MY SIMPLE RECIPE FOR A BEAUTIFUL PLANTED TANK (Copy My Methods)

[@MJAquascaping]

Equipment I like to use (affiliate links) Tank US: bit.ly/3EbkdxH EU: bit.ly/3S3y9ht Light US: bit.ly/3S2WxjC EU: bit.ly/3z6R16F Filter US: bit.ly/3yxFttR EU: bit.ly/3eoYxUn Clear Filter Pipes US: bit.ly/3RsFJkT EU: bit.ly/3AL5oyv Substrate US: bit.ly/3bux8yR EU: bit.ly/3qhHDt4 Wood (similar) US: bit.ly/3VmDUJ0 EU: bit.ly/3MwgKfm Rocks (similar) US: bit.ly/3yAO7Yk EU: bit.ly/3Tn0tLX Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis parvula) US: bit.ly/3VsJIR5 Umbrella Hair Grass (Eleocharis Vivipara) US: bit.ly/3MpO9br Riccardia moss US: bit.ly/3SR3Zy9 Juncus repens US: bit.ly/3yyJjmo Crypt parva US: bit.ly/3Cs0APn Crypt lutea US: bit.ly/3yBGDo7 Crypt walkeri US: bit.ly/3rSxBzu 🚨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 👉🏻Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my KZbin channel: KZbin.com/mjaquascaping 👉🏻 Use Code ''MJAMSTERDAM'' for 10% off Fzone products #plantedtank #aquascape #mjaquascaping

[@Smiley-fw9nz]

Omg I got so excited when you said you wanna share that recipe with us, like damn, you just wanna give that to us? That shows your love for aquascaping, you actually want any aquascape to be beautiful, not just your own

[@MJAquascaping]

Of course! I want everyone to be successful with their planted tank!

[@BobbyBlue1905]

Well said.

[@leem200]

Your tanks are beautiful. I follow Father Fish dirtied tank method. Love plants. Mine is simple, got the 30 gallon free and stand for 35.00. Have a hex 45 gallon set up. It is now 6 mths old. all is good. No water changes just have to add top water. I brought my plants off Father Fish at a great price for the new tank. A little at a time. Hope to do a tank as pretty as yours. I am going slow.

[@aamry]

Super jealous of that store you showed at @4:35 We don't have anything like that near me

[@BobbyBlue1905]

You have no idea how thankful I am for this video. You answered every issue I've been facing for a couple of months now. Thank you! 🙏🏽

[@Bob_N2BOC]

I've been watching your channel for a number of months now. I really enjoyed this video, so calmly explaining what you do and what works for you, without being preachy. Excellent job! Side note.... When you share in your videos things that haven't worked out so well, it really helps me to see how even someone as obviously talented as you, can sometimes have less-than-stellar results. Keep up the good work!!

[@akashgupta8926]

I am in the process on building my live planted tank. Got the driftwood, Aqua soil, beneficial bacteria, filter sorted up! Going through the list of plants that don’t require CO2 injections. Your checklist was very helpful thank you 🙏🏼

[@Fauxkerykes]

This video is very helpful with no fluff or BS I really appreciated it

[@tombarb2864]

When you have a good recipe with good results, stick with it. 👍🏼👍🏼 thanks MJ

[@JoelDino]

That is why you have dinner plates on your rack. Thank you, Chef.

[@sivasaqua]

That's what is called a crash course on aquascaping.. spot on .. my go to aquascaper

[@jaidevsingh2913]

one of the most honest videos with correct info out on YT, very nice.

[@IMaqua]

Congrats on 100k.

[@jjjohansen13]

IM Aqua I’ve been watching one of your tank series videos and I think you are the most underrated aquarium KZbinr 😂 Keep it up❤

[@IMaqua]

@@jjjohansen13 that means a lot, thanks for compliments.

[@MJAquascaping]

Not there yet! Few more days! But thanks a lot buddy!

[@Fish186]

@@MJAquascaping I thought you had way more considering your work and quality of videos. Good luck :)

[@Anonymous-gh3wc]

Please make a video on how to add plants to a tank that already has fish and water. 😊

[@judybasco983]

Been watching for a long time but it’s just now that I realize, I haven’t subscribed… now I am officially a fan of your work 🤗

[@chrisaggie]

I've just gotten back in the planted tank hobby and your videos have been very helpful. I have an 11 gallon long on my desktop with fluvalplant 3.0 light, ada amazonia substrate, lots of wood, and CO2 injection. I'm currently having mild hair algae at the 3 week mark but am confident I can get through it. I have reduced the lights some and am doing frequent water changes.

[@salmanshaikh2316]

You are My favourite person for improving in aquascaping ❤️

[@johnreese7676]

For me this is the most useful video you have ever done.Thank you so much

[@glassyGREEN_]

I love your shelf in the background with all the tanks

[@nath9233]

Real clear, solid and easy to understand advice. 👍

[@detlefh.7090]

Hi Mark, as for the cleaning crew I decide slightly different. I opt for piano snails (Taia naticoides) which don't place eggs everywhere, don't propagate like rabbits, they graze on red algae and can be easily sold if they have grown to large numbers. As for shrimps and smaller tanks I prefer Caridina pareparensis which are cheap and robust. I find Amano shrimp too big and too active for aquariums smaller than 50 L. On to your list of necessary items you did not mention the quality of water. I advise to use water low in cabonate hardness (

[@mauricematla8379]

Nonsense just go live somewhere like i do 5 straight from the tap.

[@detlefh.7090]

@@mauricematla8379 You are very precise and very kind, thank you.

[@boebender]

I really appreciate your channel and content. Your research and consistency really shine through. Oh, I’m the guy that just spent his entire budget on everything except plants. lol. Don’t be me. On a positive note. I’m starting two tanks at the same time using the “dark start” method. So I won’t need plants for a few weeks at least. But then I can get my plant lists and plant budget together. Thanks for mentioning calcium and algae regarding seriyu stones (too late haha ordered a bunch). I read your mind and also got a bunch of black lava rock. Thanks man!!

[@MissChelle]

I’m a chef too (although now retired) and also see my projects as recipes, methods & final product. Oh & lots of lists lol❤️🇦🇺

[@normang3579]

Wow, thank you Mark. Please share your skills with us. 🤩

[@jayfuller3709]

Great video! I use Hygger lights on all my tanks. The 970 series works with my home automation system as I keep most my tanks at 60%. Most lights come back on at 100%.

[@jenpink4298]

Your tanks are always gorgeous! And I love your recipe! The only thing I go back-and-forth on is whether I want to hassle with CO2.

[@skrounst]

I think planning is extremely important. Getting equipment piecemeal is fine, as long as you don't lose track of the goal. I had a bad habit of hoarding equipment/ plants for future tanks I never built. Which now are collecting dust, and the plants are still in their pots making my other tanks look bad... I need to be better too. Speaking of plants, knowing how many plants you'll need is really important. I see A LOT of people on reddit/ forums that get like a 40 gallon breeder, fill it with aquasoil, then go to Petco and buy like four plants. You need a LOT of plants to use all the nutrients aquasoil provides. Basically half my budget for every tank is for plants.

[@BravoD1Nonly]

You my good sir are the reason I started using diy co2. And i will never change back to pressurized. It's super easy and super cheap. Lol

[@nicoletiana]

i'm currently in the works of building my 3 gal nano planted tanks.. so far, the plants i have in my tank are egeria densa and anubias nana and they're doing pretty good. can't wait to see the plants flourish in this tank and add more plants. love seeing planted tank aquascaping!!! keep up the great content!!!! you're almost at 100k!!!!

[@Scott-kk1qx]

Thank you for the substrate video. Building my new tank and went with the Fluval substrate since it’s the next best thing compared to the soil based one. I wanted to use that one but wanted to be sure what I bought would work for my setup since I’m in the USA . Love your videos! Keep up the great work. ❤

[@markpellon1]

I just came across your channel. Instantly subscribed with this video… so helpful. Thank you!

[@sanyogpolkam742]

Man this guy is so knowledgeable

[@Fauxkerykes]

This is a cool channel I'm glad I found it. I was a chef and then I was a mechanic now I work in a union (hate it)... but my passion is aquascaping and keeping fish now. It's so weird how those things change as you grow older.

[@Fauxkerykes]

I've also made all of my own homemade fertilizers.

[@jjjohansen13]

Thank so much for being so consistent making new videos❤ the quality is always amazing too😊 good luck with the new tank

[@VolCanixWorx]

This is just a suggestion based on my experience, but I built a low tech tank using naturally sourced thing like plants from the river and spring near my house. I used Google lens to identify them, took them home and quarantined them and now I have a gorgeous planted tank ❤

[@MJAquascaping]

Cool idea!

[@gianpips]

The main problem is to set up a tank in once. No chance to collect enough money to get hardscape, substrate, lights, filter, heater in a row. What I do is find 2nd hand hardware, plants and fishes on marketplaces or WA exchange groups, but it's been quite 1Y i'm waiting to set my tank up. Sorry for my English...

[@kevinpatrickburke]

I found your video very insightful with easy to follow areas that need to be considered. I had no idea of the variety of lighting available and how important it is to get it right. Thank you for the great information. Yours Kevin from Glasgow Scotland.

[@FlaviuZaquaScaper]

Having a strategy is what make you have such great result! Good information as always, people who will follow your steps will have a great aquaristic experience! Great job! P.S. I add full fertilizer dose in fresh tanks but i compensate with more water change for first 3 months 😊

[@Philobr]

I have a 450l tank with small amount of sand and rocks. It had fake plants but I want to change. This really helps.

[@dimitrijekrstic7567]

Heck yeah. If you cap a substrate with fine sand (pool filter sand doesn't contain dirt and dust so it's better) then you can avoid a lot of the algae problems caused by ammonia release from the aquasoil. Or use actual soil capped with sand. Usually people recommend 1 inch soil and 2 inches of sand to cover it

[@Twinkley1981]

Very good recipe. Yeah not too long until you hit 100k 🎉 you will soon have your play button. 👏🏼

[@MJAquascaping]

So close!

[@saifrahmanur]

@@MJAquascaping you really do deserve it and more!

[@n.c.3137]

I've just bought a new product which you may want to try if you can get it. I'm in the U.K. I just bought a 5 litre tub of Aquaforest or AF lava soil black. Seems really good 👍 It's crushed lava rock with infused soil/nutrients so you don't have to use multiple products. Can also cap with your preferred sand/gravel. You can read about it online and there's also a you tube review video with guest George Farmer. I'm looking forward to seeing how this stuff does on my next set up😁👍

[@Bieffe]

You make it sound so simple. I'm into my 10yr doing this and still no great success. Gonna keep trying.

[@TheRealEvilSink]

Keeping animals and plants in general has taught me that my senses are a really good tool. Feel things, look at them, taste the water. but the best thing is your nose, you kinda know if something is off. If it smells good, it most likely is.

[@kidonnitro]

Everything I've done on my new build if from your advice and tips thank you!!

[@Sinserg]

Good tips, of all of the points discussed, for me personally, lighting is the most important, I couldn't get the results that I was looking for without them and CO2.

[@priyankardas2668]

Really helpful tips. It's a nice step by step process to get good results indeed...sometimes the success of a recipe depends upon the skills of the chef and the experience as well...hence that would be important to consider and not turn away from the hobby upon failure...

[@HisValor]

Thank you Mark! Question: instead of spreading aqua soil all over, since there will be hard scape, can I focus it on areas where only plants will grow above? 2nd question: could I put aqua soil under a layer of gravel?

[@eliasgilmore2795]

Thanks for the tips MJ!

[@tonyfrench2574]

Excellent, coherent focus on the essentials.

[@teddonovinchi3800]

Your tanks always look amazing!!! God bless ya brother!!

[@anoobis_]

I got blue-green algae for the first time after using seiryu stone, and I only used one 1 inch of aquasoil and capped it with sand. And it's a solo betta tank too so there was barely any bioload. The algae on the stone was easy to remove, but the blue green algae on the sand started 'carpeting' so I had to rescaped the tank.

[@XBullitt16X]

I haven't used seiryu stone, but I have had a huge bloom of blue green Cyano bacteria before, it's a pain in the ass because nothing eats it, as its not algae and it grows very fast, my snails and shrimp avoid it like the plague. My 54 litre tank looked awful, it was literally covering everything, even the plants were covered and started dying because of it, smelled so bad too. I had no idea what to do, as I had cleaned everything off and did a water change, yet still it returned within a day. That was till I did some research and this channel helped me greatly. I tried a blackout treatment as a last resort, if it didn't work I would remove everything from the tank and throw out the aqua soil and start again. Nothing to lose, so I figured I may as well try this method before I did. I put a towel over the entire tank and made sure no light got in for a week and to my surprise it worked! Within about a week the Cyano bacteria started dying off and after 2 weeks it was completely gone, as if it was never there in the first place. So yeah if you ever have such issues again, I suggest reducing light and blacking it out for a few weeks. These days the tank is doing well, the Cyano bacteria didn't return and I make sure not to leave the light on for too long in the day. There has been many ups and downs I have had with this tank, hair algae which my African giant blue shrimps ate thankfully, Cyano bacteria, brown algae, dying plants and sick fish. I definitely used too much aqua soil in this tank and should have used fast growing plants haha, mistakes made and learnt from. Great channels like this have helped me learn so much about Aquariums and fishkeeping.

[@anoobis_]

@Wind of change Exactly! Nothing eats it. I even tried letting it get infested with pest snails on purpose . I haven't got any issues since I rescaped the tank tho. Its a dirted tank now with 'random' rocks I've used before. The seiryu stone is still sitting next to the tank. Im only using it as decoration for now. The shape kinda resembles the one in the movie Parasite but smaller so I guess that is its purpose now lol. I also had issues in my 54 litre but it was BBA so it was easier to take care of. The guppies and pest snails ate the ones that has detached from the driftwood and the ones that are softer. I also had to remove them with a toothbrush but they went away on their own when the tank achieved its balance. I barely have algae anymore except for my one no filter nano tank but its only green dust algae so its not bothering me that much.

[@kanaalmenno]

once my hole tank was heavily infected by blue green. i went to my local shop and i told my setup. (twin star s 80% with co2, and good substrate) . The guy told me that the combo of high light, lots of plants and c02, the plants will soak up all the nitrate and phosphate at the beginning when the bacteria cant convert to usefull nitrate yet, resulting in stalled growth of plants and a never cycled tank, and algea bloom. I tested my water and there was indeed no nitrate and phosphate to be seen. i now rescaped with my light on 35% and adding nitrate and phospate till my tank is cycled, graduatially increasing light till maybe 50-60% max. so far so good :D

[@1chriswu2]

Great video I really enjoy your experiments lately. Keep up ur hard work.

[@cwillox4253]

Big fan of yours Mark, really interesting and I always get excited when I see a new video 😊

[@calebw9752]

For me I enjoy my tank by maintaining it

[@icegypsy99]

Have always had live plants. Looking to take the tank to the next level. This vid was really helpful.

[@saifrahmanur]

I admire how informative and passionate you are about the hobby. I wish to someday curate a planted tank like yours one day. Thank you 🙏

[@geraldoyo1]

Thank you Mark!

[@cheetaraneenja2465]

I'm just getting into aqua scaping so thank you for all your advice as it's helped massively!! And to give me patience and take my time and not rush and ruin it so thank you for that! Do you have a heater in the aquariums? Room temperature here is ok for now but winter is cold .....I will start off with easy plants but I wondered if I should get a heater....? Thanks in advance!

[@ssaquascapes]

Yes! Congrats on breaking 100k man! Love your channel!

[@MJAquascaping]

Thanks so much!!

[@marielevine5624]

Excellent information. You make things make sense 😊

[@trevorvantiel453]

Mark, amazing videos. Beautiful looking aquariums. Im all in now! Thank you so much for your guidance. Can I ask you to think about doing a video on maintenance, cleaning, refilling with Co2 and planted aquarium. Love your channel.

[@4nkur]

thaks a lot... so much to learn from u.. love from india. building my first setup soon

[@eliashk5]

Very good tips. Thank you. I got a lot of knowledge from your channel 👍🏼

[@ilham4046]

very good lesson for beginners like me. thank you

[@razoolkz9868]

Excellent presentation

[@kevinnguyen4567]

For new tank You said in the video, changing the water everyday on the first week and every other day on the second week ? Aren't you suppose to let the tank cycling? Aren't you suppose to let the beneficial bacteria to developed ? Ty !

[@FoolyLiving]

What is that white scuzz that grows on red tree limbs? Is that safe?

[@mihaivulpe6007]

Complete, beautiful!!

[@tracys.6033]

And congrats on 100k!

[@robertbaker3174]

Thanks a lot! Now I will have to spend more money on those soils and CO2. I have never done the CO 2 thing but have had some success back when they had tri' phosphor T'12 bulbs! Won't tell you the fish load. It was insane but it worked. Won't ever do that again.

[@camerondurrett9769]

Great video!!! You have inspired me to make my own planted tank!

[@kayjones6498]

Bonjour ! J’aime beaucoup vos conseils 😍😍😍

[@Beelaim]

Congfrats to 100k , happy to say I was here before it :D

[@yabinuh]

Mantap keren-keren aquariumnya👍

[@tracys.6033]

MJ thank you for doing this video. Very informative. Has helped tremendously. I have 3 aquariums already. All have plants but have never done an aquascaped tank from beginning. Always set up tanks then added plants into gravel. And that's ok. But I have been inspired, by all of your videos, to try aqua soil substrate. I'm ready to start my first one. Purchased a 20 gal long. Will use nano fish only. Already have some clown killi's but I have them in another tank until this one has time to cycle at least 2 weeks and plants have time to establish roots. I have a consistent problem with fish pulling up plants in other tanks. I have tried everything! I have a question. I need to get some height in one of the back corners. I don't have enough aqua soil to accomplish this. I'm thinking of putting gravel in a mesh bag, cover bag with aqua soil, place hard scape (rocks and wood that looks like a tree trunk), then plant my plants. My concern/question is will the plants be able to grow properly in area that I am hiding the mesh bag? Thank you so much for inspiration and guidance.

[@emberframe6994]

awesome video, been learning lots for my new aquascapes. I went to a dennerle workshop yesterday, and their substrate system is much cheaper as a full system than the ADA system. but having the healthiest substrate is one of the most important things for me now.

[@MJAquascaping]

Cool! Where was this workshop?

[@darrenwicker4881]

Hey well done, great channel and videos, looking forward to seeing more 👍👍👍

[@Goldgaigar1]

Thank you for this. Great guide and very thorough.

[@cindys.4409]

Always great content and beautiful tanks!

[@tonyhind6992]

A sponge filter is all you need.

[@jwlee1059]

Very good video. Good explanation.

[@florentincioaba7989]

Bravo from Romania

[@asmmhasan734]

Thank you so much❤.You really clear everything very simply & it helped me a lot. I have a question. Should i stopped CO2 1or 2 hour before lights go off??

[@MJAquascaping]

1 hour before 😊

[@casanchez206]

Congratulations 👏👏👏👏

[@watafumx]

1:34 KZbin's automated subtitles generated "aqua sauce" instead of "aqua soil". And I think it's funny appropriate to your recipe theme :P

[@MJAquascaping]

😂

[@Skylabz604]

What is the max intensity you use for your chihiros WRGB2 ? I recently dialed it back to 55 percent because I'm noticing some plants struggling with more light despite dosing CO2 and nutrients.

[@AquaticJourneyman]

Hey, the one thing you didn't clarify was the type of water to use. I noticed in another video you said you prefer tap water over ro water but with aquasoils buffer, it confuses me. Do you use tap water to deplete the buffer and then put in fish and shrimp?

[@desertgamers6065]

Well done

[@shankaran20]

Always loved your videos. Before i saw this vide, i was assuming that you were the actor who played the faceless man in Game of Thrones. Keep up the good work.

[@i_nvade8098]

This is an expensive hobby I haven't even setup my new aquarium but this one is going to cost a lot of money.

[@rufusjean-baptiste]

Facts the cost of plants are ridiculous

[@Obama___]

@@rufusjean-baptistefr most drugs are cheaper by weight than my aquarium plants 😂😭

[@_TheRealDoe]

Don’t get into a reef tank if you think this is something😅

[@i_nvade8098]

@@_TheRealDoe yep agreed

[@vblackwell3347]

You're not kidding and it doesn't get better. That's why so many ppl abandon it , even after making huge investments (in ratio to income, of course). 😢

[@welshdragon2148]

Fantastic information. Danke sehr!

[@saltandvenegar]

1 question, i have alrdy got a planted tank running with sands only..main just mos, java fern and anubias.. is it necessary to add some soil just for the nutrients? i do put some fertilizer.

[@jasontuon5994]

I just found your channel and I subscribed right away lol

[@m_hall]

Hey, love your videos. Do you have a video on the tank on the top left shelf during this video with the red/green aquascape? I'd be interested in knowning what plants you used in it.

[@dallasbrat81]

Yes you need liquid fertilizer for plants that don't have roots in aquasoil

[@metallixro]

How about a video on plant trimming on long term tanks? For example fast growing stem plants like all the various totala species once trimmed they never look that good, you're better of removing the rooted part and replant the cut part.

[@aquasquare]

Very informative thank you 😊

[@dougclendening5896]

When I stopped overdosing ferts and let the ecosystem work is when I had my best success too. Feed the fish -> their waste feeds the plants or shrimp -> shrimp turns junk into small pellets that blend in with the substrate and seem to enhance what the soil is already doing. Too much light was another noob mistake that took me a while to accept I was doing wrong as well. All of the guides said 8 hours should be fine with co2! Newsflash - plant mass and growth rates are more important. The final thing that helped me was realizing that I shouldn't adjust things just because I see some algae. If the ecosystem is able to, it will adapt. The problem is that this is contradictory to my other lessons, but if I adjusted too fast then I'd never know what helped or hurt.

[@lots33ml]

Very good information, MJ. i may have to get one of those shirts really awesome. Later, bro.

[@Alberld]

Do you use something to maintain the water temperature constant?

[@ObsidianFPV]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@MJAquascaping]

Thanks for watching!