Simple nano ISLAND AQUASCAPE as your FIRST PLANTED AQUARIUM | BEGINNER AQUASCAPE TUTORIAL | EP1

In this video I build a simple nano island aquascape and this is what your first planted aquarium can look like. In this beginner aquascape tutorial I explained step by step what is needed to make it. The main idea is to have triangular island composition that consists of plants, stones and soil in the right corner and the rest if filled up with white sand. Fish will be added in the next episode.
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00:00 Intro
00:30 Tank dimensions and volume
00:41 LED light
01:03 Filter floss for hardscape
01:20 Black Seiryu stones
01:50 Manzanita wood
03:01 Aquarium sand
04:03 Aquarium soil
04:28 Hardscape completed
04:40 HOB Filter
04:55 Planting
07:45 20 Days later
Aquarium - 45cmx30cmx30cm (18inx12inx12in)
Optiwhite glass 5mm | Tank Volume 40LTR | 10GAL
Filter - HOB (235L/H | 62GAL/H)
Light - LED Power: 21W | Luminous flux 1950lm
CO2 - NO
Heater - NO
Aquarium plants - Anubias barteri var. nana, Anubias nana "Pinto", Bucephalandra kedagang, Bucephalandra wavy green, Microsorum pteropus, Microsorum pteropus "Petite, Ludwigia palustris "Super red"
Music - Epidemic Sound:
baegel / Pick Up Your Phone Please/ courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com www.epidemicsound.com/track/J...
baegel / Maybe We'll Meet Again / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
www.epidemicsound.com/track/3...

[@IMaqua]

Below are affiliate links of the equipment I use (shipping to ALL EU countries). If you buy anything by clicking on the below links I will receive small commision without additional cost to you. Please note I have not been given any free products in exchange for mentioning them. LED LIGHT 30cm: www.azaqua.nl/en/twinstar-light/twinstar-c-line-iii-300c?aff=19 45cm: www.azaqua.nl/en/lighting/chihiros-aii-series-aii451?aff=19 60cm: www.azaqua.nl/en/lighting/chihiros-aii-series-aii601?aff=19 90cm: www.azaqua.nl/en/lighting/chihiros-aii-series-aii901?aff=19 120cm: www.azaqua.nl/en/lighting/chihiros-aii-series-aii1201?aff=19 FILTER, SKIMMER AND PUMP Oase 75: www.azaqua.nl/en/filters/oase-biostyle-75?aff=19 Corner filter: www.azaqua.nl/en/filters/nano-hoekfilter?aff=19 Skimmer: www.azaqua.nl/en/filters/eheim-skim350?aff=19 Pump: www.azaqua.nl/en/aquarium-pump/oase-optimax-300?aff=19 Wavemaker: www.azaqua.nl/en/stream-pump/oasis-streammax-classic?aff=19 Stainless steel: www.azaqua.nl/en/inflow-outflow/stainless-steel-skimmer-set?aff=19 HEATER Nano: www.azaqua.nl/en/aquarium-heaters/dennerle-nano-thermometer-is-compact?aff=19 SOIL,GRAVEL AND SAND Soil: www.azaqua.nl/en/aqua-soil/aquarium-soil?aff=19 River gravel: www.azaqua.nl/en/cosmetic-sand/plantahunter-gravel-river?aff=19 Rio Xingu gravel: www.azaqua.nl/en/cosmetic-sand/plantahunter-gravel-rio-xingu?aff=19 Sand: www.azaqua.nl/en/cosmetic-sand/aquarium-decoration-sand-1-2mm?aff=19 STONES Round flat rock: www.azaqua.nl/en/stones-per-kg/round-flat-rock?aff=19 Black river boulder: www.azaqua.nl/en/stones-per-kg/black-sky-rock?aff=19 Black seiryu stone: www.azaqua.nl/en/stones-per-kg/dark-seiryu-stones?aff=19 Petrified wood stone: www.azaqua.nl/en/stones-per-kg/petrified-wood-fur?aff=19 Gray mountain stone: www.azaqua.nl/en/stones-per-kg/gray-mountain-stone?aff=19 WOOD Ancient root: www.azaqua.nl/en/aquarium-wood/ancient-root?aff=19 Corbo root: www.azaqua.nl/en/aquarium-wood/corbo-root-m-30-40cm?aff=19 Manzanita wood: www.azaqua.nl/en/aquarium-wood/manzanita-wood-m-40-50cm?aff=19 Spiderwood: www.azaqua.nl/en/aquarium-wood/spiderwood-s-21-30cm?aff=19 FERTILIZERS Micro+K: www.azaqua.nl/en/plant-fertilizer-and-additves/2hr-aquarist-apt-1?aff=19 FOOD Regural: www.azaqua.nl/en/fish-food-aquarium/dr-bassleer-biofish-food-regular?aff=19 Garlic: www.azaqua.nl/en/fish-food-aquarium/drbassleer-biofish-food-garlic?aff=19 MAINTENANCE Gravel vacuum: www.azaqua.nl/en/cleaning/dennerle-nano-soil-cleaner?aff=19 Aquascaping set: www.azaqua.nl/en/tweezers/nano-aquascaping-set?aff=19 Glass scraper: www.azaqua.nl/en/cleaning/window-cleaner?aff=19 VARIOUS Terra tape: www.azaqua.nl/en/necessities/dooa-terra-tape?aff=19 Moss cotton: www.azaqua.nl/en/necessities/moss-cotton-200m?aff=19 Superglue: www.azaqua.nl/en/necessities/superglue?aff=19 Pipette: www.azaqua.nl/en/plant-fertilizer-and-additves/pipette-1ml?aff=19

[@PrasannaKumarRamani]

So cool! Appreciate the captions.

[@IMaqua]

Thanks for watching.

[@HeyItsJA]

Beautiful work, and very clearly explained! Hopefully people that need this guide will find it.

[@IMaqua]

Hopefully they do. Building aquarium is the easiest step. Now it's time to fight the algae and keep fish alive.

[@aquaestate6241]

stellar job mate

[@IMaqua]

Thanks.

[@philcarlino6942]

Love the simplicity. The colors really pop under that light. Nice video!

[@IMaqua]

Thanks Phil.

[@martincregg]

Nice scape. I think your more recent videos don't use the zoom and twirl transitions which is good - send one's eyes funny. I like the fact that you show the plant names.

[@IMaqua]

That's true. I stopped using that completely. Thanks Martin.

[@lemonlizard1]

Wow! Can't wait to see what you're going to put in here

[@IMaqua]

Let me give you a hint. Something small, fast and colourful.

[@cherellzandell6139]

Beautiful as always! I love your attention to detail!

[@IMaqua]

Thanks.

[@JK......]

Perfect video again! Easy and beautiful scape idea and you show some of the little tricks and give plant suggestions. Good job 👍🏻

[@IMaqua]

Thanks Julian. Its just a simple scape that any beginner into the aquarium hobby can do.

[@Ani_zuzu]

Beautifully made, as usual.

[@IMaqua]

Thanks Ani.

[@vladimirstojanovic3603]

I love it! I like everything about this tank/video. Great job 👍

[@IMaqua]

Small, simple to maintain and relatively inexpensive. Thanks.

[@arandomguy2]

this is so nice! i might try to replecate this as my first tank :))

[@IMaqua]

Good luck with your aquarium.

[@saglamziraat4306]

Wonderful

[@IMaqua]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@legainnamchyo4836]

This looks wonderful.

[@IMaqua]

Thanks a lot. Will be adding fish soon.

[@legainnamchyo4836]

@@IMaqua what are you gonna add?

[@IMaqua]

Its a secret, but let me give you a hint. Small, colourful and fast.

[@yifanyin9845]

The legit most underrated aquarium KZbinr. Awesome scapes, plants, and cinematic shot. Btw, is 1950lumens way too bright for the tank? I think most sources say around 1500 would be plenty. Doing these series is an excellent way to create new entertaining videos without building more tanks.

[@IMaqua]

Thanks a lot for compliments. I am no expert in lumens but it is definitely too bright. On this particular tank i keep it only at 25% brightness.

[@yifanyin9845]

@@IMaqua Oh, thank you for replying, what lumens per litre would you recommend? I started my first walstad tank with alot of different layered substrates that reduced the tank size lol. I want to use a 12-15 watt led 6500k bulb for a 7 gallon tank. Thanks!

[@IMaqua]

Well don't know exactly in lumens per liter I go more by the experience. You can see my "Walstad" tank series and that light there I keep at 40% brightness for 12 hours (lumens are in video description).

[@yifanyin9845]

@@IMaqua Thanks I will check them out!

[@IMaqua]

You are welcome.

[@JuanSalazar-xk3lq]

Nice, nice work, maybe a little more red and it would be spectacular.

[@IMaqua]

Fully agree. But unfortunately with low tech and NO CO2 thats not an easy mission to accomplish. There are some Cryptocoryne that are red-ish but unfortunately they don't really fit in this aquarium.

[@mridulsengupta1462]

What type of sand you used.Is it normal white sand or any other sand particularly for plants.And can I grow plants in normal sand?

[@IMaqua]

I used JBL river sand. Sand is inactive and you can't grow anything in it. You can grow plants in sand only if you add some soil that is full of nutrients below the sand or if you add root tabs to the sand.

[@ranjith.v.s]

Wonderful! Seems you used only epyphytes and then why need use aqua soil without any root plants?

[@IMaqua]

That is correct 👍

[@IMaqua]

I also used steam plants, you can see the plant names in the video description.

[@metallixro]

Ty for the video I watched this build a few times as a source of inspiration for my 60P! Simple great looking build! But did I see planaria glinding on the glass on that snail close-up ?

[@IMaqua]

Thanks a lot. I have this one few months and I didnt notice any planaria. Never had any in my aquariums. At the snail close-up from the begging there are just few detritus worms on the glass.

[@metallixro]

@@IMaqua Detritus worms are round worms they cant surf the aquarium glass, only flat worms like planaria do that :)) But hey glad it wasnt a problem, the scape is great gj!

[@hezron070]

How the plants are growing without planted tank soil?

[@IMaqua]

@@hezron070 the soil is located in the right corner of the aquarium.

[@EddieVichta]

Thanks for nice video. What kind of glue can I use in aquarium, safe for plants , fish and shrimp, please?

[@IMaqua]

The only glue I am using is the one that says "aquarium glue". There are various brands.

[@NOIdS259]

love it! unfortunatetly i was not able to find black filter floss :( is there a difference to lets say black filter fliss for vacuum cleaners? i winder if that is somerhing that is going to work

[@IMaqua]

Yes you can use that one also. Any kind of black filter floss, fliss or something similar will do the job.

[@NOIdS259]

@@IMaqua Thank you very much :)

[@IMaqua]

You are welcome.

[@lewishoward9568]

Nice aquascape but the visual effects were disturbing; kinda made me dizzy.

[@IMaqua]

I stopped with that kind of editing. Thanks for watching.

[@69JoelyBoy]

Are the cigarette filters just to help the clue hold the wood together?

[@IMaqua]

Yes that is correct. In my other videos you will see me also using a paper towel; it gets the job done as well.

[@sheldoncooper2247]

Looks so beautiful. But are you not worried about the bugs crawling all over the glass? What are those? Is it safe to put your hands inside the tank?

[@IMaqua]

What do you mean bugs? Do you mean the worms on the glass that are show in the video?

[@sheldoncooper2247]

@@IMaqua yes worms. I am not an expert in this so I don't know what to call them. But my question is are you not worried about them

[@IMaqua]

Those are aquarium worms (detritus worms) and they are present in every aquarium ecosystem. In the beginning there is more of them but with time they die off because not all of them can get food. I would be worried if I don't see them.

[@sheldoncooper2247]

@@IMaqua Thanks man. Got it. Please make some videos on those topics as well.. keep educating us. 🤩Have a great day

[@IMaqua]

I have some plans for the near future to do something like that. Cheers

[@trevorflorez2335]

What is the blue cup you use for sand and soil called?

[@IMaqua]

To be honest I don't know. As far as I remember I got it as a present when buying some hardscape from an online shop in Holland.

[@slaxyt]

How much sand did u use?

[@IMaqua]

If I remember correctly because this aquarium was built a long time ago it was around 2kgs of sand.

[@Jessica_Crease87]

Do snails take over the tank? I have a betta tank and would like to get a couple but I am not sure what to get?

[@IMaqua]

Get them they are useful. I have them in all my aquariums but I am careful not to overfeed so their numbers are manageable.

[@maresk720]

How long would it take for something like this to cycle? At what point would you add fish / shrimp?

[@IMaqua]

Usually if I am not in a rush and that's almost always I leave aquarium without any fish or shrimps for a month. I almost always get snails that get transported with plants from my other aquariums. I don't mind them as they just speed up the cycle. After a month I will add fish. If I am in a rush (and that's rarely) I will use bottled beneficial bacteria. Hope that helps.

[@maresk720]

@@IMaqua Yes, thanks! I am very new to aquarium keeping and my first tank failed. How often do you do water changes?

[@IMaqua]

On this aquarium I am doing 40% weekly water change. Failure is kind of success; you learned something new. Enjoy your new hobby.

[@expandranon]

What's the little swimming thing in front of the snail at 8:50?

[@IMaqua]

Do you mean the little worms floating around?

[@expandranon]

@@IMaqua I'm not sure. It looked like a tiny fish. It appears about an inch in front of the snail, up against the glass.

[@IMaqua]

I did see also something but it is too fast and I can't really identify it. Its definitely not a tiny fish because I don't have any fish in the aquarium. I need to admit even I didn't notice that.

[@joshuanikkolagunsad4957]

Need of CO2? Or only filter?

[@IMaqua]

I am not using CO2 in any of my aquariums.

[@angelospano8612]

Do you use fertilizer ?

[@IMaqua]

In this aquarium I used it rarely (few drops every 2-3 weeks). I used only K+micronutrients.

[@angelospano8612]

@@IMaqua realy ? And wich fertilizer you use ?

[@IMaqua]

You can find a link in the pinned comment.