Building a House-Plant Filtered Aquarium!

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In this video, we guide you step-by-step through the process of building a houseplant-filtered aquarium! Learn how to harness the natural filtration power of houseplants to create a thriving, low-maintenance freshwater tank. We cover everything from selecting the right plants and setting up your aquarium to the benefits of natural filtration and ongoing care tips. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned aquarist, this DIY project will elevate your tank's ecosystem, keeping your fish healthy and your water crystal clear.
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[@TheYoghurt42]

Haha saying to the crayfish that messed with your scape "you're going outside with your friends" sounds like you're going to kill and bury him with all the others that climbed out lol

[@joshcanada3988]

When I'm looking for aquarium lights to grow my plants. I'm always looking for someone to say "that'll grow that pothos and shit everywhere" then I know I found a good setup! Hahahaha

[@georgiee00]

love the drilling into the wall right next to the lightswitch in the first 2min haha its not a kfs video without a little dubious safety

[@gayefanner731]

Flying in the face of danger like Aussie Bonsai Bloke, terrifies me when he gets the power tools out!! ✌️

[@OtterSC2]

What are we paying for circuit breakers for if we don't use them occasionally

[@yashtapase3821]

We all love the process when our tank changes week by week and and in months its heaven 😍❤ This is the gorgeous creek for the rainbows ❤

[@australianbiotopes4563]

I literally just got on and saw this and thought that looks familiar 🙂 You've done a great job looking after it and getting all the plants growing, but I bet you won't try yabbies again, they were fun to catch but no good for a tank 🙂

[@garageaquatics2023]

You guys did a fantastic job on this one, Jason! Cheers! ~Ron

[@australianbiotopes4563]

@@garageaquatics2023 Thanks mate! 🙂

[@garageaquatics2023]

@@australianbiotopes4563 👍🇺🇸

[@JiyuuNK]

Love your craft, Jason!

[@australianbiotopes4563]

@@JiyuuNK Thank you!

[@rrotley1]

And Jason makes it look all sooooo easy! 🙄🙄Beautiful landscape and tank.

[@kirbywilcox7950]

Stunning tank brother! Would love to see more videos like these alongside your usual content. Keep up the great work

This exact same thing happened in my saltwater tank. It had been running amazingly for over 2 years and then I got a pistol shrimp and watchman goby pair. They caused absolute CHAOS, digging under the rock work and disturbing the substrate 🤣 within a few days all my SPS corals had died and some of my LPS were having a hard time, I assume from debris being stirred up from the aged substrate causing chemistry problems and fluctuations. Well I still have the goby and shrimp to this day, I have grown to love them but they are not in my good books after killing a lot of corals I invested a lot of money I didn’t really have into! I love the wall mounted lighting and wood on this tank. It really is a beautiful feature of your living room.

[@Nflfan1287]

It was so satisfying to see the process from start to finish even with hiccups along the way. Even washing the gravel! It felt authentic to the actual tank set-up experience. Thank you for the time and effort that went into this aquarium and video!

[@juan-carlosgonzalez3738]

That idea of using driftwood to hold the lights is awesome! It made think about adding another driftwood under the light but further back and use that to grow hoya which can grow vines up to connect layers. Some hoya are like Pothos and can grow roots into the water but not spread extensively.

[@bethanysummers3377]

Love this one! Couldn't get more Aussie! Lawn mower in the background, angle grinding with no shoes, yabbies 😂 looks great! Nice to see how someone else does it using stuff from the local creeks. Love the driftwood light and create top was a great idea ❤

[@TalisaAquarist]

Beautiful tank! Natural looking tanks like this are always my favorite! 🌿

[@armata143]

Just a tip with building of the rock wall, Jason was worried that the backing bad sand could come through the rock wall when filling up. A good way to prevent that is using more geo-textile behind the rocks as a secondary barrier. Any holes at the front should be filled with aquarium safe packing foam then pushing some of the outside gravel into the expanding foam as its setting to make a permanent plug in the gaps between the rocks!

[@australianbiotopes4563]

I normally do this on my scapes with the geo fabric that is and put a better aqua soil or unwashed sand and clay mix but I didn't do it with this one because of the yabbies, if they would of dug into it it would of made more mess with the fabric, as for the expanding foam I try not to use it as if you change your mind it is stuck all over the rocks and if he changes his mind it's much easier to pull down, it did start off as an experiment with the yabbies and I personally wouldn't of chose them and you saw why, they can be a pain, it turned out well though as a low tech tank and that is what he wanted as Nick travels a lot and can be away from home for long periods, we actually went on a trip for a couple of weeks strait after and it held out ok, but yes I agree if you want it long term the black expanding foam is good and I've used it many times.

[@darrylmoore5847]

This tank is beautiful.

[@larsice9]

the main reason aquascapers don't or rarely use botanicals is that they distract from the scape in general, but with more fish oriented and biotope aquascapes gaining popularity (also thanks to enthusiasts like Jason ;) that might change over the coming years!

[@chefsteve8381]

Jason the crocodile dundee of aquariums....what a great natural looking tank....

[@afifahzulkefli2647]

This aquarium turns out so good! I hope to see more aquascaping videos soon mate. You and jason make a pretty good team 🙏🏻 I’ve also recently set up mine and i truly understand how important it is to allow for all the plants to grow in, as it will only look better over time. Mine’s only been set up for a month but I can’t stop buying and adding more plants to fill up some gaps. I need to let nature take its course. Can’t wait for an update on this 🔥

[@bookmouse2719]

It's very pretty, and the tiny critters the small fish will eat too.

[@HouseOfSass713]

Absolutely STUNNING tank!! 😍 Really inspiring!

[@carybritton4178]

Bro you realize you’re in the top 3 influencers in the aquarium community now! Your route is set my guy. Thanks from Texas for all the info and videos 🤘🏼😎

[@danielthompson3205]

Nick.. MD... And who? :D XD

[@danielthompson3205]

Aquarium Co-oP, my bad

[@otallono]

while all of the channels who actually specialize in natural aquariums don't see the light of day. I've never seen such an algae bloom in a proper no filter, no water change planted tank. You need 80% plants IN the tank not house plants and deep sand substrate to filter the water + feeding less and not letting all that food just sink to the bottom like that. Substrate is what filters the water over time, it can't do that as well when it's taken up by huge rocks, there's very little surface area left on the bottom and what is left is very shallow...

[@lisasaxon7828]

He’s a great Aussie aquarist, that’s why….😂💙 All us aussies are awesome bro

[@cheemda9252]

Uaru Joey? Dean?

[@johnjwedrall4290]

I found your channel today and subscribed to it today 👍

[@LabraaShark]

What light were you using, looks amazing

[@footagemissing]

Awesome tank mate, Jason is a legend, would love to have him scape a tank for me! Great stocking too.

[@maoufreed1684]

Yes a house plantin aquarium update.

[@mdstmouse7]

beautiful tank

[@julianaquascaped]

This looks great! Gave me some ideas for my 125 gallon turtle tank in my house that needs a makeover.

[@exhumed07]

If im using big rocks, i'll silicon a piece of plexiglass to the bottom of the tank. If you do that, make sure you seal the edge to keep sand and gravel from getting between the plexi and the glass.

[@australianbiotopes4563]

Polystyrene works well to but I found the geo fabric easier and you can then just lift it out if you change your mind, I normally have it longer and take it up behind the rocks to seperate the dirty sand from the clean and to stop the finer sand from coming out of the cracks but it was an issue with the yabbies, they would of dug into it and got caught up, but they turned out to be a pain anyway and I thought they would.

[@halo3537]

Great tank

[@hverfisgata125]

Brilliant. Love the mistakes and the long-game nature of your attitude. I hope it inspires people to be calmer about their tanks. What was your cycling process like?

[@australianbiotopes4563]

It's best to just leave it as Nick did and go through the algae outbreak until the plants grow in and then it gets better with age as you seen.

[@ianneverson5435]

Hey watching from trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 love your work

[@kurtbrutting5118]

Outstanding setup! I love the light attached to the driftwood. Beautiful! 👍👍

[@ZigsAquatics]

What lights are you using for this tank?

[@neemiaschaves805]

Awesome that's what i needed!

[@thomashart6783]

Big fan of your work mate, I'll be dropping into your shop soon for some more fish knowledge

[@jonisolis9645]

I would added some soil in the back under the sand to help feed the plants. Nice build. I love the house plants as water filters.

[@australianbiotopes4563]

With the original plan the yabbies would of dug it out but otherwise yes.

[@NoobScapeuk]

great looking tank , looks so natural

[@JiyuuNK]

I've been waiting for this one since that last podcast you did with AB 🍻

[@Anabolic_Ape]

I like your tank Nick.

[@rju8323]

You spent so much time on that nice background only to have it entirely covered with root systems from the plants :)

[@xzuhairiYT]

this look awesome nick

[@TeoMengHinMengHin]

nice root system

[@yashankit1499]

Wow tank looks really beautiful 👌 keep us updated with the progress on this fish tank

[@jeromehorn7333]

Wow. He is talented!

[@SequoiaElisabeth]

A very relatable story. I got nervous when you put the crayfish in as I knew they would dig and likely destabilize the rocks. It would be helpful to know your maintenance routine with this system, if any.

[@KC-mw9hg]

Great video very nice well dome

[@SzymonWasiak]

Amazing keep us updated with this tank progress ! best regards from Poland !

[@KC-mw9hg]

Awesome concept

[@Ishan.patel.]

The video is so tranquil I love it

[@mysinstonight]

I love crayfish so much and love the idea of making a tank for crayfish! I have a dwarf blue one right now. She's so cute! Gonna have to take your originally idea in the future

[@littlewigglemonster7691]

Brilliant tank friend

[@brunocampos5828]

What a great looking tank congrats man keep it up

[@jodip719]

This is stunning all grown in! Cant wait for mine to look like this. Also just want to say that I love your fish food. Just purchased another bag of bug buffet about 30 minutes ago. Now just have to wait for it to make its way to Iowa here in the US.

[@melwohl37]

This is beautiful 😍

[@lpoolck17]

Fantastic set up and scape. I'd consider trimming the brackets of the lights down so they look like they are more flush to the driftwood.

[@australianbiotopes4563]

Yes we thought about that and then thought it will give the plants something to grow through, otherwise it would of been done.

[@lpoolck17]

@@australianbiotopes4563 yes that would look good once it's all grown in 👍

[@fernedowns6652]

Amazing video!!

[@mikebloom6279]

I'd never paint a tank but rather put a piece of vynal (wrap) so I could take it off if repurposed the tank 🤘😆🤘

[@ronaldoconde8340]

simplesmente perfeito. parabéns!

[@themowingmentor]

Loved the Final Product mate 🐠🐟🐠🐟 Great meeting you the other week at the Fish Shop too 🤙 Love your Work 👍

[@sevcents]

Lovely

[@mikebloom6279]

I breed gambusa fish and have then in direct sun and have clear water. I put my plastic pools against the house to collect rain water as I have no gutters. In combination with free water changes I have some bulb type plants than have a good root structure for further filtration. Not sure what your yard n house look like and how much rain you get but it's something to think about and using sun light no need for electricity. I also breed frogs n toads in these same pool/ponds. I'll be converting my yard to a rain Forrest and documenting this on a KZbin channel I plan to start. Enjoy your content, later mate from sunny Florida. 🤘😆🤘

[@green_oasis]

Thanks for showing. House plant does help, however it also has to do with fish to plant ratio. If too much fish or the bigger the fish, the more water change needed. Keeping more plant still the safer option in my opinion.

[@otallono]

needs way more plants. my planted tanks will never show any sign of ammonia with zero water changes. you could have more fish than most think, but you can't feed every day. humans eat too much so they assume fish also need to eat a ton of food.

[@ZenCoryCat]

Great video!

[@Aaron-oe4yr]

yabbies will escape almost anything.

[@waynekerrgoodstyle]

Pretty cool 👍

[@TerraMagnus]

I’ve tried going down this road a few times and a few ways. And while you might stay on top of nitrogen wastes, watch your TDS just go up and up and up.

[@heyy13]

!! Scratching down that tank with your driver's license. Ah!

[@mimiaqua423]

I like how you call them yabies😂 so cute 😊

[@Worldslayer85]

Awesome Tank! From NZ

[@theatermusic87]

You mentioned that you bred all the fish that you added to the tank. Does that include the otocinclus? If you did, you should really consider putting together a video on the process because there is very very little information out there about it

[@TerraMagnus]

I own some of the Frogs & Co lids and I mostly love them. My only nit is that the lids have too much ventilation and in the wrong place for keeping frogs. Otherwise I love it. The drain, the big single door, everything.

[@CamD-py1dt]

Are you happy with the lights? Would you change anything with them? Thx

[@Be_Youthful_Robbie]

Thats a perfect setup! Gorg! I want it hahahah. Good job

[@tomisexo4707]

Great tank man! I wanted to ask how do you know if a cabinet/piece of furniture can hold the weight of an aquarium?

[@StevenBock-bh8zi]

Great Video! You should update us on how your plecos are doing (especially the L064)

[@neutronshiva2498]

How the f did the crayfish all climb out thru the glass lid and crate???

[@wuuzy1939]

Enjoyed the video and the final product. What is the size of that tank and wattage of the flood lights? Thanks

[@KeepingFishSimple]

4 foot long. 30 w

[@AniMerci]

The crayfish isn't a jerk. He's merely trying to survive. You took him out of his natural environment. You imprisoned him in a tank that you abandoned for a month.

[@GuppyDundee]

Did u have the lights on a timer . What was causing the algae blooms ? .

[@GoldCoastHinterlandWildlife]

I do recall commenting a couple months back when you uploaded a video and you said you were going to make a tank full of yabbys and plants.. i told you they're brats when it comes to tanks! Nasty things will destroy every living thing they can get their nippers on. I got a tank full of them Orange Fingered Yabbys and I tell ya, my scape is completly different then when i made it 🤣. Also I did mention you're going to need a secure lid!

[@oimeunomeevitorr]

Now an Amazonic one

[@baileysquassoni2232]

Hey mate love the tank, just wondering what lights you used as im looking at building something similar with the wood above cheers

[@wilandmel]

Yeah, I'm keen to know too.

[@katrinah6374]

What wattage are the lights please

[@christophergarza210]

A lid is always a necessity. As well as a reliable filter & led lights.

[@markfranklin8831]

Wow this is a beautiful tank setup love the natural look im surprised that the dwarf rainbows dont eat the shrimps? Thanks for sharing

[@toshyboi3997]

Hi..i think im first..Btw luv yours videos. They're very informative. The video about the shrimp that u kept in a jar was my favorite. Felt like a lil documentary. 😊😊❤

[@benh3427]

Is it the location of your tank in a drafty area next to door to the outside? Over time I found out that it's problematic .

[@garageaquatics2023]

The two of you did an awesome job on this, Nick! I would love to know what the plant is at 19:52. Looks like a Crypt? Cheers, Guys! ~Ron

[@Nigelaquaticsfish]

KFS KEEP POSTING

[@AndrewMc-he3ue]

The tank looks so natural natural I think the mix of underwater and terrestrial plants both look good and are healthy for the fish and inverts, but it's hard to create a natural look in an aquarium

[@patrickjvanhuffel]

Love it. But i do miss the pinchy dude.

[@AguaBetta]

Did you put ludwigia sedioides?!

[@aheimsvensson1573]

The crayfish probably left their premisis do to the power outtage and water turning to a toxic enviroment and surely caused them to suffacate... The algea would not explode like this if you used spongefilter with lower circulation... Hope it goes well and the canister don´t suck up your small animals and invertebrates

[@bdinkler]

how to you make the rocks safe for the fish? do you just boil the rocks?

[@Schalari]

What Kind of fertilizer can you recommend for a House-Plant filtered Aquarium with Shrimps? I´m simply using JBL Ferropol.

[@LabraaShark]

Man I know for a fact that cabinet was from gumtree

[@Anthonysstudio-pr6so]

you've gotta breed some crayfish

[@Mrturbocorona]

I love how over the years the channel has slowly become less pg as you and the fans age so weird hearing a fish youtuber swear at times haha

[@Bob-z4b]

I finally know who he looks like. Baby Theo James😂

[@diddykong7547]

Dude what brand are those flood lights? I want some for a similar scape.

[@davezizka]

What snails you put it?