My small tips for those who are going to startup budget planted tanks - 1) get rocks and drift woods from the nature itself , easy to find out if you're search properly instead of purchasing costly ones. 2) DIY CO2 , it's easy and very cheap yet effective 3) use biological filter media in the base layer of soil and then add the ADA or Aqua soil on top of it.

Buckets: They make cheap, collapsible silicone buckets which are super helpful if you live in a small space. You can have 10 buckets in the space of one traditional one

WHY * IS *THIS * CHANNEL * NOT * BIGGER hes full of knowledge and enthusiasm. Makes my day when he uploads

Great tips! 👍

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks guys!!

being patient is something a lot beginners struggle with, when you create a bit of nature but plants take their own time to get settled, beginners tend to want results right away and take on actions that might effect the tank long term, so be patient and see what your plants or tank is doing and act accordingly

@ashleyavellaneda5892

2 жыл бұрын

That's what i was a year ago. This hobby teach a lot. And improve my patient in everyway😅

Experience is everything. I've been in the hobby for 50 years and still learn something new every day. Thank you for sharing your experience.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Yep you never stop learning!

You’re my mentor! I started my tank 3 months ago and I’ve watched all your videos and it’s awesome and so many on insightful idea and methods which I applied to my new tank set up. I’m doing absolutely fine, loving each maintenance session. Thanks buddy! Keep doing you.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thank you!

Thank you @FluxAqua for sponsoring this video! fluxaqua.com/discount/MJFAMILY?redirect=/products/flux-background-chroma

Hi MJ, really the best beginners guide that I've ever seen, because of these honestly words. You say it's different, but its better than the other's. The important thing is that the new ones stay at the hobby. Thanks and greets from germany.

keep it up man, can't wait to see what comes next :)

Great video mate!

Thanks for the tips! Definitely have to enjoy the maintenance. Love your videos, have learnt a lot from you so thank you :)

Beautiful tanks and sound advice. I really love your videos and thanks for sharing👍✌️

Man, I just love your videos!! Awesome tips

Great video, thanks Mark! Definitely needed this video, as I am sure many others will.

Thank you very much for another informative video. I learned a lot of things from this video. Keep it up.

These are the best tips!!! Listen up people!!!!

My man! Great videos. So informative, great explanations, SUBSCRIBED! Planted tanks take work. Thank you for the tips and info!

I really like these beginner videos

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

Agree with all the points Mark. Been through them when I started so this video took me through the memory lane. Also, some things I still need to improve. I wish evey beginner see this video and skip the mistakes and confusion.

Just started, very helpful thanks.

Great Content !! Thank you for the tips and insights on the basics , I have just started my very first tank , watcing your great content just makes evrything easier for a begineer .

Btw you are one of my mentors in this hobby 👍and thx for all the tips

Great educational video marc... I love your videos....keep it up....from the u.s.a.

Great video, I hope at some point you make a video of a set up you would make with different budgets and see how you plan it out. Thanks for the content!

Great tips!

#2 is me hands down!!! Lol 😆 I'm hooked!!!

Thanks for all the tips 🥰

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Any time!

Great tip. I think , the most important. Constance.

you are the best mentor :D

Good video and tips. Congratulations

Great video 👍 👏 . I watch every video and this one was awesome, great tips and advice.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you for another Fabulous and inspirational video! LOVED all the tips! For me, what saved me the most amount of $ was figuring out which plants I can grow & which ones I just can't. Taiwan Lily and Red Tiger Lotus do insanely well in my water!

You are my number one tips :)

12.05 to 13.20 is the perhaps the shortest / best explanation on algae there is!

Great information Mark!! 👍🏻

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you think so!

always best tips here. each point is so important. aquascaping always demand learning and practicing new things. thanks legend for best tips./...flux back lights are amazing, scapes get more charm....goldy

Great tips! Mooie aquaria.👍👍👍

Your videos lured me into aquascaping. Really relatable and helpful content. Sadly, i don't have a mentor or a fellow hobbyist to learn from. It's trial and error but i'm getting there.

There levels to this game 💪🏼😉

Great vid! I'm happy to see that I already knew most of these before starting (I'm waiting for my rocks to ship atm) glad you talked about the filters in the description it's my biggest question mark right now. It's definitely gonna help me chose one now!

@bubblerings

2 жыл бұрын

I only see this small handful of really artistically and technically talented on KZread - like yourself... although we, the viewers aspire to join you in this joy filled lifestyle. As you say, Mark... it also takes time.

I've never gone the real plant route to be honest I've just got another tank and hope to start aquascaping it with bogwood and real plants, so going the route of first off to get plants which really don't require co2, as I believe Anubias etc are such plants, iam not green fingered at all so here's hoping my scaping this tank works. Thanks for sharing your wonderful videos.

Mark, please make a video on how you organize your aquascaping stuff. From sand to aquasoil,fertilizers, fish food, and hardscapes. 💯

Superb content ! Please make video on different brands planted light like week aqua etc ...

love all your videos, very informative. can you make a video about lighting? is it better to have 1 strong light, or 2 (not so strong) light. thanks and Godbless.

Bonsoir merci pour ces precieux conseils 👍

a big like!

Good stuff Mark, hello from across the pond

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Hello there!

Nice information Perfect tips ,👍❤️🇮🇳

Good tips for beginers . GG MJ

I'd love to see a video on different hardscape and substrate color combinations.

also looking good... those shelves on the left with tanks and bowls... Woww!! 0:09 -Add links for those, too! -Cheers!

Nice Video Mark .. hope you are doing well... best wishes from India 🇮🇳

Nice video, lots of great information! Thanks for sharing. I watched the video over like an hour Lol as I was working so I may have missed this.. How or where do you feel that knowing your water parameters fits in? Like hard or soft and knowing what plants will thrive in which environments?

I’m 15 and starting my first planted tank! Your my biggest role model for starting my first tank! I ordered a Co2Art Co2 kit and I’m super excited and nervous. Your tanks are beautiful can’t wait to set up mine! My only mistake so far is starting big I got a 36 bow front haha

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Good luck!

@annadavis236

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks :)

Wish I knew about your channel 5 years ago when I started with the hobby! I quit after a few months mostly because I could not control algae 🙂 started again a few months ago after watching an episode of your channel and took all your tips to heart and haven't had algae problems so far!🙂 Thank you 🙂

@MJAquascaping

Жыл бұрын

That's awesome! Welcome back to this amazing hobby

#8 I used some wood like that when setting one of my tanks, changed water first two or three days, then I have gone away for a weekend... Water turned dark purple, near-zero visibility, half the plants melted away. I had to do a full water change, add plants and bacteria to restart it. re: music - I'd add to not wear in-ear buds while doing maintenance, like I used to do. I suspect I got ear infection from it. Speakers are probably the best for this.

I want to know about Siesta period of lighting..... Plz make a video on it

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Will do!

I believe one day you will be guest of Green Aqua 😎

Loved the 9th: start simple. You are right on. I currently am simplifying all my scapes, to relearn the basics. I did lose some money trying to go too big, too fast, with so much time available... Cheers !

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Simple scapes can be just as beautiful!

@simonbegin5763

2 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping yes they do. But hey, we all watched a @Greenaqua video right ? Sometimes it gets people in the hobby, but it's good to remind us that it's ok to take a step back to go further after :)

Vaya, acabo de caer que entonces tú eres mi mentor! Me encantan tus paisajes y te estoy copiando varias ideas. Haha. Por cierto, cuando fertilizas no mides parámetros? Gracias!

Mentee here. Taking notes…

You're one of my mentors hehe. Im at my fist planted tank and first tank in 20 years. just 3 weeks in Im the target of this video lol. Already had half my in vitro plants die cause I was dosing only micro ferts and no macros. Added some water wisteria to compensate for lost plant mass. Added my first livestock and found one neon dead on the floor next day xD. Fish are stupid AF. Testing water every other day. Red moor wood is full of disgusting slime that cherry shrimp and otos refuse to eat lol apparently it will go away in time but so far it only seems to grow. No green algae yet ?! had some brownish one that otos actually cleared of plant leaves. Im not gonna develop MTS because money :P This is it hopefully I can manage to end up with a healthy tank in time. Love your videos!

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Aaah the beginning can be so difficult! Just keep it up, I'm sure you will have a beautiful tank soon!

Where do you get your water changing system? I especially like the part that goes into the tank since you don't have to hold it the whole time. I can't find it online. Thanks. Thanks for your channel by the way. I'm new to this and you've taught me a lot.

Por cierto, no usas acondicionador para el agua en los cambios semanales? O lo echas directamente al acuario? Gracias!

Thanks for another great video MJ. Do you have a submersion pump that you would recommend for water changes?

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

I like this one amzn.to/3xQLMHq

16:03 in English: can't see the forest for the trees. Great video!

You are an artist! Can't find other words... May I ask where you found that beautiful shelf unit you use to display your tanks (and plates)? Thank you for your inspiring videos

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

This is where I bought it! www.leenbakker.nl/kasten/wandkasten/wandmeubel-kyan-zwart-naturel-180x120x40-cm

Whats the shelf behind you in the intro?? 😨im in love with it !

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

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

can you tell us where you got your fish food dispenser? i remember seeing it in one of your vids but i cant find it ! 😭anyways it looked dope ( round and made of glass ?)

I didn’t plan at all and then returned everything and was too committed to give up so I bought all new stuff. I wasted so much time 😂

Nice video, thank you very much. How do you share technology with more aquariums? Do you have shared filters, co2 or all aquariums are completely independent?

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

They are all independent. I have been thinking of connecting multiple tanks to 1 CO2 system.

Hey man , as u were talking about seriyu rocks releasing calcium i wanted to ask .. i want to buy a bio media and i was looking for aquario neo media but i am confused b/w neo pure and soft .. ill be using ro water , ada Amazonia soil and hardscape is seriyu rocks so which media should i go with

Great tips! Would you recommend dosing liquid carbon combined with pressurised co2 system for preventing algae ?

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

No I would only add liquid carbon when you have some algae issues, and preferably spot dosing it with a syringe or something. I think if you add it on a daily or weekly basis just to prevent algae the algae can actually become more resistant to the chemical.

I like the open storage system you are using for all your small aquariums. Where have you bought it? :)

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

This is where I bought it: www.leenbakker.nl/kasten/wandkasten/wandmeubel-kyan-zwart-naturel-180x120x40-cm

Any recommendations for beginner substrate? Specific brands?

Jup, I needed tip number 7 a week ago. Just floaded my tank and some wood floated up. 😅 Haha

Wish you would've given some examples for tip #8 when selecting hardscape. Like some hardscape materials that are safest or easiest to deal with.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

I like black lava rocks, dragon stones,fossilized wood, red moor wood, and black spider wood if you can find it.

So I’m using fluval stratum substrate. Can you recommend a good liquid fertilizer to use that is available in the US?

Super helpful thank you so much! I have a hard scape that I started with a lot of seiru stone. Any additional ways that I can combat the high calcium?

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Either using RO water, or just more frequent water changes.

@joshuawilson3094

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Great tips, not just for beginners.

Dat was een duidelijke top 10! Ik re-scape binnenkort mijn aquarium en ze zullen zeker van pas komen. Ik vroeg me wel nog af of u kraantjeswater gebruikt of RO water?

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Gewoon kraanwater!

I would be interested to know which small plant is growing on the stones in the tank in the thumbnail? Is it a type of moss or something else?

Great video yet again MJ. I myself am just starting out, so far I have purchased a 60x40x40cm tank, Oase thermo 350 filter, About to order a Chihiros RGB VIVID 2 MINI LED LIGHT. substrate I have is ADA power sand advance with ADA Amazonia 2, hardscape is millennium stone and mopani wood. Would you recommend that I use Co2 and would it be a good idea to do a dark start to kick things off?

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Yep definitely recommend CO2 and a Darkstart!

ha.. jokes on you, MJ, you ARE my mentor 😭

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

It's an honor! 😁

What kind of super glue used? The Chinese store that kind of super glue ? Thx I appreciate a lot our videos 👏🏻

With your tanks with floaters, what do you do when you do trimming maintenance? Do you move them to one side or temporarily place them elsewhere so its easier to collect the trimmings?

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I usually take them out before I start the maintenance!

Bro is chihiros wrgb 60 is good can I buy it will it produce nice red plants

Good day, question for you if you don't mind. What is kitchen paper? It's not the first time I've heard that but I've never heard it from someone in my country.

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

like paper towels! One time use thick tissue paper

Hey Mark -- The reason I wanted to start an Aquascape is because I heard with lots of plants you don't need filters. I thought I saw this on one of your videos? Is it possible to have an aquascape without filters? Thanks for your videos!

@MJAquascaping

Жыл бұрын

True! I've recently done two tanks without a filter. Just browse through my videos and look for the XXL vase and the mini desk aquarium.

Hello, what is your opinion on the use of liquid CO2 such as Easy-Life Easy Carbo Bio instead of dissolving it in water through a special blowing system like the one you use?

@MJAquascaping

Жыл бұрын

Liquid CO2 is good for killing algae, but it does nothing for plant growth

@Largo1981

Жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping Thank you for your answer. I bought Easy-Life Easy Carbo Bio, and in the instructions they clearly state that it promotes the growth of plants and provides the necessary CO2 and prevents algae. From practice, I can say that plants grow, but so do algae. I looked at CO2 kits and found the Tropica System Nano Set 95g on Green aqua. Do I think it would be good for a 54 liter aquarium?

Superb video.. I have a doubt irrelevant to this video but still it's beginner kinda question, that's why I'm asking here... * Why oxygen pump or oxygen supply not been used in planted aquarium? Do Filters provide oxygen? Thanks for the reply 😀

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Filters and plants provide a lot of oxygen. If you want to use an air pump, use it only at night

@Mr.J_aust

2 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping Thank you so much for your valuable reply 😀Greetings from india.. keep rocking

Hi! I am planning to set up two 20 liters aquarium. And I want to buy filter for them that are the most silent. Which do you prefer? In your videos you say external filters are more silent but you recommend those to larger tanks. I live in Norway so maybe something I can get in europe. I really want to just start with plants only in the beginning. Today I have the aquael day n night lamp, do you think that its enough?

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

Hey that aquael lamp is fine! If you want to start simple just get an internal filter, especially for a 20 liter tank. I like the Dennerle corner filters! Cheap, silent and perfect for 20 liter

@locomocho2

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the recommendation! And what do you think about co2 in 20 liter aquarium? Do you recommend a co2 solution and if so, what kind?

Im asking when you made the diy co2 system was the co2 consistant because im about to do a dutch aquarium so i wanted to do a diy co2 system for it

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

If you use my recipe it's very consistent!

@johnleee3804

2 жыл бұрын

Ok, thank you very much

Can you link that siphon gun thing? It looks good but I can’t find it anywhere

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

www.aquastorexl.nl/dennerle-nano-vuilzuiger.html?id=227981223

You're probably gonna fail 😂😂 made me laugh. But harsh as it sounds, you're right..

how do you automate CO2? with a solenoid valve and a timer socket?

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

exactly!

Hi , hope you notice. about your tip 3 on algae. I have a 1 week old newly set up planted tank .only monte carlo inside. I use my old canister filter from a established tank. In just a week. I started seeing a little bit of diatoms. I start to light my tank in 80% light after i saw some algae, i dialed down my lighting from 80 to 65%. I forgot that i should start only from medium intensty on a new tank. Is it okay that i'd reduce the light or will it gonna cause a lot more algae? I've been in this hobby for a year. Still a lot to learn. By the way, my co2 is 2 to 3 bps in my 40cm tank

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

yeah that's okay! just don't reduce the intensity to much, and add some algae eaters!

@ashleyavellaneda5892

2 жыл бұрын

@@MJAquascaping aight thankyou. Ill take note to that.

does anyone live in an apartment and is passionate about aquascapes? Are you ever worried about flooding/leaking risks? afterall we are dealing with giant containers holding water that could potentially go out..

@MJAquascaping

2 жыл бұрын

I'm always a little worried when I setup a new tank, or when I'm away from home 😁

you're gonna get busy as a mentor as of now ;-)