No more water changes! What to do with all that extra time? How about smashing that like button?

@bollenium

3 жыл бұрын

I'm busy with a new tank right now. I've chucked my spider wood in a bucket to waterlog them so I don't have to glue them to the rocks. If I'm going to dark start the tank, must I add the wood to the hardscape and then fill it, or can I exclude it and add ot after the 3 weeks?

@marcel5427

3 жыл бұрын

Would you happen to know what´s a white thin layer of hair sort of, on top of my branch inside of a dark mode going fish tank? Wd it be algee?

@ranjanghosh4321

2 жыл бұрын

@@marcel5427 This is usually a fungus (but sometimes bacteria) and is harmless to you and your fish. You can remove it with a toothbrush, but it may return a few times before disappearing permanently. This is not only during the dark start!! It can happen anytime! My fishes try to eat it!

@marcel5427

2 жыл бұрын

@@ranjanghosh4321 Thank you Ranjan. I am patiently waiting. On my second week now. 2 more to go. Wish me luck.

@silveirawog

2 жыл бұрын

you said "no lights" during the three weeks, what about natural lights? should i black it out?

Dark start is perfect! The owner of aquarium design shop in Zaandam also recommended me this. Aquarium is super stable and plants grow very healthy after a dark start of 4 weeks. Also one more benefit: it’s easy to tweak your hardscape layout during the dark start 👍

@marcel5427

3 жыл бұрын

Joris, I am thinking you do not turn your filter system on, like Sump or Hang ons, right?

@shakergt81

2 жыл бұрын

Joris do you or have you run any citric acid c02 systems and if so how do you find them?

@kevinb1155

2 жыл бұрын

@@marcel5427 Did you get an answer regarding the filter needing to be on or off?

@zer0pulse156

Жыл бұрын

@@kevinb1155 need to turn on the filter

Dark start finally.. very well explained.

So I'm in the process of doing the dark start and I found something out that might help other folks here. Consider the temperature of the water. Beneficial bacteria grows best around 72 to 75 degrees. So consider using a heater if you can. Also, I have placed an air stone in the tank as well. It provides the bacteria more oxygen so they can grow even more rapidly. Currently I am at 2 weeks and my tank still has plenty of ammonia, some signs of nitrite and a plenty of nitrate. Which tells me it's working just fine. I might consider doing a water change because too much ammonia might hinder the bacteria. I might be a bit late to that game. Ah well. Good luck to all!

@drhee9

2 жыл бұрын

Im only a week in and my ammonia is at 8ppm and 0 NO2 and NO3... I dont have an airstone but do have a heater. Was expecting to see at least a few NO2 and NO3 ppm to show the cycle is at least started but I guess my bacteria are lazy.

@Kaikoura26

2 жыл бұрын

@@drhee9 thats a good start bud but I highly recommend an air stone. All living things in that tank, including bacteria, requires oxygen. Good luck and cheers!

@Rafilkis

Жыл бұрын

No heater please

MJ: all you need for this method is patience Me: …Damn.

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

😂

I am so so glad to have come across this video, it might just save me a ton of headache :) Thanks for making this method well known to everyone in these types of videos, It helps a lot!

what a coincidence, I am going to start a planted tank in about a week

On 28th December 2023, I have setup an aquarium following dark start method. But I followed my method which I tweaked according to my understanding. I started the light on 5th February , 2024 after 40 days but I have done four 90 percent water change in between, I have also added fish food and bacteria after each water change. The first water change was on 21st January, 2024. I have added plants on 7th February, 2024. 4 different varieties of rotala, hygrophila polysperma, reckini mini, ludwigia purple and mini sp red. I have also added DIY co2 on 9th February with liquid fertilizers and liquid carbon. I have not encountered the diatoms or any kind of algae. But for the last 10 days, green algae and some filament algae started growing, so I cut down my fertilizers and light and added alganil solution for 2 days and every algae disappeared. My dutch style aquarium is growing without any issues. It is a low/semi low tech dutch style aquarium. I have used fatherfis tweaked walstad setup combined with dark start method and I think I am successful with this one. Only key thing was the patience. I have continued with 50 percent weekly water change and from this week will start by dosing diy powder fertilizer with chelated iron and pgr1 and pgr 2 dosing.

Hey, I have been binge-watching your channel lately and just want to thank you for all the information! It was a long time ago that I started my aquarium hobby but ended it because of failures. Now I have been excited again and starting up the hobby. I am currently in the last days of my dark start with aqua soil. I measure no ammonia anymore and can't wait to get started. Also thanks to your channel I have upped my game and bought everything I need to get a good start. Hope my big investments (new gear, co2 etc) are going to pay off. Let's hope!

@NetherViking

Жыл бұрын

Well it has been a few months and my scape does so well! I love it. Aaand now I have 5 tanks running :D hahahaha

I have been starting my tanks this way for 25years. I didn't know it had a name and I just thought everyone did it this way.

I'm almost 3 weeks in. I caved and did water changes because I wasn't using a skimmer, and it was driving me nuts. I installed one tonight after a water change. I hope to plant this weekend. Thanks, MJ. I'm always down for an experiment.

I've already done the DSM!!! It's amasing result😃 I knew this method from Juris Pro Tipe. I think He mentioned Your case. After I planted the tank and put a lifestock in, fish (Ramiresi) started to lye their eggs. This is a "must have (or done)" process to start a helthy tank🤗💯💯💯

Each time I see an interesting video here the algorythm shoots me another one that makes me learn new things. Since budget is a bit tight for me since I'm starting. A dark start seems like the best thing to do before buying plants! Thank you so much for all the content you are posting

I can confirm that cycling my tank with no plants was an amazing choice. I have had zero algae since I got my plants and fish!

@Joshua-uq9zw

2 жыл бұрын

Did u change water at all ? :)

How I wish I had found this video three weeks ago!!! My current tank is cycled but I lost a LOT of plants to melting. This would have been a much better option and one I will definitely be trying in the future!!

@nikfarishezrienikishak8582

2 жыл бұрын

Hi sorry its a bit late but may I know how are your plants doing after the initial melts?

@renmarkmarcelo4609

2 жыл бұрын

Same here, my 5-gallon tank is already covered with algae (green and brown)... and my 12 neon tetras died last month and some of the plants are starting to melt / die 😔😔😔. But i'm still doing my best to keep it running.

Yes , the Dark Start is definately the wiser way to start an aquarium! After the Dark Start , it is also beneficial to start the Bac Start , where we drained the tank & filled up with treated water plus the plants , lighting , filters & healthy bacteria but minus the fishes for another 3 to 4 weeks with weekly water changes before adding in the fishes species , group by group! Thank You So Much for the Valuable Tutorials! Stay Safe & Stay Grateful! 🇨🇭 p.s. Becareful with the DeChlorine , it is colourless & many fishes died from DeChlorine over dose! Sunning the water for a day , will lessen the Chlorine in the water , and is Safe to use without the need to add the colourless but corrosive DeChlorine! 🕯🌷🌿🌍

Thank you so much for this information. It will be a great help as I am setting up an aquarium very soon.

Most importantly we save a lot of time changing the water.... Wish I knew this when I started... Thanks for the video ... Peace

I had read that some of the plants I wanted to use in my first tank were sensitive to ammonia and I knew that the parameters could be pretty weird in the beginning. That is why I did exactly this. It took about four weeks. I had a fair bit of hair algae after planting, but nothing a little maintenence and a shrimp colony couldn't deal with.

I've always wanted a planted tank I'll definitely use this method. It's exactly what I do for my reef tanks when I first set them up.

Hello everybody. I already did, and still do this. And I only got to know your channel a few days ago. It really is the best method for cycling, and without any work. Just be patient. Thank you.

@michellebreeden4962

2 жыл бұрын

Hey man since you have a picture of a Betta,I was wondering do you own 1? I have a community tank with a male Betta,6 Neon Tetras and 4 Albino Cory Catfish,and I was wondering when I put the aquasoil in and put my sand over it,I put my filter in,do I also go ahead and put in my Tetra Safe Start?? Ot says Cycles New Aquariums, start up,removes Ammonia,starter bacteria, freshwater Aquariums,I've actually never used it yet!?? And the 2nd question would be do I also add my heater,and let it cycle through with both the filter running 100% of the time and the heater running 100% of the time,because my tank will indeed have to end up having a heater,and I don't want to throw anything off by adding anything I don't need to at the beginning and I really don't want to throw anything off after it's Cycles!!?? Please Help

@costajl814

2 жыл бұрын

@@michellebreeden4962 please ... Wait some minutes ...

@costajl814

2 жыл бұрын

@@michellebreeden4962 Hi... Sorry for the delay in replying. ... It was in my work .... For your two questions, I didn't understood very well. As I understand it, you already have your tanks working, and you've never used the products you should ... I did not understand. Some questions for you. - What is the size of your community aquarium? - How long has it been active? - Do you have plants? I have a tank with 26 liters, and with only 1 Betta. ( a girl ). All my tanks have heaters (26 degrees Celsius), filters working 24 hours a day, And in my cycling process: Fertile substrate covered with river sand + Rocks + water treated with Prime + Biology accelerator + filter and heater on 24 hours a day, and no lighting... None. It's a very long process...about 50 days. But, I don't have algae, from start to finish. Afterwards, I place the plants, and turn on the lighting. And then I put the fish. I apologize, but I didn't understand very well.

@costajl814

2 жыл бұрын

@@michellebreeden4962 Hello ... again ... In order for an aquarium to be able to have the little fish you want, it must have a filter, a heater with a thermostat, and if it has plants, adequate lighting. If you live in a cold place, depending on the plants, if you have a constant temperature of 25 degrees, I think it would be ideal. If you don't have plants, I think a temperature of 26 degrees would be ideal. I think you mixed acid water fish with alkaline water fish ( Betta ). Research your fish's needs before you buy. Here in my city, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, it's very hot, and in summer, the heater with a thermostat, is almost not turned on. And the problem is trying to cool the water. Hope you do an Ammonia and Nitrite test to check your tank's water condition. If you still have any questions, I'll answer them, or other people, too. Good luck. Jorge Luiz

During the cycling process, minerals in the water may depleted so cycle may stall. Cycling also crashes Ph most of the time so water changes or adding crushed coral is a must whenever ph crashes. Not to mention that high amount of ammonia can kill beneficial bacteria. Cycle may not even start in this case. So waiting for 3 weeks may be just waste of time. It is better to test the water often to see whet to do imo. Especially before adding any fish.

The dark start method seems to be the best way to start! Thanks a ton for sharing! 🙏🏽😇 I love your videos! They are clean, crisp and to the point! Appreciate all the time and effort behind sharing such invaluable pearls of wisdom 😇❤🙏🏽

Well, this changes things! After awaiting LFS to get plants and therefore not wanting to set tank up, it's now set up and ticking over as of an hour or so ago. I will accelerate it slightly as a neighbour is giving me some of his mature water to add to my little tank. Tank is covered too, just to make sure. Luckily it's small! Am using a small layer of Fluval stratum on the bottom, then flourite black as the rest. I aim to have no substrate visible. Establish plants and cleanup crew first, then add stock once plants have taken hard. Nice video - mind, I learn a lot from all your content - thnaks for taking the time to make them.

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

See if your neighbor can give you a dirty filter sponge. Squeeze it out in your tank and you will be miles ahead already!

Just came across this and will use it with my next tank. It means I can spread the cost of tank, equipment, substrate, etc. over longer time .... much easier.

"Diana Walstad Method" her book " Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise for the Home Aquarist" books explain how to make DIY without any high tech system or aqua soil self-cleaning planted aquariums, without changing the water for 6 months. She said it takes 2-4 weeks for garden soil to reach a stable state after submerging into water.

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

I have to read that book!

@ashwingogawale5560

3 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping Yes 👍, It is an amazing book all the things you mentioned are exactly like she wrote in her book. Plus all the facts are backed and checked by scientists and experts of respective fields like soil, plants, water, lighting, microorganism, fishes, algae, etc.

@ashwingogawale5560

3 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping Please pin my comment so all the people who want to make DIY planted aquascape without aqua soil or high-tech equipment will know about this book. 😊

@boboften9952

3 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping Hint " Fatherfish You Tube Channel Disects The Book ."

I loved the back sont !

thank you bros! I always have problems with algae at the first two weeks.

I am doing a dark start and it is my end of the first week. Waiting for another 2 weeks. Thanks MJ for encouraging me to go with this method....

I did this with my first aquascape but I put the soil in 3 different buckets for about 3 weeks in a dark room. I had literally no algae. Dark start is the best method for sure man, very clear explanation! Thanks

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

That is awesome!

@Joshua-uq9zw

2 жыл бұрын

Did u add water or anything else in the buckets?

@kalbekanani2279

2 жыл бұрын

@@Joshua-uq9zw yes of course, only water

@mikeyt8074

2 жыл бұрын

@@kalbekanani2279 hi did you just let the soil sit in the water? no filters in the buckets? i'd like to try too as i've got a bag of aquasoil ready to cycle and use buckets first before scooping into the tank.

@jansenlee4084

Жыл бұрын

I just started a dry start trying to grow moss on driftwood but just saw this dark start method. I added soil into my dry start so I should remove the soil and put them into a pail, fill with water and cover it up for 3weeks for dark start?

I love your method of sharing your experience with a CO2 reactor. Super concise and to the point. Pros and Cons were excellent!!! Thank you for taking the time to share.

So, if i planning to use bacteria starter, should i put them in the start, or after the darkstart end? If i put it in the start, should i put fish food everyday to make bacteria growth faster? From what i learn that the beneficial bacteria eat amonia from left over food. Anyway, thanks for give us insight about this method. I do really like this video! ❤❤

So much useful info. You really know your stuff. Use a sheet of bubble wrap instead of tissue as it will float. Use a heater at 28*C to speed up growth of beneficial bacteria.

Additionally you can add just a small portion of food to kick start the ammonia proccess

Hi, you have some kind of perls in 0:21, what is this? Thank you so much for your advise! I'm going to follow this cycle in the upcoming days. Cheers

Currently running a dark start. Rather than waiting 3 weeks, i think il wait until the ammonia reads zero before planting and adding in live stock👍

I'm going to apply this method following your instructions. I'm sure I will get a very good result! Many thanks MJ!

Just setting up a new tank at the weekend, what a suprise! I was worried about water changes, now I'm not!

My last tank set up resulted in a lot of melted plants, esp my MC. The next one is definitely going to be DSM. Thanks for the video!

Just set up a new tank and using this method. Best way to reduce cha ces of melt.

Fabulous information! I've avoided "fish in" cycling, so I'm used to waiting for weeks to put fish into a tank, so this 3 week wait wouldn't bother me a bit. I've dealt with the plant melt issue with new tanks, and doing this will help me avoid that. Thank you for sharing this!

You explained it the best I find a lot of videos where they're just talking too much and explaining everything which gets kinda complicated.

Going to start a new tank with plants, going to try the dark start method this time. Had been struggling so much with algae and didn’t know the reason.

I am in week 2 of my dark start. So far so good. It is a conversion from a salt take to fresh water aquascape. Will put the video up on You Tube when complete.

Man I wish I knew about this a month ago. Just started and planted a 125 gallon. Almost all the plants melted and algae went nuts. Unfortunately I also didn’t know about daily water changes so it was only changed about every 4 - 7 days. Hopefully my cleanup crew can take care of it.

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry to hear that.. hope you can turn it around.

Nice explanation, thanks for considered the FAQ that lots of people would like to know, I can see you spend much effort on your channel, keep going 😁

Great video, straight to the point! My aquarium is cycling for a week now, i'm going to wait a month after adding plants and fishes... The only doubt left about it is: after the cycling is over shoul'd i change the water for a new one after drained? Or should i use the old one? Thanks a lot for the information.

@momma678

2 жыл бұрын

It'll be good to drain the water and use new conditioned water. I hardly had any plants melt with this method. Gonna do this for a new tank again!

In the process of putting a new tank together and definitely will try this.

Hi from Thailand I use this method to setup my tank it perfect! Thank you very much.

Great idea! Starting up a new high-tech 29 gallon now, will use your dark start. Thanks.

Excelente tus vídeos estoy suscrito a tu canal xq e aprendido muchas con tus vídeos te felicito 🤗 me puedes aclarar una duda ? Que es más seguro el método oscuro o el arranque en seco .?

this is awesome :) do you recommend dosing your tank with beneficial bacteria? i'm just wondering if that helps get the right bacterial colonies forming.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah that always helps

@gizmogrem988

2 жыл бұрын

Hi everyone! How does colony of beneficial bacteria colonise your filter and aquarium if there's no amonijum to feed bacteria. Does soil like Tropica soil contain organic materials that would start to break and feed aquarium bacteria with amonijum during dark period. Thanks.

Hi my tank is already 1 week on cycling,can I still add more aqua soil during the cycling process? Thanks Mj you're the best 🙏

I'm going to give a dark start a try with my next set up. Thank you for sharing this with technique.

I'm still waiting for my plants, and every video is so helpful. Thank you. I have tropica soil and they say change water twice a week for 4 weeks.

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah this is a good solution while you are waiting for plants!

I have started a 44 gallon with ADA Amazonia. Ammonia is through the roof as expected, nitrates are at 30 and no nitrites. I have been adding batter 100 to get the beneficial bacteria. I have been changing the water and replacing it with RO water. I am injecting CO2 but the tissue cultures all died and I lost $300 worth in plants. The tank is at 5.4 pH even though I am replenishing the water with minerals. Instead of a nice planted tank, I have an algae farm. Can I just stop the madness and just leave the water in the tank, stop the CO2 and turn off the light? add beneficial bacteria and wait for the tank to cycle or is it too late?

I've just done this. Due to a house move I set up the tank with the hard scape and it was left to cycle for nearly 6 weeks ( also did a few water changes and used Seachem Stablity). Finally added plants last weekend and look to add my first fish this weekend.

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

That is awesome!

Already started up my 15 gal, using the dark start method, and I am setting up my 46gal the same way. After 4 weeks and water testing is good, I will plant. Plan on going fishless for another month or so, while the plants are getting establish and filling out. During this time, I will feed the tank a little fish food daily, to keep the bacteria fed. Can't wait for the results!!

Definitely going to try this … I have 2 x 45cm cubes sitting there waiting. Way to go! 🤗

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Good luck!

@janecourtenay3676

2 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping started this on one of my cubes on the 16th December, and just tested the water parameters. It would appear to be cycled … is this possible in 13 days? I think I will leave it for the full three weeks anyway. Better to be safe than sorry, as the saying goes. 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼

I just got a new 80x40x40 tank and planning of using the Dry start method. Good thing i saw your video. Definitely will go for the dark side 😁👍🏻

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Good luck!

@monlegaspi

2 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙏

That's a great idea. I'll have to give it a try.

MJ I am sorry I do not wish to manipulate your time, but I have done a few questions which will help me a lot. I will condesate them here: If I do a Dark Start Mode, can later, before planting the plants and after I empty the tank to start filling it up again after the 3 weeks in the dark, to prepare the three types of moths, that you blend together, and brush them on stones and branches and then wait till they germinate? with lights, and just spraying water? and then.. only then start filling up the tank? In resume, do a dark start mode and then a dry start for the plants? How´s that? Can any bacteria survive the 2 weeks period without water? or I could leave just a slight bit of water?

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Marcel! No I don't think it's possible to do a dry start after a dark start. The beneficial bacteria will not survive the drystart, so it's a little bit pointless

@marcel5427

3 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping that's what I thought. I will have to.manually insert all the plants not as you instructed on the dry Mode. Oh well. Can't have it all right? Dankeee

ill probably do this method on my next (1st) planted aquarium! thanks MJ killing it as always

I'm also doing this method, my wife often asking me why do I feed an empty tank with fish food. lol.

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

😁

@oliverwinsome6059

3 жыл бұрын

Because the tank is not empty? 😂😂

@keggerous

3 жыл бұрын

My mom asked me the same thing lol. She was watching me put flakes in my take right after I set it up and I had to explain the entire process to her and it took like an hour because I basically explained to her the entire hobby.

@superjuned

3 жыл бұрын

Was that really needed to feed ? Or just leave it as it is dark method. Btw if my aquarium was in outdoor. Should i cover it until it is totally dark?? Please I need the answers. Thank Man

@keggerous

3 жыл бұрын

@@superjuned You feed the tank to build bacteria that will transform the amonia to nitrite and then the nitrite to nitrate. Making it safe for fish. About keeping it dark, that is to prevent algae from growing. If the tank is outside, that means it is probably in the sun or, at the least, getting ambient light from the sun. because of that, I would cover it until the excess nutrients are reduced and you are able to put plants in the tank. At that time, hopefully any nutrients in the tank will be used by the plants and not algae.

Shame my new plants are turning up tomorrow for my new tank hopefully i may be able to fit them in a tiny nano tank to keep them whilst i do this method

Best tips i ever heard.. thx MJ

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

Very welcome!

This is interesting. I do get a ton of algae over the first few months, I blame soil for being too nutrient rich. I will have to look into this!

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

Give it a try David! I'm sure you will see a difference

Very instructional video, straight to the point, as always. I'll be using this method as well for my new tank. I think it should be the new standard in planted aquariums.

Quick question. I am new to freshwater (always into reef tanks). Where does the bacteria and/or ammonia come from if its just water and soil/hardscape? Does the special soil come with bacteria and ammonia?

great video man. I think I am gonna do it. as a new aquascaper there is a lot of options and opinions out there on how to start and set up a planted aquascape but this makes since to me. i'll use bacteria and just skip the water chances for 3 weeks even tho I bought nice stuff you help with that. this method seems like it's a better way for the new scaper. I dont want plant meld from my TC plants.

The stuff on wood is not fungus, it's bacteria. In my first aquarium I tried the dark start method, it worked really well. Then I started the second aquarium the "classic" way, worked also great and for the third aquarium I tried a Fisch in cycle, which also worked great. I love trying new things and experimenting. I can't say which method I like the most. But I'm not patient enough for the dark start method even with it's benefits.

Just begun 3 week Dark Start. 1st ever aquascape. Hopefully after removing it's covering, I'll still like my hardscape design. Thanks from: PA-USA

I have an aquarium setup for close to a year now but there’s still plenty of algae. I need to do water changes every 1-2 weeks to control it. Did not use dark start but I would imagine 1 year should be sufficient to stabilize the water. What should I do now? I have it in my balcony, and there is indirect sunlight. Not sure if that’s the problem. I do not overfeed either

Thank you so very much for your dark Start Method!I am planning still for my new 450 l and 54 liter Aquariums. Now I can look much more forward,as I'm 65 and my tanks are all in de kelder.Much lesser work for me this way!Danke!

Great timing! I'm doing Dark Start Method rn. Just waiting for my driftwood to be waterlogged before I can flood. ❤️

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck!

@aisukurimu9341

3 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping Any tips so I can fasten the DW to sink? I've been soaking it for entirely 1 week now..

This is what i need to watch..thanks dude,my plants leaves always have algae anda ended up died

Great information Learned a couple of things I didn't know and will definitely put it to good use. Thank you for the heads up and the very informative knowledge you shared with us in this video.

I just started a new aquarium and is currently trying to do a dark start at the moment. I hope everything goes well after

Muy interesante, sí señor.Estupendo vídeo.

Useful vid, thanks! Will have to try it on my next planted tank!

Those rocks are beautifull what are they called

Very interesting setup. I'm going to do another tank soon, I'm going to try this method. Should test my patience because I hate to wait for anything. Thanks

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

good luck!

Cool ideas. Thinking about things. Consideration. These will lead us to success. Versus impulsively driving toward your goals with passion as your guide.

Superb idea MJ!!! This is very good idea, let the aquarium mature first, then planting. Maybe adding bacteria will quicker the cycling process.

Super duper nice planted tanks there WOW

I will start this method for my new aquarium Thank you

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck!

Hello I’m new to planted aquariums and I’ve been dark cycling the past 9 weeks. The only reason I haven’t started planting is because my last water test still had some ammonia (7ppm). Should I wait still until the ammonia is completely gone and I’m starting to see nitrates?

Thanks so much for this video. Exactly what I'll do this time. Will use a CO2 reactor too, but as with a sump tank will use the reactor with its own dedicated pump... not the return pump. Enjoying your videos.

Thank you soo much good information I will try this with my new setup

I should have seen this video 3 weeks earlier and now I am paying for this. Struggling with lots of diatom and cyano bacteria. I have done the hardscape and waited for around three weeks to get the plants. Instead of waiting without filling water, I should have do the dark start method. By bad.. 😢

This is a very good tip.Thank you and Happy aquascaping 🐟🐠

great video as usual i actually always do this but in a different way i would soak everything in a closed buckets for two weeks in the sun and just rinse them before putting into tank that includes my soils which are mostly diy soils and eureka.... magic with some extra used water from an existing tank

Do you still need to treat the driftwood by boiling before adding to the aquascape at the beginning of the dark star or not required?

I used this a few months ago and found it to work very well. I was starting up the tank in the winter and it was too cold to order plants (we had about 2 weeks straight of sub zero fahrenheit temps). It ended up working out great because by the time I could order plants the tank was fully cycled and I was able to add my clean up crew at the first sign of algae growth. Will definitely use this technique again.

@MJAquascaping

3 жыл бұрын

Perfect!

@marcel5427

3 жыл бұрын

Ryan Plunkett, did you turn the filter on or you kept it off?

@Rycraft5v8

3 жыл бұрын

@@marcel5427 I kept the filter running the whole time to start the cycling process.

@marcel5427

3 жыл бұрын

@@Rycraft5v8 I have a 280 lt tank which is not easy to keep it running. But the small fish tanks, I can do it. They are only 30 lts. So I will start them with the dark start (small ones) and the larger tank with the dry start. How´s that Ryan? Thanks so much for replying so fast.

@Rycraft5v8

3 жыл бұрын

@@marcel5427 I have never done a dry start but have read dry start should really only be used if you plan on injecting CO2. Dry start is good to let the plants take root but eventually you will flood the tank with water and if the plants are not getting injected CO2 when the tank is full of water they will have to likely go through the conversion process to emersed growth.

I'm doing my 1st ever Auquascape tank, and going the dark start method. Now I wait :)

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Good luck man!

I should have watched this a long time ago this is very informative MJ thanks for this ❤️

Just in time before I start with this hobby!

Hi After three weeks when the aquarium is emptied, the filling is done with new osmosis water or you use the old one. Thanks

Hi, I'm planning to do this method. Last time I had a lot of problems with algae and the white fungus. I used Dennerle Scaper's soil. However I have some questions about water changes. You said we dont need to do it, but I'm a little doubtful, can you tell me more about your experience?. Maybe 2 water changes per week will be ok?. Thanks anyway. Cheers.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Really no need to do any water changes! You can do it of course, but it really is not necessary

That is not a white fungus that is growing on the wood it’s bio film. It’s very beneficial for your tank especially if you have shrimp, shrimp and shrimp. Babies will increase survivability exponentially if there’s biofilm in the tank if you’re not going for a shrimp tank and you don’t like it obviously clean it. I just don’t want anybody scared away from the bio film thinking that it’s fungus.