CHEAP AQUARIUM💰 VS EXPENSIVE AQUARIUM💰💰💰WILL IT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE?

Does having super strong lights, big filters and expensive CO2 systems really make a big difference? Or can we get the same results in a cheap aquarium? That's what we are going to find out in the third twinscape experiment! Cheap aquarium vs expensive aquarium!
Previous experiments:
Aquasoil vs Dirt • AQUASOIL VS DIRT
CO2 vs no CO2 • CO2 vs NO CO2 experiment
DIY CO2 VIDEO: • HOW TO: Make a long la...
Everything I'm using for this project:
HIGH BUDGET TANK
TANK: 36p rimless optic white tank
(US) amzn.to/37M97h3
(EU) amzn.to/3k0uhO5
LIGHT: Skylight AQI 40
bit.ly/3rrFwnZ
FILTER: Dennerle Scapers Flow
(US) amzn.to/3AKak50
(EU) amzn.to/3slWGC1
CO2: Strideways Pro Regulator
(US) amzn.to/3AWKnjQ
(EU) www.azaqua.nl/co2-systemen/st...
DIFFUSER
(US) amzn.to/3t0Unoc
(EU) amzn.to/3BQUDJE
AQUASOIL
(US) amzn.to/2WVLoZR
(EU) amzn.to/3DWT92o
LOW BUDGET TANK
LIGHT: Twinstar 30b
(US) amzn.to/3J2pExV
(EU) amzn.to/3Hslj73
FILTER: cheap internal filter
(US) amzn.to/3gkGsE8
(EU) amzn.to/3oqUSHn
POND SOIL
(US) amzn.to/3EWBqbd
(EU) amzn.to/3D2iRSl
SHRIMP GRAVEL BLACK
(US) amzn.to/3CUcrER
(EU) amzn.to/3BStnu8
ROCKS
amzn.to/38KAJDN
WOOD
amzn.to/3DVAowz
GLUE (gel)
(US) amzn.to/3wsl1rU
(EU) amzn.to/308joUp
GLUE (liquid)
(US) amzn.to/3ofpKJZ
(EU) amzn.to/3EVDYGA
FULL PLANT LIST:
Foreground
- Micranthemum tweediei (MONTE CARLO)
- Marsilea hirsuta
Midground
- Vesicularia ferriei
- Hygrophila lancea Araguaia
- Micranthemum umbrosum
Background
- Rotala rotundifolia Orange Juice
- Ludwigia repens
Floating plants
- Phyllanthus fluitans
All plants are from Dennerleplants
0:00 - Intro
1:41 - Tanks
2:45 - High budget light
3:35 - Low budget light
6:00 - Substrate
10:55 - Planting
16:45 - High budget filter
17:30 - Low budget filter
17:41 - Low budget CO2 system
19:50 - High budget CO2 system
25:40 - Total cost

[@MJAquascaping]

Are you Team High budget or Team Low budget? 😎 Also don't forget to smash that like button! Everything I'm using for this project: HIGH BUDGET TANK TANK: 36p rimless optic white tank (US) amzn.to/37M97h3 (EU) amzn.to/3k0uhO5 LIGHT: Skylight AQI 40 bit.ly/3rrFwnZ FILTER: Dennerle Scapers Flow (US) amzn.to/3AKak50 (EU) amzn.to/3slWGC1 CO2: Strideways Pro Regulator (US) amzn.to/3AWKnjQ (EU) www.azaqua.nl/co2-systemen/st... DIFFUSER (US) amzn.to/3t0Unoc (EU) amzn.to/3BQUDJE AQUASOIL (US) amzn.to/2WVLoZR (EU) amzn.to/3DWT92o LOW BUDGET TANK LIGHT: Twinstar 30b (US) amzn.to/3J2pExV (EU) amzn.to/3Hslj73 FILTER: cheap internal filter (US) amzn.to/3gkGsE8 (EU) amzn.to/3oqUSHn POND SOIL (US) amzn.to/3EWBqbd (EU) amzn.to/3D2iRSl SHRIMP GRAVEL BLACK (US) amzn.to/3CUcrER (EU) amzn.to/3BStnu8 ROCKS amzn.to/38KAJDN WOOD amzn.to/3DVAowz GLUE (gel) (US) amzn.to/3wsl1rU (EU) amzn.to/308joUp GLUE (liquid) (US) amzn.to/3ofpKJZ (EU) amzn.to/3EVDYGA

[@bigben8369]

I'm team low budget! I expect it will grow somewhat slower, tho with CO2 and fertilizer it should do fine. Will you be adding the guppies again?

[@ineedadab]

The solution is mineral water bru lol. Still need to give that diy CO2 a try one day.

[@divir.m.4712]

You forgot the heater. 😁

[@volley1414]

I wonder/worry about the DIY system because I don’t want to accidentally pump too much in especially at night when high budget Co2 systems turn off at night Becuase the plants are not consuming it.

[@youtubeviewer9523]

Honestly, high budget is nice, but if done well, it can be really rewarding to not spend a lot and still have a beautiful aquascape

[@sunaymukherjee7576]

The low budget tank is 1/4 of the high budget tank . I would consider a win for the low budget tank even if it fills in half as well as the high budget tank!

[@HarbourPoland]

I'm watching this and have no words to describe how professional your are in delivering to us all these excellent comparisons. Absolutely brilliant work. Hats off, I bow to your commitment, keep on doing this kind of extraordinary stuff.

[@tugbatas8330]

This was so relaxing to watch, with a cup of coffee in my hand while the sun is shining here in germany. Great saturday❤

[@maarten8155]

Really Nice experiment, Defenitly looking forward to see the differences especially between the lights. Also if someone were to built a similar low budget tank with a hardscape I would go for wood and lava rock because it’s relatively lightweight and thus cheap per kg.

[@maarten8155]

@@omkaringalgi what do you mean why the emojis?

[@arunmanivannan1362]

The amount of work you had to put in this video, hats off man👏👏

[@ikanpari24]

watching you doing work and explaining them is really enjoyable

[@BlueDrift]

Im loving these comparison videos, Can't wait for the results.

[@teenagescaper6753]

Great vid, would love to see ferts vs no ferts

[@igormysen4296]

Thank you for the video! Always exciting to watch your experiments! Keep it up ;)

[@almahi316]

I just love this type of comparison videos .

[@jeevandewee]

Brilliant experiment! Looking forward to seeing the results. I’m on team high budget mainly because of the light. But I hope for good results in the low budget tank. Great video again Mark!

[@madhatterjones4781]

Keep up the cool side by side experiments. It's great content

[@jamesrissler]

Great video MJ - can’t wait to see the end results!

[@lehenedoru4441]

Hey MJ, I just discovered your channel recently and I like the fact that you do these kinds of experiments.

[@hendywijaya3213]

Yeah saves us time and money.. I'll never skip an ad on this channel, I promise..

[@Lazarusthefishboy]

Awesome video MJ! Both tanks look amazing! Internal filters can be great, especially if you cover them with background plants. Can't wait to see how this goes! A great idea man. Let's go Team Low Budget!!! 😎👌

[@andyp1964]

So glad you have done this ,since re starting the hobby I was wondering is there much difference

[@ObsidianFPV]

Love your videos man. they just keep getting better and better.

[@June-jh7vj]

love to see this kind of experiment, i'll wait for the update. Greetings From Philippines

[@brandonpheiffer5881]

Excellent content, as always!!

[@xXIronSwanXx]

The video we've been all waiting waiting for!

[@marchellep7692]

Enjoying the videos. I have the same problem when I set up my tank with aqua soil - floaters. I am using your recipe on the DIY CO2 system and it works!!!

[@jojocool555]

Loving this channel. x

[@timieboy15]

Nice MJ! Really like these projects!!

[@MJAquascaping]

Glad you like them!

[@amirhamja7724]

Looking forward for upcoming videos of this series

[@leesapollo]

Great video. Great experiment. Great new hair cut.

[@kngharv]

really enjoy your two-tank-experiment series. I can't wait to see the result. a small suggestion for your NEXT experiment: proper LED light versus CFL light (a lot of people swear that CFL light is better for plant growth... I wonder about that)

[@grantsh0e]

Love these videos! Many use vegetable glycerin or regular glycerin in bubble counters which is fairly easy to find. I've also heard of people using mineral oil. The important part is not to fill the oil up too high in the bubble counter that it gets into the tubing.

[@leigh161269]

another great video. i use the same sugar gelatine mix only i use a solinoid valve to turn it off with the lights and back on an hour before the lights. The yeast and sugar mix never builds enough pressure to cause any problems.

[@Aquagold.goldysingh1313]

wow .. amazing project..

[@stoneysscapes7544]

Really the most informative video you have ever uploaded and if I ever have an opportunity to help anyone interested in starting up a planted tank I will send them this video along with your Beginners guide to aquascaping !!! Good as it gets Mark and you are always finding new ways to make your channel truly deserving to be the best on You Tube 💙💚

[@MJAquascaping]

I appreciate that!

[@vikasrishi3301]

Really good experiment.. waiting for result now .. I think the costly one will have brighter colors just because of good light and substrate... and the cheaper will lack in that.. growth will be almost same.. big fan of your videos..keep going bro.

[@seththarohour1775]

I really appriciate this experiment. ><

[@Sleeper362]

I like experiments like yours because you note the things you change and the things you keep the same. You are very careful to make sure the variable you are watching remains the same (plants). I’m going to watch this one close. I believe both tanks are going to do amazingly well.

[@MissFashionGirlzz]

I really like your video’s and after I’ve found your channel a short while ago I’ve been starting to basically watch all your video’s and have found that I prefer your channel way over all the other channels about aquascaping and aquariums on yt. Keep it up! Love the no nonsense vibe and whole realness of your video’s. I do have a suggestions for a video: Could you maybe make a video about the difference CO2 makes in aquariums and what you can/can’t accomplish with/without CO2. Maybe even a twinscape aquarium style video like this. I would love yo hear your thoughts on it as I am setting up a new tank and I have never really used CO2 in my tank before and am not sure if I should. Would be great if you would make a video about it and thanks for all the great video’s you have on your channel already!!

[@MJAquascaping]

Happy to hear you are enjoying my videos! Have you seen the CO2 vs no CO2 twinscape experiment? I can definitely make another video on this topic! The thing is though that results without CO2 will be different for everybody, because a lot of it depends on water quality, light, substrate, fertilizer etc

[@TheNanoAquariumGuy]

Your DIY Co2 mix is the best. I think the low budget will do well enough to make it the better choice, though I am sure it will be slower growth, probably best for those who have multiple tanks.

[@chriscoetzer]

Great idea and video!! Is there a follow-up on this with final results and opinion?

[@karlt1987]

I stopped using aquasoil a couple of years ago. I just use plain old fine gravel and E.I dosing now. Works a treat. Aquasoil tanks do look and grow far better the first year after the initial setup, but after that you really cant tell the difference. Its nice being able to uproot plants without creating a mess. I like the fact im now able to vacuum the gravel every week when cleaning the tank, something that just wasn't possible with the aquasoil.

[@catida2767]

Do you use any root tabs or other fertilizers under the gravel?

[@karlt1987]

@@catida2767 I placed some under the Cryptocorynes when I set the tank up but never added anynore after that. Dosing via estmative index is more than enough. The plants are still taking in nutrients from their roots when you just dose the water column.

[@MrReaverSoul]

Looking forward for the result

[@martincregg]

Fantastic!

[@rickyabdullah4758]

Great experiment 👍🏻

[@BuildersBench]

nice comparison! been waiting for something like this! nice one MJ! :) keep it up! it would be interesting also to use a much cheaper option for the lights and the substrate. although i'm sure it will be difficult to secure those on your area. -a cheap chinese led light -cheapest aquasoil terra activa

[@AQUAPLANET128]

Really good comparison 😍

[@FANGSTALKERNINJAMASTER99]

I really like that shelf system.

[@loganwade8728]

Love these experiment videos. What background do you use on your tanks by the way? Can you tell a difference in the background between the two types of glass?

[@emberframe6994]

now this is an awesome experiment.

[@aguma2067]

Muy instructivos e interesantes son los experimentos de testeo.👍

[@MrDoldora]

I am all for High budget. BUT 😄, what i love about this experiment is that it will show that you can do it with low budget as well. Takes more time, more experience, but it can be done. Can't wait to see the outcome.

[@SlickNick3]

These comparison videos are fun Mark! I’m curious to see how the carpeting plants spread in the gravel. I know you’ve said before I just can’t remember, but how is your tap water hardness where you live?

[@gertinewoord1887]

I think it would be nice to see a rootgrow comparrison between various substrates.like how long the roots grow and what structure it developse.

[@Spinz002]

thank god i'm not the only one that loses their shit when your plants wont stick in the aquasoil. lol

[@malcolmmcguire2876]

Another great video nice work. Is it possible to create too much co2 with the budget system and can you dial it back?

[@MJAquascaping]

It's possible if the surrounding temperature is very hot, the yeast will work a lot faster with warmer temperatures. I don't think there is a way to dial it back

[@epsen6994]

Really cool! How is the co2 ppm in both aquariums?

[@traplordadrian7053]

Great video! So jealous with the prices you pay! In the US it’s about 2-3x more $$

[@williammcdowell6257]

Hi Mark did you check out the wattages and total lumens ref. the two lights? I don't recall Twinstar as budget. In the UK LED bulbs for domestic fittings come in between 600 to 1200 lumens for around £5 to £10 (the £ and Euro aren't that far apart currently). They have worked fine for me on small systems, though getting a good fitting can be an issue, clip-on lights, lampstands etc., can be more bother than the money saved justifies. A well designed easy fit system with very high lumens for a modestly higher price may be good value, but as you know too many lumens and not enough CO2 and algae flourishes. Not sure I am yet too convinced about the PAR issue, most light spectrums seem to work for me.

[@FrogieFishOfficial]

I had a very low ph for the first month in my dirtied tank at home (ph 5) as it contained a lot of sphagnum. This created a lot of plant melt. But since then the tank had been incredibly stable. I’m assuming you will do a lot of water change to keep the ph balanced.

[@adrianapomatto1614]

The low-budget Co2 system is awesome lol! Holy moly

[@heisei1984]

Hi Mark, thanks for all the videos, love them very much, and learned a lot from you. Till now I never tried CO2 tank, but I am encouraged by you to try CO2, however I don't know which CO2 system should I use, CO2ART or Strideways, CO2ART is a very sound system, I see lots of people like it, but I saw that you used Strideways Pro CO2 regulator in this video too, I really love the look of the strideways, so my question is what do you think of those two? Any recommendations are appreciated! Have a good day!

[@rec0n3r]

As you are/were a chef, the use of gelatin to slow the yeast reaction probably came naturally... but i think its an amazing insight!

[@shakergt81]

MJ can you do one on liquid ferts please. Differnt ones what works well and what does not

[@homegeographic5351]

hope you read this and consider. i and many ppl doubt about the light. many times we buy lights and find out is not enough W or lumens, but that doant mean its true, ppl start with easiest answer: "light" and is the most expensive. later they find out is potasium or lastly iron or whatevr. cuz ppl recomend by default, lumens or W per liter. but light is not disolved in water behind the pland or on the sides, is difused by it. the deeper the less light it gets what about if i got a 50 cm tall tank , but i got a bonzai or a high scape? and have problems thoes plants that are high to the light? ppl still say is not enough, but in reality is the distance from light, thats more important. so i recomand to make a video with 1 or 2 tanks where you compare same plant on different heights in the tank, like on the floor, in the middle and high, like lets say 10cm between them, and with the same light. and maybe in another tank use a cheep light, and maybe different parameters. the info from this expermient can be very valuable, cuz if plants are healthy everything can be in equilibrium. we dont need to find out what its the most important factor in an healty acuarium, cuz evrything is, but how to make it better and take advantage of each scenario, cuz all our tanks are different

[@przypadkowyakwarysta496]

Super.

[@JC_303]

My gut feeling is that is too much pond soil for such a small tank, I would have brushed it away from the glass edges too. Looking forward to the results but it's obvious the more money you spend on equipment the better a scape will be. Walstad low tech is definitely the best style for a first aquarium/beginner. Good luck!

[@JustCallMePCra]

Mj I use mineral oil in my bubble counter. Have yet to have any issues!

[@DKLordByron]

it will be exciting to follow the development.😃 you should test philips wiz bulb. I use one over my bowl and the plants thrive really well. the bulb costs only 12 euros

[@underthecherrytree22]

Whats's the plan with additional ferts? Are you going to dose both or just the high budget tank? Perhaps this would be a great tank to test DIY powdered ferts (cheap) vs pre-mixed liquid ferts (ADA or Masterline), or save that for the next experiment ;)

[@MJAquascaping]

For now I'm just going to dose both with the same amount of liquid ferts

[@apss5736]

Awesome

[@hannajun7269]

Generally how many bubble per second does you diy co2 create? I'm so inspired and want to try! But I read some diffusers won't work unless it gets at least 3-4 bubbles per second

[@engcustodio]

Oi, adorei seus videos, mesmo eu não falando inglês perfeitamente consigo entender. Eu acho que você poderia fazer um vídeo comparando itens DIY com itens industriais. Tipo de solo eu vi que não fez diferença, e iluminação DIY?

[@coldrenfar3014]

One of my local aquarist use vape liquid for the bubble counter, and i believe you are correct about the glycerin since one of the component in the vape liquid is glycerin iirc. Owh good experiment btw, enjoy watching it.

[@MJAquascaping]

Great tip!

[@ros7754]

Considering the short roots of the monte carlo, i would expect it to do better in the aquarium substrate, at least in the start when the roots are still in the gravel

[@williammcdowell6257]

Heathy plants both aquatic and terrestrial prioritise their roots, so I wouldn't be surprised if the difference is not significant, if the gravel were two or three times deeper, yes you would be spot on, but Walstad always has stressed a shallow gravel layer, I've doubled it to three to four inches, most plants cope, but there may be a week or two delay as you suggest, a good price to pay for more biological activity in the base of the tank, the big benefit of deeper substrate, especially if a tank is set up to last years not months.

[@mindme6904]

I use mineral oil in my bubble counters. The bubbles are easier to count because they move slower, and it never evaporates.

[@full_metal2452]

Excellent

[@MJAquascaping]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@mauchu7]

I've watched a lot of MD fish tanks, I guess as long as you know your plants and their needs, then you can still grow plants successfully even in low budget setup. As long as you keep your expectations in check so as not to compare growth rate of high tech system.

[@crazydude172]

For the bubble counter liquid, i believe its just mineral oil. It does not evaporate, works well.

[@khanshakeb7983]

Can I use organic manure as a base substrate and capping it with river sand because I want a highly planted aquascape ?

[@Jasmin-vq2ur]

Hi there, MJ. So I recently bought a grow light to use in my planted tank. It's 5600K with lumens of 8K and PAR of 135. Is it enough to make my red plants red or should I add another one? Thanks in advance. Cheers.

[@jessicarubio1085]

I’m “Team Low Budget” for now. I like more hands on for right now. I’m pretty new to the hobby as well, so I know it’s for sure a learning process. But that’s the best part for me.

[@daijoubu4529]

On camera, the color rendering on the cheap light looks better lol, the green and reds pops out more

[@zak9472]

Wish you used something like flood lights on the cheap one, because for the same price or even less it will provide much more PAR (photosynthetic active radiation). Please switch them to cheap flood light or something better. the experiment would be perfect.

[@davebuchanan9761]

cant wait to see the out come, what root tabs are you using, thanks

[@MJAquascaping]

Masterline root caps

[@davebuchanan9761]

thanks!!

[@timellis9293]

Wish you would have used the same substrate on both. I think doing low budget should have been the less expensive tank, light and no CO2. The big budget should have been with all the bells and whistles. Love your videos man. Look forward to seeing new ones every week.

[@williammcdowell6257]

Completely get your point if thinking purely scientifically, ref. fancy lights and filter and pressurised CO2,. Mark's prices ref. substrate seem to actually understate the difference between baked pellets and pond soil and as already established in previous experiment, soil with gravel (Walstad method works great and has many advantages) Walstad does not even use low fertiliser high clay pond soil, she uses ordinary potting compost, as have I, with great success.

[@ruudvoeten]

Great experiment. I heard you say you pay 80 Euro on 2 kg co2. Draft beer also neem co2. When you buy your co2 from a drinkstore 2 kg tank is about 25 Euro and 120 Eiro statiegeld dont know in English.

[@vasifhuseynov8243]

Neo soil or tropical which the best soil ?

[@tharinduchandrasiri5156]

wht do you do for a living??

[@andyp1964]

Currently have two low budget tanks on a dry start day 16

[@asier2001]

Great experiment! You should use salts for fertilization in order to make more real the experiment. Or this could be your next experiment... Salts vs comercial fertilizers Regards

[@MattMarcio]

did you make a frosted sticker on the background of this aquariums ? thanks

[@MJAquascaping]

Yes i did!

[@delvinreyes7281]

I made a diy co2 system around 4 days ago and it’s seems like my diffuser only comes out from 1 spot and very small amount

[@oscargallardo8889]

This is awesome as always. I like the low budget now. What do You tink about "full spectrum" pink lights that now we can find now in wish for a low cost?

[@MJAquascaping]

I have no idea, never seen or tried them actually. But I wouldn't be to happy having pink light above my tanks 😁

[@oscargallardo8889]

@@MJAquascaping thats rigr i wanna try yo Start an emersed culture. But i don't know if it's efective (for the low cost)

[@almahi316]

To dissolve DIY co2 better place co2 under the internal filter or attach the co2 with internal filter

[@lxix1067]

You can use a co2 paintball tank for a budget co2 system!

[@alanmorrison470]

I’m planning a build just now and I’ll be combining high and low cost. The tank and substrate will be high and the light and co2 on a budget. I’ll then spend more in a year on lights and co2 and have the budget items for another setup.

[@ZiluqFAT]

would be cool to do a brand vs brand after this, something like dennerle soil vs ada soil.

[@williammcdowell6257]

Perhaps, but I suspect the difference is minimal, never found any difference in the impact of one brand of terrestrial soil against another so long as alkaline, acidic and high and low nutrient is taken into consideration. Aquatic plants are from an evolutionary point of view merely terrestrial plants that have migrated into the more challenging lower CO2 environment of water and had to compete with algae.

[@lianshorts4355]

Low budget but in the long run that high budget surely wins 😄 Nice experiment 👍🏼

[@williammcdowell6257]

Why? Never found a high cost dog food led to a longer living dog or that branded drugs work better than unbranded despite costing 20-50 times the price. Cheap wine gets people equally as drunk as expensive, taste, not that is different point. Big brand of Ibuprofen got themselves in a lot of legal trouble recently.

[@lianshorts4355]

@@williammcdowell6257 sir we’re talking about Aquascape here I’m not a fan of high tech or expensive tanks but that is the truth expensive equipment last long

[@JustCallMePCra]

Mj would mixing seachem fluorite black sand and some neo soil be ok?

[@MJAquascaping]

Yep should be fine

[@rahuldon7543]

Why you dont use hand on back filter

[@idkman7483]

is it not too much soil (the dirt) imo less is more

[@DRaquascapes]

When adding tabs again in the soil through the gravel (you'll need to after about 6 months) its difficult to not release potentially terrible stuff from the soil into the water column. Capping soil or aquasoil is a temporary thing..eventually the nutrients will be depleted and no way to get the nutrients back in without breaking the cap.

[@mellie4174]

What if you just drain out the water, put the tabs in, replace any cap, and then put the water and fish back in