MY FAVOURITE WAY to Start a Planted Tank - Step by Step Aquascape Tutorial

[@MJAquascaping]

Everything I've used for this scape (Affiliate links) 45P Aquarium EU: bit.ly/3S3y9ht US: bit.ly/3CthyxM Twinstar Light EU: bit.ly/3SiCjTH US: bit.ly/42s2WKD LED background EU: bit.ly/46izkzE US: bit.ly/3u5rhcB APT Root tabs bit.ly/3tAQM5k USE CODE MJAQUA FOR 15% OFF Aquasoil EU: bit.ly/3qhHDt4 US: bit.ly/3Rea86F Spiderwood EU: bit.ly/3QbjC1g US: bit.ly/3X0gWHc Titan stone EU: www.wio.eco/product-page/titan-stone Use code WIOMJAQUA and get a free gift with your order! (first add the gift to your basket) US: bit.ly/3UlB6Oj (similar) Super glue Liquid EU: bit.ly/3rC0rY3 US: amzn.to/408UAqi Super glue Gel EU: amzn.to/46B3L52 US: amzn.to/3J2owwM LIQUID FERT bit.ly/3tIVFsv USE CODE MJAQUA FOR 15% OFF 🚨Watch this next!🚨 Inspiration playlist! kzbin.info/aero/PLrlvf56gZy-ipL3105SdfKsUBrMUSttoh CO2 buying guide! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnq5o6Vnrrhmqbc How to SETUP your CO2! kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4Sri2d8Z7V8aNE Simple fertilizer dosing! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5Cuc4KLgpaFjq8 👉🏻Cool Aquascaping T-shirts: mosscotton.com/ Code: mjaqua10 👉🏻15% off 2hraquarist.com with code: MJAQUA 👉🏻Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my KZbin channel: KZbin.com/mjaquascaping #plantedtank #aquascape #mjaquascaping

[@PS-io8hz]

question: how much liquid fertilizer you dose a weak???

[@aarondavies8486]

Mj have you seen the all in one outlet and inlet called the hermit it skims and inlets from the bottom its only 20 pounds on aliexpress it looks amazing but there is no videos on it any where

[@MJAquascaping]

@@aarondavies8486 can you send me a link here or to my email: [e-mail]

[@aarondavies8486]

@MJAquascaping sent you a email mate with the link and pictures for around 25 euros it's don't look bad love how it's a all in one would love to see your opinion on it thought

[@jonathankennedy2735]

Heyy MJ! Question - What type of filters do you use for your nano tanks? What did you use for this one?? Love your Videos!

[@Nakamamas]

Looks awesome. I prefer no light screen

[@N4H_Fun]

Agreed

[@MandyJane123700]

I did not know there was bucephalandra moss! There are so many plants I don't know about. Anyway, I think the background light is pretty cool, and the scape looks great.

[@JiyuuNK]

To my knowledge it's called: Plagiochilaceae sp. "Cameroon Moss"

[@dylangabrielbehjuacis6092]

can you do another review of the tank and how you select plants

[@JiyuuNK]

Love cryptocoryne nurii. The color...the pattern... 😍

[@JR127]

i think 2024 is the year you get a studio and take the hobby to the next step! 😊

[@Stwinky]

No kidding! His quality already impresses, both the cinematography and content

[@jordanteos]

Hi MJ, I love your scapes. Have you thought about doing a tour and showing all your scapes collectively? I think many people would enjoy it.

[@matthewsmith6169]

Great little set up mate, and I think off with the back light

[@justfishiness]

Thanks for the calming adventure!

[@danielmaclaren3065]

So glad you did a new dark start. I’m doing my first dark start. Been more than 1 week since I started. Glad you taught me to be patient when setting up a successful tank. Is there a discord or subreddit for your channel would love to share my results with the rest of the community

[@MJAquascaping]

Nah I don’t have a discord or anything like that. I might make one in the future if enough people are interested

[@haitch04]

Nice video, Love what you do. I prefer without backlight

[@Chinco_NL]

Uit is mooier. Prachtig project weer!

[@ruialbrecht1828]

relly like your nano aquascaping👍

[@nikolaykostishen6402]

Nice work as usual. Thanks.

[@frankvermeulen4621]

For me, "dark start" is the only way to go. It gets the biological/chemical processes started and the only algae appearing after that are easily taken care of by a couple of Otocinclus. That said, today I spotted a bit of Staghorn algae on one partical branch of wood (high up, right under the light; tank is a couple of months old). Investigation is on its way. As for the background: although I can appreciate the effect of a light colour, I always go for black myself. It just makes the fish stand out more.

[@suvinuoska]

I really like the setup as is, love the mixture of delicate leaves on the right/mid-ground and the fish selection. I assume the orange neocaridina shrimp and the two otocinclus are the only clean up crew here? With the background light on, I think the tank would look better with bushier background planting, but I prefer a strong contrast, so my inclination would be to add more red than anything 🤔 You do you, though 😄

[@docyusuf258]

What is you water change and fertilizer schedule for new tanks ?

[@dennisherrmann7263]

Hi, thank you for this tutorial. Besides the mentioned lifestock, i‘ve seen some Otocinclus. How many live in this tank? Kind regards Dennis

[@sergeiz.5815]

You can water plants outside with old water good for plants 😊

[@tokk3]

Hey MJ, what kind of table/rack/stand are you using for this tank? (Or what do you recommend?) As one of your southern neighbours, I got similar resources as you I guess? Any reasonable shops?

[@jauharibinzanidi2195]

What filter do you use for the 45p aquarium?

[@rickyabdullah4758]

Great tutorial 👍🏻

[@dhxmg]

I've never been a fan of the light screen background personally. So needless to say I prefer with the light off. Tank looks great though.

[@frankambrose7593]

Beautiful scape MJ. But prefer without the background light

[@its_mar_yon]

I prefer the light off, are you able to change color or brightness? Do you have a video on some of the other tips like, how you fill it up and drain? Some of those mechanics that’s not specific to setting up an aquascape?

[@gregwilson5910]

Beautiful tank, better with light screen off.

[@unknown-et2vs]

Can you do your next one [scape] with pearlweed as carpet?

[@MJAquascaping]

Sounds like a nightmare to maintain 🤪

[@CF-dc8wt]

Misschien kun je eens een film maken over het licht in het aquarium. Waar je op moet letten en hoeveel watt het moet zijn

[@robberends8365]

Out of curiosity, can't you just boil the spiderwood to kill the mold in it?

[@huntergreene3453]

How many fish do you have in this tank? Also I think the light screen would be better if it had color instead of just white.

[@rhondafitzpatrick1646]

I liked it without the light screen. at first I thought it looked really nice, but then as you continued to plant the tank I noticed that it was really bright, then when you did both clips, I definitely was more drawn to the one without the light screen. that is just my opinion.

[@normang3579]

🤛

[@Simon-ff5kg]

I think I would get rid of the lightscreen... seems a bit too much

[@fabianhaack5880]

On 0:40 what shelf is that.

[@KentoLeoDragon]

Bucephalandra moss! I want some. I'll pay shipping!

[@Dogicat_sus]

6:11 just boil our driftwood with water for 10 min easy

[@vasudevNirvana]

1st comment...Love from India 💚

[@alisinahussaini2669]

Hi 👋 MJ nice scape after long time you uploaded, just wana ask you that in this tank I noticed some smal things moving around at 12:40 to 12:59 it is Planaria or something else?

[@hukilausurfer]

🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@Ankescapes]

I think the plants pop out more without the lightscreen

[@HuyNguyen-rs3mb]

Do you sell a whole tank ???

[@Habits1986]

I have used lileaopsis brasiliensis several times already and I never get it to grow with such a lush green color. It always grows in dark green, sometimes, I even get red leaves... Strange...

[@sujanrai4457]

Without the light screen looks better

[@Leeu6543]

No light screen. Looks more natural, I think.

[@football-guy2]

Neon tetra worst nightmare 💀💀💀

[@waterlover]

Two horned snails would eat up that fungus right up

[@sergeiz.5815]

My friends sailboat logo is a cat 😺 she's a definitely a cat person

[@Der-Commander89]

It's a shame that you never explain how you filter your aquarium because that's a big part of making it work well. Which filter media do you use?

[@justin94431]

Is it important? I run aquarium successful without it

[@herbeenc8042]

No light background looks better to me.

[@lindapeppin2441]

I prefer it off.

[@Mike-fk9xj]

no back light is better imo

[@Frogable-xr4eu]

oggga

[@SoTypicallyMeh]

i think it’s better without the light screen.

[@joeanthony7933]

Light off

[@DokterIkanAquascape]

not my favorite way to start 😜

[@justin94431]

Why

[@ChristopherYoung-l6t]

Great little set up mate, and I think off with the back light

[@blubba666]

CO2 hanging checker? I am using it all the time..... That's is why can't get rid of BBA 😮 I just installed new (proper inside) checker and it's showing blue colour. How did you find out that this co2 checker showing false results? Did you compare all of them? If not... maybe it's good topic for your new video? Thx again for tips and tricks! Cheers!

[@Alex-rn6zm]

Really like it! I prefer without the lightscreen, the background plants come into their own this way 👌🏻 also their colours are juicier and stand out much better. Do you use APT 3? I wanna use it in my 11 month old 45P but I don’t know if there is to much potassium and iron in it, so I’m afraid of entering an algae breakout, what do you think?

[@justinwilliams7068]

I followed your dark start method on my tank, and so far it doing great!this channel has been so beneficial and inspiring for someone who just started aquascaping.

[@fuzzy_little_duckling]

Hi MJ, it seems like the lump on your betta is a tumor. Let's hope it stops growing bigger, or the fish might have to be euthanized if it looks like it's in discomfort... the betta seems happy right now though.

[@shlomithardy5734]

I think the light background is too white , I would prefer slightly dimmer with a bit of a tinted colour. Otherwise the set up is lovely. Well done.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

I always have the worst success with invitro products. It doesn't matter what brand or method I use. I find pots and even just stem cuttings from other hobbiests work 10x better. Though I've never tried a dark start. So that might actually be the secret.

[@sergeiz.5815]

Atmospheric rivers in California Bay area perfect watching KZbin on rainy days 😊

[@4loveoffish]

Do you think you can make a Hillstream loach breeding tank ? They need fast moving water and smooth rocks and some algae from high light .

[@kbye5323]

Good job! Would submerging the spider wood or even boiling it before setting up help?

[@HasaN-0686]

Also, what brand are the external filter suction and pressure pipes?

[@CheeseOnEverything]

Is there a way to maybe boil spider wood so it doesnt grow mold?

[@zorantolmacev4219]

Got a question about aquasoil. After how long do they start losing nutrients? Mine is exactly a year old and am thinking to boost it with root tabs. Any thoughts on that? Am using Dennerle Scapers Soil.

[@MJAquascaping]

Yeah I would say about a year 👍 definitely a good idea to start adding root tabs

[@FastLaneFPV]

I love yours vids. I just wish I had $200 to spend on plants 😅

[@dylangabrielbehjuacis6092]

what lily pipes do you use

[@abyss7839]

Mj i have a great idea for your next tank, get a really good looking bit of driftwood and turn it into a bonsai with the weeping moss for the leafy area

[@Krish_Dugga09]

It's looks awesome ❤

[@projectBlueGreen]

You look like Josh Hazelwood ..😅😊

[@morneschaap2944]

I'm voting for no lightscreen. Such a beautiful setup. 😊

[@Lukas-sz4mo]

Wasnt the problem that drop checker and CO2 diffusor are on the same side?

[@iemand3034]

Hi Maybe you can help me. I’ve got a small aquarium 32x32x32. Its Super Fish qubiq 30 and i think the light is not very strong. Its for my 10 yo daughter and she wants to keep there one beta. It will be a low tech aquarium. I bought a bag with Dennerle Scaper’s soil. I wanted to buy a sagittaria subulata and plant hoping to get a carpet. What i’ve seen on youtube its easy to trim. I thought that i can trim it in the front and keep longer in the back. I also have a few stones and a wood. I would love to have a christmas moss on it. And now my question. Do you think that those plants will grow well with that light and without co2 ? Or maybe you would plant some other plants? Thanks for any advice and greetings from Den Helder P.S. I love what you make. Im a big fan 😊

[@theviolentone]

im wondering the light screen can increasing temperature water? 🤔

[@Flankerivo]

Really nice, but with CO2. Pitty for me.

[@lifewithnikka7440]

It seems to me like the backscreen washes the plants out a bit at least on camera. I will assume its because of the lack of shadows. Without it, there's more contrast between light and shadow, and the colors and textures pop out to the eye much better. I think the back screen works much better on scapes with really heavy use of hardscape that still allow for shadows to add interest, or for an Iwagumi meant to depict openness and vastness. It seems to really wash out and take away from your style of Nature aquarium. Lovely set up! I've been subscribed since you were at 15k. You changed my view of aqua scaping from just something I could admire to something I can actually do. 😊

[@FEarth037]

Hey , how often u recommend water changes for newly planted tank, I am currently doing 50% water changes every alternate days

[@walterotiepka1460]

Definitely without light screen

[@danmad3098]

Hello , one off topic question. What camera and lens do you use for filming? Thank you

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Like it better without the light screen…I found it distracting from the scape.

[@moonbear897]

no light screen, looks much better without. thanks for the video.

[@endoroboto]

If there is a way to dim the backlight, I'd like to see that, but no backlight otherwise!

[@MASON_6n2]

Not a massive fan of them light screens, always thing frosted film is just enough to get a good contrast ❤️

[@yosefelijah1653]

what is that black foam called at the beginning?

[@haoo31]

What size wood is this on the buce plant website?

[@jakeawesome105]

With this tank I say without the light screen

[@samkoz2045]

I have 60cm x 35 deep x 40 tall Should i get a chihiros wrgb 2 60cm light Or Wrgb 2 pro 45cm What you think?

[@justin94431]

Go for wrgb 60 cm since 45 pro cant complete with your 60p, lighting will be heavy on middle not equally distributed

[@sergeiz.5815]

I don't see the cats anywhere?

[@marioQ4]

Can you help on how to remove that mold from plants?

[@davemac7945]

without.

[@stephenchow5161]

offf for me

[@Aquaticvibes9775]

second comment from sri lanka 🍃🌿💚

[@nathanpowell5367]

what about the issue with using aqua soil and leaching ammonia? is the 2/3 week dark start enough time for the aqua soil to go thru its phase so i can plant or?

[@justin94431]

Yes

[@GavinShort-j1x]

Hi MJ love your videos jest a bit of a silly? are you using RO water 😊

[@MJAquascaping]

Yes I am!

[@nancywaterhouse3135]

Awesome video particularly because it fits so perfectly with answering questions about how I will go about my planned new scape using the 'dark start' for the first time. I prefer the no light background... that way seems more atmospheric and more depth :)

[@F1atman]

You are truly the best man! As a new aquascaper I just love this content. I have my tank fully setup atm. An Iwagumi, and I havent filled it with water yet or planted. Just waiting for a while to be sure I’m happy with the hardscape. Then I will do just this, dark start and let it cycle. Thank you again MJ! Love your content man.

[@Harmonichavenphb]

Congratulations here from Brazil. Everything very well? You know what would be amazing? see you riding a Dutchman (45p) and explaining each step of the process and everything that went right and wrong in a few months. Explaining everything chosen lighting, substrate and plants and external filter and the weekly progress of the aquarium. what do you think? Do you accept the challenge?