My First Ever “NO WATER CHANGES” Aquascape! Here’s What Happened

In this video I'm setting up my first ever ''zero water changes'' aquascape! I'm making a red plants only Dutch style layout for some beautiful rice fish!
Everything I've used for this scape (Affiliate links)
35C Cube Tank
EU: amzn.to/45Chash
30C Cube Tank
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US: amzn.to/3Q87vE2
CHIHIROS AII 361
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US: bit.ly/3vKpCcT
CHIHIROS WRGB2 PRO
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US: bit.ly/3Q3xxJD
LIQUID FERT
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APT SKY RO MINERALS
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FOAM LEVELING MAT
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HOB FILTER
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US: amzn.to/3uYOyNg
BASE LAYER SUBSTRATE
EU: bit.ly/48H90kD
US: bit.ly/3D7RAB1
Bacter 100
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Tourmaline BC
bit.ly/3RelQAE
Clear Super
bit.ly/3sNDUbo
Aquasoil
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US: bit.ly/3Rea86F
Super glue Liquid
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Super glue Gel
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GLASS BACKGROUND FOIL
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🚨Watch this next!🚨
Inspiration playlist! • Build Videos
CO2 buying guide! • BEST CO2 SYSTEM FOR BE...
How to SETUP your CO2! • EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO...
Simple fertilizer dosing! • SIMPLE AQUARIUM PLANT ...
👉🏻Cool Aquascaping T-shirts: mosscotton.com/ Code: mjaqua10
👉🏻15% off 2hraquarist.com with code: MJAQUA
👉🏻Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my KZbin channel: / mjaquascaping
#plantedtank #aquascape #mjaquascaping

[@MJAquascaping]

Everything I've used for this scape (Affiliate links) 35C Cube Tank EU: amzn.to/45Chash 30C Cube Tank EU: bit.ly/3CDEQBJ US: amzn.to/3Q87vE2 CHIHIROS AII 361 EU: bit.ly/3D7RAB1 US: bit.ly/3vKpCcT CHIHIROS WRGB2 PRO EU: bit.ly/3U12YFB US: bit.ly/3Q3xxJD LIQUID FERT bit.ly/3tIVFsv USE CODE MJAQUA FOR 15% OFF APT SKY RO MINERALS bit.ly/3Ujs43X USE CODE MJAQUA FOR 15% OFF FOAM LEVELING MAT EU: amzn.to/3uZ0sa2 US: amzn.to/3GJrPY6 HOB FILTER EU: amzn.to/47YeCXo US: amzn.to/3uYOyNg BASE LAYER SUBSTRATE EU: bit.ly/48H90kD US: bit.ly/3D7RAB1 Bacter 100 bit.ly/3utbrZ9 Tourmaline BC bit.ly/3RelQAE Clear Super bit.ly/3sNDUbo Aquasoil EU: bit.ly/3qhHDt4 US: bit.ly/3Rea86F Super glue Liquid EU: bit.ly/3rC0rY3 US: amzn.to/408UAqi Super glue Gel EU: amzn.to/46B3L52 US: amzn.to/3J2owwM GLASS BACKGROUND FOIL US: amzn.to/3NKopcC EU: amzn.to/41d4HJg 🚨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

[@adeptusmagi]

did i miss the plant link ?

[@zyydra8472]

Hello Mj do you know BRS Fresh ? its a channel that took one of your video "Top 10 nano fish for your aquarium" and uploaded it on their channel.

[@MJAquascaping]

@@zyydra8472 it’s a new video I made for them 😊

[@zyydra8472]

@@MJAquascaping oh ok mb sorry !

[@MJAquascaping]

@@zyydra8472 no problem 😉

[@bigben8369]

I was immediately thinking blue shrimp. I think they would complement the rice fish beautifully.

[@peaoat3608]

The moment I found the water changes are optional was when I put some floating plants in my smelly, swampy resurrection jar. Within a few weeks the jar showed no ammonia and no nitrites. Plants are miraculous!

[@malliber]

I've not done a water change on my tank in maybe a year. I have to top up for the evaporation however as it's an open tank. I don’t have tannins to remove and I've still no algae, I’ve healthy fish and plants. My water is clear & tests show near perfect numbers. With good substrate, heavy planting, surface plants, suitable lighting & filtration the tank will look after itself as it’ll be in balance. Finally don't overstock & you should have perfect water quality. You do all of those anyway so you'll be fine. I'm sure you don't overfeed. Give it a go as if your water quality is clear, no algae and all your numbers are good, why does it need changing ?

[@kelvinmok10]

If you have hard water, how do you handle the ever increasing minerals in your water if there is no way to export it?

[@rossallen738]

​@@kelvinmok10 You are correct that with super hard water the water hardness will continue to climb, unless you can find a way for the plant matter to use all of the calcium and magnesium at the same rate that you add it with top ups... Probably very unrealistic. The same issue can happen on RO water, where there will be a depletion of calcium and magnesium that was originally available in the substrate or added into the tank as fertilizer, but the plants use it up and it no longer is bioavailable for new plant growth. The issue you bring up probably won't be a serious issue for people that have softer water with small amounts of water hardness.

[@Huebie]

@@kelvinmok10 I too only do a water change maybe once a year, maybe twice a year if I feel fancy. If you have enough plants, I never had an issue. Floaters really helped and they grew insane. But maybe my tapwater is different, but I measured it to be pretty average. Oh, and shrimps and snails probably take up a lot of the minerals too as I got a good amount of both.

[@tolgagurcimen2957]

When you finish the tank planting etc.. go to a pond and get mulch decaying material from bottom and some mud with water add it to your aquarium but no fish for 4 weeks then add fish add evaporated water of course that's it a life time perfectly balanced aquarium and maybe a few weeks 2-3 weeks add more leaves that's all

[@metaldesire4]

@@kelvinmok10 duckweed removes TDS. and every week or so you will have to remove duckweed, since it grows like crazy - there you go, no more TDS.

[@shlomithardy5734]

Blue shrimps will be great with contrast colours. 👌

[@markedoutdoorsmitigation2387]

Wish you would have done a side by side experiment with a tank with filtration. Great video!

[@jackjmaheriii]

How I do no water change… -Canister filter -CO2 -1 Amano / 2 gallons -1 Nerite / 2 gallons -1 Hillstream Loach / 5 gallons -APA Quick start -Substrate: Stratum, choral, root tabs, bacteria tabs, thick sand cap -After 2 weeks shrimp (neo c’s) -After 3 weeks, livestock -Water: Start with dechlorinated tap, the RO. -Feed: 4 days a week I plant dense by buying my plants early and propagate them for 2 or 3 months, and by using cuttings from my hospital tank.

[@kjudestevens1519]

Blue Velvet shrimp for the win!!

[@nate6390]

Man mark 😂 I'm jealous you have and find sooo much time to aquascape....and u show such passion..... truly extraordinary....what's your secret 😂😂😂

[@noodlechild666]

The bamboo tank next door looks amazing. Love the perspective.

[@geertm4493]

Yeah right? It's so beautiful

[@kobezklutch]

Same thoughts, currently looking for MJs build video on it!

[@BMW.535d]

I have no water tank myself, but i really enjoy watch your videos, they are so cosy and relaxing. And also, your aqauscap skills are next level, look so good! Gotta respect the grind. Cheers from Denmark ✊🏼

[@smashingamin]

Wow, I love the plants so much

[@tracys.6033]

Your right the colors are insane!

[@TalisaAquarist]

We need a fish room tour of your new house!!!!

[@rhondafitzpatrick1646]

the tank looks amazing!

[@knabdank]

sometimes i go months without a water change, i go by filter flow rate and water clarity over most things i have heavily planted almost all my tanks and i think that really helps. also depends on what sort of fish you have.

[@priyankardas2668]

Excellent looking tank. I still never get tired of looking at ample amount of lush plants...

[@jorgesilva2985]

Hi MJ! I think the "Caridina Blue tiger orange eyes" is the best option. Because it makes a beautiful contrast with the red plants, the black stripes and the orange eyes give's it a special shine. Thanks for the video!

[@patriciaserrano2537]

I agree, those shrimp are beautiful

[@MJAquascaping]

Very nice indeed!

[@tombarb2864]

Looking forward to the new room unveiling 🎉🎉

[@mandyminshull2351]

The plants look amazing. The colours with the light look stunning. Can’t wait to see the studio 😊 and definitely blue shrimp

[@madhatterjones4781]

Beautiful tank mark. Rlooks awesome. And the platinum nedaka are beautiful. So a stunning fish underr that light especially

[@jeffncompany]

jade neos! i thought blues at first too, but you almost never see the jades as they would blend in with the greens. great opportunity to show them off and do something different!

[@zyir7962]

amazing tank man

[@Ankescapes]

Wow, the colours turned out amazing! I love the white Medakas in the red plants, and I think I would stick by that concept. So white pearl or perhaps blue jelly Neocaridinas would be nice in there

[@redbaron2342]

What I can see is that your new room looks great. Are you going to post a tour - or did I miss that video?!... I would go for blue shrimps!

[@MJAquascaping]

A room tour is coming soon 😏

[@joaswijma6864]

Blue jelly shrimp. Lighter blue color than velvet or dream blue, would pop!

[@GardenEvolution]

Very cool setup! Totally grabbed a screenshot for inspo. I think the yellow neos are the way to go! Or the snowball variety

[@valentinpichler4199]

Thank you for your videos they are realy inspiring.

[@geertm4493]

White fish are always good next to the red plants. I have the same cute rice fish! But I am in love with the bamboo tank next to it❤. Keep up the beautiful work mark. Greetings from utrecht ✌️

[@IC_Hennessy]

Some blue jelly shrimp would look really nice in there! Light blue against the red.

[@PetswithMicah123]

It’s so good

[@henrikmadsen2176]

THAT is a cool experiment :-))

[@Aqualicnature]

I think Crystal black shrimp would do great as well and Waiting for your New room Tour

Great video. Every tank is a science experiment. My tanks are not CO2 added, and I use low/medium light plants, with moderate stocking. I do water changes when my nitrates get 40ppm or higher, which is pretty rare unless I add nutrients. Or if my tannins turn the water too darkyes I know it's good for most of my fish, but I'm not a big fan of the look of fish swimming in tea. 😸. I average a water change every 5 to 6 weeks in my one 40, two 20 and two 29 gallon ranks and replace the evaporated water which added together run 10 to 15 gallons for each tank.

[@givetanks]

that's a very crazy red tank!

[@DashDrones]

Nice one for doing this. Been waiting a while! Haven't done a water change on any of my tanks, been running the longest for almost a year, definitely for the best. My plants, fish, snails and shrimp are all thriving and breeding well. Canister filter, soil+nutrient base, sand cap, fluval plant 3.0s👍

[@DashDrones]

Forgot to say, Get rid of the Co2, add a sand cap and you'll have no issues.

[@MandyJane123700]

I love the red plants! Someday I will get a light that can grow red plants, but until I can save up for it, I will just dream about it.

[@mistervgw8307]

Well, how much money have you saved up so far 😂😂

[@olivereisenbarth5476]

While saving for a high quality LED, you could use good ol' T5 bulbs. If electricity is cheap in your country it's an option.

[@MandyJane123700]

@@mistervgw8307 I keep spending my fish money on other stuff for the fish! 😝

[@MandyJane123700]

@@olivereisenbarth5476 I actually have those in one of my tanks, but I forgot those were the original grow lights! I have lots of anubias in that tank, because I thought they were "low" lights. lol

[@huntergreene3453]

Try red tiger lotus I heard it's red no matter what

[@comando8919]

Thank youuuuuu

[@thraciensis3589]

Can you me tell me species of fully bright-red -throughout -its leaves plant, ( not semi green) with large wide leaves? I want to use it in the. back ground for show peace? Thank you. You have an amazing aquascaping skill!

[@mustafacemturkkan5976]

Maybe Black Rose Shrimp fits well !!🖤

[@i_nvade8098]

Green shrimp 😊

[@suvinuoska]

If I ever move into a bigger apartment where I can have a second tank, a miniature Dutch style scape is definitely goals :D I think high grade (i.e. solid color, mostly white) crystal shrimp might look cool in this tank? I have ten mid-to-high grade crystal reds in an aquascape with mixed red and green plants plus terracotta brown decorative sand, and the whites are visible across the room. (Although I don't know if they'd make good tank mates to rice fish, considering how submissive they behave around my sweet and shy pygmy cories lol)

[@florentincioaba7989]

Bravo from Romania Dracula land ❤🎉

[@rickyabdullah4758]

Nice share

[@simianlife5949]

Blue neocaridinas would look amazing in there.

[@SouthAfricanWanderer]

Would maybe do crystal red or crystal black caridina or even some tigers. Did you get an ammonia/nitrite/nitrate spike at any stage?

[@jasongoodwin8702]

Before i finish watching this video, I'd wager no water changes do just fine. I have a pair of 75g tanks going on 2 years without any changes. One is heavily stocked with a variant of plants. That particular tank looks stunning. My other is lightly stocked with a few plants and it looks ok. The later hosts a Frontosa so, I'm constantly fighting the fish on how it should look. I also have a 37g heavily plants tank with a variety of plants and it looks equally amazing. The 37g is only 6 months old as my previous 20g sprung a leak. Forgot to add, I stopped using Co2 a year ago as I found it unnecessary.

[@norbipuhl111]

Pearl Danio ( Galaxy Rasbora ) ❤

[@wadday]

@MJAquascaping can you suggest a WRGB2 setting for green and red plants?

[@rhondafitzpatrick1646]

blue neocaridina!!!!😊

[@istoppedlaughing5225]

I'm doing the same with my high-tech tank. Whenever water level falls, I just fill it up with new water.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

I've gone about 4 months without water changes on a tank in the past but you start to get insanely high TDS and mineral build up over time from doing top ups. I'd say less water changes is good but none isn't the best idea if you have quite hard water.

[@williammcdowell6257]

I have very hard tap water and a fairly large tank, and in summer a tap water supply which is often too high in Nitrates. I top-up with rainwater, distilled water from my tumble drier and if I don't have either, a common issue in the summer, I buy deionised water for steam irons from the supermarket. In extremis, in the summer I sometimes use a filter jug to obtain soft water, but I find you have to run the water through the filter material at least three times to get soft water, using pre-bolied and settled water and then filtering works, but is a bind. I aim to keep TDS around 150. If I topped up with tap water only, my tank would turn into the Dead Sea in a matter of months. I do change some water, when I have for example really stirred things up after a big maintenance session, about two or three times a year. But I always now in the summer months check the quality of my tap water, just to know what I am contending with. Mark uses a reverse osmosis system and re-salts the water, I am not quite sure why this is necessary, blending RO water with tap water would be cheaper and easier I suspect, but each to their own. George Farmer has hard tap water and just adds extra CO2, that works for most plants, though not all, but if I just used tap water I would at least double the amount of CO2 I use, an extra £50 a year.

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@williammcdowell6257 I have super hard tap water as well I just do a mix of RO and tap when I want to lower levels to a more suitable level. RO and remineralisation is good if you want to hit exact results and get the best stability but it comes with a prices. It's quite interesting how much your water fluctuates over the seasons.

[@PetswithMicah123]

I wish I could have the skill you have

[@toxiccity97]

please add green jade neocaridina they will stand out so well against the red foliage

[@mrblobby8534]

Not sure if i missed you explaining why you waited to plant the pink flamigos but ive had lots of failed elements.. is there some flamingo secret im not aware of ?

[@kevinborreman3564]

Hey mj what do you think about the new chihiros universal wrgb ?

[@ikanpari24]

you should start being a bodybuilder after lifting all those tanks around!

[@andreagalda28]

I would choose black carbon rilli neos or dark green hulk neos.

[@robinstahlbergs]

What bench is it that you have the nano tanks in this video on? I need one

[@yodeym2184]

I do same no water change in my Office high tech aquarium, but i do dark start 1month with substrate and scape with filter, after month i do 50% water change and add plant and wait 2weeks for planth grow, and after this 2 weeks i add snails,shrimp, fish and now 4 month no water change, zero algae. For me its work good. My tap water is around 7,5ph and 24/7 co2 and light 7,5 hours a day and in week go light only 4,5hours. U can try this peaople 🙂😀

[@Spyciyuuu]

is it possible to do a Brazilian style in a 35cm cube?

[@diananeri4476]

chocolate shrimp!

[@PetswithMicah123]

❤

[@AUTO.LYRiCS]

is that possible to have a cyano on that type of set up of plants?

[@HenriqueStrabeli_Oficial]

Eu não uso esse troço. Quando dá pau, começa a entrar ar e não dá pressão (não puxa água) eu vendo com silicone pra aquário e pronto hehehe

[@indrajitmaity8125]

Add blue neo caradina shrimp and Balck guppy fish

[@aunaleei426]

I'm setting up my first 55 gallon and I noticed seiryu stone is used a lot- does it actually mess with your tank parameters like crazy?? I love the look of the rock but I'm scared to ruin my tank.

[@JustMeVP]

Which fertiliser is better the APT all in one or masterline all in one? Thanks

[@AquaDragontech]

I think APT is the best

[@cindystimson3632]

Blue shrimp

[@marcusshhiew5047]

In between Masterline all in one red and Apt Zero/1 what is your recommendation? Which one have better growth? Thanks in advance 🙏

[@MJAquascaping]

I haven’t tried the MasterLine all in one red

[@marcusshhiew5047]

@@MJAquascaping Thank you 👌

[@DocPBody]

Has anyone tried carbonating tank water in a soda stream and using that for top ups or water change? Like a concentration 😏

[@detlefh.7090]

Technically of course your tank water shouldn't change much but the plants will take up K+, Ca, Mg and some other which would make your TDS go down if you top off with just RO water and do not fertilize. Also, the microbial activity in the substrate should have some impact (reducing mineral content) as well as the soil which binds Ca and Mg.

[@marlonallansupetran7120]

Plants consume calcium and magnesium so the water might become soft (low GH) over time.

[@nijattagiyev830]

You dont need that Stability, just get some dirty sponge from other tank and squeeze inside of aquarium.

[@user-gz5sv8ji6n]

red plant list?

[@normang3579]

is there any benefit on using red plants with no water changes?

[@Estipi18]

I think because "high end" tank required things like co2,good light ect. Red plants takes all of that real good and it's more pleasing to watch. Ofc there are green plants as well , but he chose that(he's Scape and all)

[@mistervgw8307]

Well, no. Not really, there aren't many benefits to growing reds with no water changes. Infact there are some downsides, For example, the plants will grow redder with nitrate limitation. This can be done with water changes. (I know some people who change their water every 3 days just so their plants can become redder 😂😂😂). And seeing from them, I do believe nitrate limitation works. Besides that, a strong light and dosing of all fertilizers, not just iron.

[@normang3579]

@@mistervgw8307 yes, but only with ro water. I didnt know that nitrate has a strong effect on red plants.

[@user-xi4ji5yo1w]

😍😍😍👍👍👍

[@elijahjefferson9685]

What’s the easiest red plant to start with ?

[@MJAquascaping]

Ludwigia super red

[@thierryfelix7796]

I agree with the water changes. Fish and plants really like water changes. Blue shrimps will be nice.

[@kewalchaudhary5787]

Light name plz

[@MJAquascaping]

Chihiros WRGB 2 Pro

[@nathanmcgrath9038]

I couldn't not possibility do water changes on all the aquariums I have. Yes you will get some algae if you do not do water changes, but remember algae is a plant it will do everything a plant will do. Like use ammonia, phosphate and nitrogen. Was well as use CO2. Without algae most natural ecosystems would collapse👍

[@Ray47nl]

I only have experience with no waterchanges in a saltwater tank. But i can imagine that it should be possible to go without any waterchange with this tank. The only thing you must do, like i did with the saltwater, is every week testing the water and add supplements where needed. I was using the DSR method (Dutch Syntetic Reefing). See this example.. A tank running 12 years without water changing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5CTdpaEl8ieqrM

[@moonbear897]

I'm all for no water changes. hardly ever do on my tanks.

[@tamerkesenkas1645]

People on the internet either religiously do waterchanges or religiously don't do waterchanges. Rarely I see anyone recognize waterchanges as a tool they can use when needed.

[@MyDnb123]

You will lose minerals. Beneficial bacteria uses carbonates so your KH will drop even tho you're only doing top ups.