The winner is clearly MJ for having two lovely tanks :)

Low budget is my favorite. The CI test is chlorine. Perhaps test the pH, KH and GH as well. The soil can change the values.

I would have liked to see the lights switched just temporarily to see if the high budget tank's more vibrant green colour was due to the light or if it was actually more vibrant green growth.

@MrOneWho

2 жыл бұрын

same, I've noticed quite a few peoples set ups that use the lower budget light (twinstar) there greens look a bit washed out... bit yellow which you wouldn't really notice unless there is another tank next to it with a different light

@olivierpelland1027

2 жыл бұрын

exact, I was thinking the exact same thing. In my new world cichlids tank, in the front I run fluvals plant 3.0 and in the back its a cheap chinese no name light. Under the fluval my amazon Bartherii is red and golden but under the chinese light, its all light and pale with no vibrant colour. Same for the fish as well lol.

Thank you your videos are really helpful It really gives that insight if someone really needs to spend more on high budget tanks

I love those kinds of video. They save us a lot of time doing the experimentation ourselves.

Thank you for the video. It's great to see the comparison. Also it's great to see your water test results, something I can compare my own to.

The M. Umbrosum would probably be expected to grow less tall in the high budget tank because it has better light. Better light would mean that it doesn't need to grow tall to get the light. In the low budget tank, it looks "leggier" with more space between the groups of leaves, while the growth in the high budget tank is more compact. The alternanthera is kinda breaking the rule in the high budget tank though. My suspicion is it's because of the other plants near it growing so fast compared to the slow growing alth. , it shaded the plant faster which meant that the plant had to adapt and grow taller to get the light it needed.

This was a great experiment. I like it when you can compare low budget to high. Thanks 😊

Great vid, as always! It would be great if you put the same lights on both tanks when comparing.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Noted!

I would switch the lights for a couple weeks and see what happens. The lower light with the better CO2 system might be the right mix.

Great low and high budget update 👍🏻

Love watching these updates. And it is reassuring to know the high budget just isn’t really necessary. I like the way the low budget is going better too, especially because I actually really like the more yellow light the budget light gives. It has a nice warm, golden look which is really pretty. Although I could see how the brighter, cooler toned light could bring out the colors of your fish better.

Awesome test and I'm surprised how good low budget tank looks. I've recently set up and scaped my first no filter vase inspired by your video. 👍

Great video I loved the comparison 👌

i'm really enjoying this series! the fact that the low budget tank is doing so well gives me hope for my own fish keeping since all my tanks are low budget. overall i really like the lighting in the high budget tank so my takeaway is that it's worth the investment in a high quality light.

Good work again mark, the diffrence between the low budget and high budget has a big diffrence

dang....I wish you had part 2 already uploaded...can't wait for the 1st set of results.

Great vídeo! Keep on.

I like the low budget best at this point. Interesting to see the next update 👍🙂

Nice! Thank you! Please let us know your fertelizing regime.

Love these testing series videos. Very cool! Of course I want low budget to win and I think on smaller tanks it's easier to get better results. I would imagine on a larger tank it might be more difficult. I still try and do low budget on my large tank though ;)

Great comparison for hi verses low budget aquariums. I have found in my own tank that pressurized C02 with a medium budget light and regular fertilization makes a pretty tank. I may hold off on the expensive light for awhile longer. Thanks for yet another informative experiment to help us in our hobby🥰

Your first high/low comparison showed the wrong tanks in the pictures, however the carpet was addressed correctly 😉. I prefer high budget growth, way healthier. Many people see large internode spacing as more vigorous growth, but I much prefer density as plants should have enough light and not appear leggy. Love this content, really need more practical testing like this.

I grew one plant before. I did a TON of research. Strong lights in fish tanks are bad for aquariums, they cause the plants to grow, but grow small. If the light is very close above the tank and its really powerful on top of that it causes the plant to think that it is already matured before it has reached its hight, kind of a safety instinct. So either put the strong light up really high or lower the intensity. A light high up/low intensity causes the plant to think "the sun is up there, i need to grow as high as i can to get more light" so the plant grows faster and higher if both parameters fit.

Interesting results and pretty consistent with things I've been learning from Cory at Aquarium Coop. If his explanation about how light works in water is correct, the added time should make a difference. I did wonder if the green dust algae was creating a color cast that made the plants a brighter shade of green, or if the difference was all about the light.

Great video💪🏻✔️🌿

Thanks for the test. I found it quite interesting but honestly, I'm not too surprised. My original guess was that there would not be a "big" difference and that appears to be the case. Having said that, I think the winner is the low budget tank. My opinion of course lol. 😅

Excelente vídeo, mostra que podemos ter aquários de alto nível com baixo custo

Hi new to your channel such fabulous tanks, now I need a full week to watch all the vidoes ;)

Great videos series!! I think that the reason why low tech is looking better could be that the plants that you’re using are in the range of low requirements in terms of light and Co2. There must be many plants that you can’t make it grow with that Low tech setup, like Utricularia graminifolia

Never thought about introducing Co2 in my aquarium but after watching your simple co2 making, i am gonna introduce co2 in all my 3 planted aquariums. Thanks 2 You. Just love watching your Experiments 👌

@GodLovesYou1994

Жыл бұрын

so how is it now ?

Awesome test 👍

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

I like the color of the high budget tank's lighting, but the low budget is the winner so far!

That's exactly why I keep low tech aquariums mark,yes you are limited to less plants,but there's plenty of choice.👍

Love the budget tank

I’m really preferring the Low-budget one! Hopefully with the increased lighting period the orange juice can catch up to the high-budget one! Great experiments though MJ!

Very interesting video! I would actually expect that the nitrates would be similar or slightly lower in the high-budget tank. This is because nutrient uptake should theoretically be faster in high light. The green dust algae are most likely due to an excess of light (as you mentioned). It is possible that the nutrient input in the high light tank is not enough to match the light output and the algae are taking advantage of the imbalance.

I'm in the process of a low budget tank, it's a but cheaper, but the plants are more expensive than the setup :)), still love it. thanks to you now I have a nice hobby. wife loves it, kid likes it, so nice to share a corner of a river to inside the house🎉❤

Very interresting, great video as always. Can you tell me what does cutting all the plants back do as far as fighting algae? I assume it makes them grow quicker thus using more nutrients starving the algae. Does it make them more bushy?

Good comparison

Can you do identical set ups but with low vs high budget lighting?

Nice comparision. I think tests from JBL are better compare die diffrences between these two tanks, because the are more precious.

Hey, Love your channel. Nice video, quick edit, if you can, you have the high budget and low budget labels on the wrong tanks at 5:33.

Hands down the low buget tank! For the price of a beautiful high buget tank, you can have 4 beautiful low budget tanks. But of course only people like you can do it. Thanks for the video. 👍

What is the difference between this low budget tank and the tank which you made using pond soil in previous experiment (dirt vs aqua soil)

nesaea pedicellata golden is a high light plant. I have to make sure its not shaded out in my 55. The crinkled leaves and lack of growth is what happens when its crying for more light

Nice to see both systems are working well and most don't have to break their wallets for a new setup.

5:21 are the labels opposite? the same footage was used for high budget tank first, then low budget tank.

Can you make a video about Green Aquarium Water ?

I'm dutch like you so I'm a fan of the low budget setup... no matter what the result is...😉😋

Fascinating. Suspect lighting is the issue, Dennerle have long recommended less harsh/blue light and more soft yellow/orange/red, check please the spectrum charts for both lights. Triton blue heavy fluorescent tubes in the 1990s caused terrible algae problems on freshwater tanks and were taken off the market. Not sure about your Phosphate as an issue. Above 0.5 ppm is high and Phosphate is regarded as the limiting factor, i.e. algae are supposed to be unable to utilise high Nitrate if Phosphate is exhausted, but then the Nitrate levels are not high in either tank. Thanks Mark, keep this one running please.

At 5:30 the video of the high and low tank are switched. Great video

Would you do an experiment- liquid fertilizer vs ei fertilizer

Hi, just subscribed! Lovely tanks. Where May one purchase such a stand for multiple small tanks?

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Bought it! Here's the link www.leenbakker.nl/kasten/wandkasten/wandmeubel-kyan-zwart-naturel-180x120x40-cm

For me it would be interesting to change the lights fore a sequenz in the next video. So we can see if the colours of the plants are still different or the same. For this video i prefer the high budget tank because of vibrant plant colour

Kan je volgende keer eens een experiment doen. Beide low budget maar bij 1 liquid fertilizers gebruiken en bij de andere niet. Zodat je kan zien dat het wel degelijk werkt🤔. Keep up the good work!

Hey wondering what kind of shelving unit you have? Looking for a new home for my tanks and would love to hear the name/brand.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

www.leenbakker.nl/kasten/wandkasten/wandmeubel-kyan-zwart-naturel-180x120x40-cm

I think you have the labels mixed up at 5:35. The low budget tank is the one on the left. The light color and the size of the red plant in the foreground give it away.

How do u manage CO2 level with diy system?!?! i JUST GET TO MUCH CO2 and i cant control it...

Hey MJ, i know im late and not sure if you have said this in another video but do you keep the diy c02 in the low budget tank all the time?

@MJAquascaping

4 ай бұрын

Yeah the CO2 was running 24/7 on that tank :)

@aqua_Laura

4 ай бұрын

@MJAquascaping oh that's interesting. I might try this instead of the system I have just now which even though has a solenoid I think it's pretty unstable as I'm having to adjust the bubbles every day

test pH?

I kept the alternanthera reinechkii mini in a low light, no co2 tank and it did beautifully. It was full and showed wonderful colors. I ended up switching that aquarium to high lights with a co2 regulator and I saw that beautiful plant go down hill. I eventually took it out of my aquarium. I was so surprised by that. (The plant can be seen here in my profile photo. Up front to the left a bit. This was already in the stages of not doing well)

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

That is surprising indeed!

@cherylcalifornia125

2 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping next time I’m out and near a fish store I think I’m going to purchase this plant again and replant it with low light and no co2.. I have a nice nutrient rich substrate in the tank already. Please continue updated video’s on yours.

Low budget tank at least for now. It would be interesting to see if there is a change with having same light on both tanks. So to imitate how many people do things, starting with low budget and upgrade as they are able to put more money into the tank.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah we can definitely try that as well!

That actually makes sense that the lower budget light would make the plants grow fuller and with much more height. When plants lack lighting they will growing much higher to reach that light. Same with crypts, if you dial your lighting down to a point where they are surviving but still starved for that light they will shot out more runners trying to find that light they seek

Could it be that the plants' appetite for nitrates is up because of the high phosphates, I think I read about that somewhere (ukaps, can't remember).

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Yea could be

For to have my plants very red. Max 15mg/ l of nitrates for 1,5 of phosphates. 👍👍👍👌

The don t like stop light for 3hours in middle of the journey. Its Dennerle système.

The high budget tanks plants are better growth. The stem length per leaves is greater on low budget tank= need for more light. The higher budget tank stem length per leaves is shorter=plants appreciating the correct lighting values. Thus, short plant length is better than longer plant length in low budget tank. I love these comparison videos. Thank you for creating them.

@2roddmann2

2 жыл бұрын

Apologies, I missed stating my point, faster growth for beginners may seem like a good thing but actually, tighter compact growth is preferable.

My phosphate in my tank is also really high. I tested my tap water and it is also 2mg/L. I am struggling with green spot algae as a result. Do you have any suggestions to try and reduce that without having to go down the RO water route? Thanks!

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

There's a type of filter media that removes phosphate from the water! I believe Seachem calls it phosguard something like that.

@loganwade8728

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Thanks!

I like the Low Budget tank

Hallo, ik volg je al lang, super videos. Maar wil je toch ook vrsgen waar je de kast hebt gekocht ik dacht Ikea? Weet je dan soms de naam er van? Vast bedankt. Willem.

How many gallons is the test aquarium? Please continue experimenting

@MJAquascaping

Жыл бұрын

5 gallons 😊

@themoon9550

Жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping Thank you 🙂

Maybe the deffernces due to light more than substrate, but it's clearly raising a question, is it really worth to pay triple or more money?what is the wow thing we get in return?

I enjoyed this, are the pictures mixed up at 05:46 ?

@BrendanSmith72

2 жыл бұрын

I actually came here to say something similar - it's actually mixed up earlier - the lighter pebbles is the budget tank, swapped at about 5:20.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah you are right.. a little mistake in the editing i guess...

@MarksShrimpTanks

2 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping I do the same in ALOT of my videos, I even call things by the wrong name 😂

mooie test, kan een verschil in Kelvin wat uitmaken? de low lijkt wat warmer, kan ook de witbalans van je camera zijn.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Die twinstar is inderdaad wat warmer, zou zeker verschil kunnen maken.

Does the high budget tank look a bit better just because of the better lights? In other words, swap the lights just to see how each looks under the different lights. The HB looks better and more vibrant in the video, but maybe not as much in person.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

I'm going to swap the lights next time!

Salut mark, comme d'habitude vidéo intéressante et surtout très intéressante sur l'évolution et j'aurais parier j'aurais gagné je suis sûr que le bac petit budget va gagné surtout en augmentant la durée d'éclairage. J'ai hate de voir la suite. Merci a toi pour ses expériences. Bonne journée.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

La prochaine fois, nous parions pour de l'argent ! 😁

@MrVili83

2 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping 😉 J'aurais plutôt parié pour un bac ou une visite en video chez celui qui a perdu ou gagné... 👍👌👍👌

If you are nitrate limited your phosphates will not go down. Must add nitrate supplement separately.

At 5:29 when you do the side by side comparison, I think you have the high and low budget words on the screen the wrong way around. Based on the cooler lighting and the blixa japonica in the tank on the right, I'm pretty sure that one is actually the high budget, not the low budget?

@loganwade8728

2 жыл бұрын

It's correct at 5:51 so I think it's just that one bit that is the wrong way around

I imagine your high budget tank isn’t entirely balanced and might need more N, perhaps dosing it daily. The source of P is either your fertilizer (if it’s NPK) or also the tap water, or a combination of the two? I would also probably reduce Fe dosing, by at least half. The strong light probably makes algae grow more than in your low budget tank…. Nice videos, thanks for sharing, please keep up the good work!

More floating plants you have, less NO3 will be. Maybe, that's one of the reasons the difference between them. Dirted tanks are amazing, so cheap...

I always put my co² pump in fhe back so you won't see the tube

Indah sekali bro 🇮🇩

bro you put wrong side of video for High budget and lowbudget in the first compare

Is it just me or is the first side-by-side (5:25) image text wrong? I think it's low budget on the left, high budget on the right.

I still prefer the low budget tank, great that it’s not getting algae. Can I ask; the low budget tank looks to have no surface film even though there seems to be very little surface agitation, I find I always get it if I don’t have high surface agitation.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Hey Linda! Yeah the low budget tank doesn't really have any surface scum, and to be honest with you I'm not sure why... It really surprised me as well.

@lindapeppin2441

2 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping I was hoping you had some magic cure for surface scum 😀😀

Hello, First of all, thank god you stopped putting an teasing intro which was just a loss of timz IMHO :D Once again, nice video nicely documented and I'm always happy to see how fair you are when judging. Surprising things for me: - similar No3 level, would have expected lower absorbtion in the low budget tank and so higher no3 - the reneki mini being more in a bush form in the low budget contrary to all other plants. Any info, known stuff about this plant? Thanks for the quality content (BTW my ikea besta seems to handle the 70L + Rocky hardscape pretty well 😀)

Cl - chlorine may be strangely, usually with a high content of phosphates in the water, brown algae predominate on the walls of the aquarium, and with high nitrates, green algae on the walls. It feels like the tests are lying)

I personaly like the Low budget one beacuse its looking natural.

FYI I think the high and low budget tanks got mixed up in the first side by side

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah something went wrong with the editing

@charlesrosenberg77

2 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping well nonetheless, i enjoy these experimental videos a lot

Hi Your first split screen the tanks are the wrong way round.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Yea something went wrong with the editing there...

Hi. Not big difference because your low budget have a good spectrum light in (orange) No good for looking But good for growing...

The first side by side comparison at 05:21 is wrong, low and high budge "labels" doesn't match the video behind it. I think they should be on the opposite side. Small mistake but it should be mentioned i guess. Thanks for the video.!🙂👍

please clean the algae off the high budget tank and take another clip of it i think the camera is receiving more green pigment changing the colour of the tank plants

Zo fijn om in een land te wonen waar je je geen zorgen hoeft te maken over chloor in je water 😁

You accidentally switched the labels for high budget vs low budget at 5:45. Edit. I paused too quickly. You correct it right after. My bad.

Should have used dirt in the cheap one.

Hi

CL = Chlorine (Cl not Ci :))

Cl Is Chlorine:)