wow. Thank you George, especially after my comment on your previous video. 👍🏻

[@cichlidscape]

Great video George! Currently working on a little planted 10 gallon myself so this video really helped👍🏻

[@jump9506]

Looks great George, that's it I'm hooked again. Just when I thought I was out I'm pulled back in! I'm looking at a low maintenance tank now, internal filter would be best, non Co2, just so my two young children can't pull on hoses and pipe work, maybe a Juwel Rio Was looking at a 3 hour drive to TGM to select some rocks, wood and maybe some Aqua Soil, let's see.

[@cmaylene6787]

Wonderful, informative and your voice is so calming. Perfect! New sub!

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks so much 😊🙏

[@Dovietail]

Love this set up. Really not a fan of CO2. Really love that you repurposed both plants and equipment.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks Dovey 👍

[@gardian1701]

I love snails, I add them to every aquarium on purpose as they're good for an ecosystem 👌

[@MrBarclonista]

please do update on this tank in the future

[@ddaveriley]

Hey george ...........absolutely love your channel you come up with some nuts but wicked ideas ! my question is .....is it ok to put soil under other substrate if so what soil is best for a budget hobbyist.....thanks in advance and keep up the awesome work ...stay safe ✌😷

[@Biellushi]

Great video George, love your work!!

[@cap4882]

Thanks for this video ! This aquascape is very beautiful ! I love it !

[@droidonesx5545]

Hi George ! , nice video about budget aquascape, would be awesome if you upload the recent state of that !

[@itz_fyrez]

simple and beautiful! thank you george

[@kyrabook9556]

Been watching a few aquascapes no CO2 videos recently (Since my parents are upgrading to a 75 I expect to inherit the 10 and 29 [Not 65 unfortunately too hard to maintain for my parents cause it was too tall] gallon aquariums) and needed something affordable and easy to maintain in the 29 since I'll be off at uni and can't bring anything larger than 10. Your videos have the plant list which is a GOD-SAVE and I expect to watch many more. Subbing! (May I get the exact count of each plant so I can guestimate what to use for my own?)

[@sherrysfishroom6597]

Beautiful scape. I like the piece of driftwood. Thanks for sharing.

[@braincakez]

Really looking forward for an update on this! Thanks for the inspiration George!

[@Blackwood285]

Great aquarium! I'm trying to build a small 10-20liter test aquarium from only collected woods and rocks, plants and snails from my main tank and with sand gravel for maximum cheapness. Just installing a chinese filter and lights, seeing how it works.

[@johnmarks227]

Great job, kudos from U.S.

[@voodid]

Love ALL your videos, but this hardly seems like an "aquascape on a small budget". - That's a 200 quid tank, wish you would have really not gone the easy (expensive) route on this part of the build. - I love the beamswork

[@ernstjanbulten3174]

Hi George, love your channel and your videos!! I have a question about the rocks you picked locally.. I had a conversation with our local fish/aquascape shop and they told me not to pick rocks from outside because of the algea and bacteria on them.. Do you treat them first? Or do you just put them in straight from the outdoors? Greetz from Holland!

[@AquaApprentice]

Great video and I look forward to seeing an update on this tank.

[@leebroadbent1340]

As per usual great video and a nice little setup there! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Cheers Lee

[@elmoretingle]

Like your scape a lot but can’t help thinking how much nicer it would look with a more lively background. The black on three sides is funereal.

[@DialecticDave]

Thanks so much for this George, I didn't know about the Tropica colour grading so this will make picking plants a lot easier than my usual strategy of plonking it in and keeping my fingers crossed! As other viewers have suggested it would be great if we could send you photos of our designs for review and suggestions on how to make improvements. Lastly, previously you suggested I use Tropica substrate with Unipac Fiji sand (which I love) but I'm just wondering if you cold give me an idea of how deep I should make each layer and if there are any plants that I should avoid when using such a substrate? Thanks again for the great content!

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

1cm of Tropica substrate then minimum 4cm of gravel 👍

[@WanObi1972]

👍 keep on scaping George

[@davidthorpe6139]

Thank you! Very clear and informative.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks David

[@johnbairagi87]

awesome... and those tetras too.. love it

[@adamcrago]

George, you mentioned you will use your fertiliser in here, will you also dose liquid carbon or will it just be your plant food. Love the amazing work you do and I'm looking forward to you showing you can create something just as beautiful without the high end set up.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

No liquid carbon 👍

[@ARBAL_]

Thx for this video ;) I've 2 questions: 1. What kind of substrate was used for this Scape? 2. It's possible to see updates from this Scape in the future? I'm very interesting how Monte Carlo will grove in this environment.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Dennerle Scapers Soil. Yes.👍

[@abadatha]

I agree, because I'd like to see what happens with two carpeting plants and no CO2 injection.

[@connornewkirk2887]

Great! Appreciate a low cost scape

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks Connor 👍

[@KevinMcC_7]

Would love to see a new updated version of this!

[@ultimatefishkeeping]

Thank you, that was really good, I enjoyed that.

[@pigeonpete4193]

Hi Where do you get your rocks from ? Can i just go to the beach and get them ? Nice video by the way...

[@janinebonser9933]

Wow, stunning tank. So inspiring.