i swear, I am your biggest fan for two reasons. The first is that your humility is not natural, and the second is that you share 10 years of experience for free, in my personal belief, you are undisputedly number 1.
What did I just watch ? Super cool camera shots, clear explanations, complete informations, beautiful tanks, great voice and nice choice of the backing track, edit on point showing all we need to see... Probably the most perfect video for aquascaping beginners. Congrats on this, you can be proud of your work ! 💚
The best beginner friendly setup guide from start to finish that I have ever had the pleasure of watching. I was 50/50 about getting back into the hobby in my new home. Had a lot of issues with my old tank due to not having a clue 😊 With this video I now have the confidence to get a 60p and agains thank to TH-camrs like you it’s a great fountain of knowledge on tap. ❤ Thank you very much Mark I really appreciate it 😊
Great advice! It took me the longest time to get my lights on a schedule, and I had lots of bba. Once I finally started turning them off after the proper amount of time the bba went away.
I am new to aquascaping and your videos have given me more clarity, insight, and confidence in next steps, than all the research I did online this past week
Amazing video! Just in 20mins you explain so so so much about aquascaping for people like me who wants to get a tank but have no clue what I need and where to start with and even what kind of fish I need to balance the ecosystem! And all of this is for free! I cannot believe it. Thank you very much❤ priceless!
Good to see all the basics being covered in the video. If someone is willing to start proper aquascaping, they should watch it. I have tried low quality stuff, less plants, bad soil and have suffered and learnt the hard way...better to start with good equipment and sound advice...
I would say this is the best beginner advice for aqua scaping I have ever seen. I was 50/50 about getting a tank again after problems with my first setup - Looks like I’m getting a 60p thanks to the confidence you have now given me. Thank you good sir! ❤
The floating plants are such great help. Based on your tips, put in some red root floaters and frog bits. Worked charm and didn't face algae. Also I started with a "leached" soil and added ferts incrementally.
This is so helpful! I am finishing up research for a planted tank (my first) with the intent to have shrimp and guppies, but I want to aquascape it and have it look nice as well as being a healthy place for the animals inside. I haven't found a guide yet that detailed the shaping of slopes, plant placement, hardscape, etc, as well as this video has! My notepad is much more fleshed out with ideas and information after watching this.
You have inspired me to try a planted tank again. I had one years ago but didn't know what I was doing. I just bought a new tank and am ready to get started. This video was perfect timing for me. Thank you!
Oh, btw I really appreciate how you just stick to the fact's and make it make sense. So many of other people just ramble on about nothing, just tooting their own horn,💇
Your channel is very nice! I've been following you for a few years! Try a video with a dark start! It would be useful information for many to avoid algae from the beginning! clear waters and lots of growth!
Great video as usual. I do think small sponge filters can be a great option for beginners. They can be hidden with plants / hardscape, and are easier to set up and maintain than canister filters. Plus they’re great for shrimp which are an excellent stocking option for newbies.
New year and I am trying to motivate myself to have a hobby that's unique and creative and I see you here in youtube maybe it's a sign to try aquascaping cuz I'm already a fishkeeper. I am sure that I could learn aquascaping through watching your videos. New subscriber here from philippines.. And I enjoy as well as amaze by watching your videos. Hoping to see more videos from you this year..
Great video Mark! I've been keeping fish since 2008 but this year I really want to focus on the scaping aspect. Thank you for always being a excellent source of information and inspiration.
Thumbs up on the DIY co2..I was just looking into this..I have 3 pickle jars right now my 1st try.. its going well..horticulture us what I do 9 months if the year outdoors..its -20 windchill no..so I brought the live for plants indoor
This is very helpfull! I would really like to get into aquascaping. I am saving up for buying a nanotank and making a setup for some shrimp and maybe snail.
Great Guide! not only for beginners!!! Regarding using Soil... I have 3 packages of Tropica Soil of 9 liters each at home for more than 16 months, but I have never dared to use it in any of my aquariums or Nano Cube or Nano Tanks. What really slows me down a lot with Soil, and makes me always decide on the combination of Substrates + Sand or very fine gravel, is the duration of the Soil. I read again and again that the duration of the benefits of Soil in terms of water acidification and nutrient supply has a very short duration, just one year.... However, I can have Substrates such as Dennerle JBL or Tropica under sand or gravel for 5 years without problems. Perhaps for someone who is a more radical Aquascaper, having to restart an aquarium every 12 months is great.... but in my case I usually have many dwarf american cichlids and Scalar fish, and I don't like the idea of having to constantly restart my aquariums since this type of fish is very sensitive to changes. So the Soil option is usually the discarded option even though, for example, the reduction in PH that Soil usually causes, for the type of fish that I usually have in my aquariums, would be something great. Greetings from Germany. 👋🏻❤👍
Hi Mark! First let me say that you are a true artist, both in aquascaping and filming. I've always admired gifted people (and envied a little, too ;). In one of your videos you mentioned that we should avoid "dead zones" in our tanks where there is no water flow. Maybe you could say something more about water circulation in your tanks and in general? Where to put inlets and outlets in a small tank and in larger ones?
Thanks for this video! While I don't have a tank myself (yet), I really enjoy watching aquascaping videos. I enjoy them so much that I'm considering picking up the hobby again. I had a tank years ago, before there was as much online information available, but I gave up after a couple of years of fighting algae. I assumed I had a relentless algae issue because I couldn't control the natural light coming through the windows of the room. I've noticed that you and other aquascaping content creators have tanks in rooms with very little to no windows. I was hoping to find more information about tank placement in relation to natural light in this video. If you're ever short of a subject for another video, I would really appreciate hearing your take on the subject.
As usual, you are clear about what is your opinion then immediately follow with your experience that show why you have that opinion. You have an uncanny knack for being able to add things that even experienced fish & plant keepers and aquascapers learn from. I have been a fan since your earliest videos and will arm wrestle @BlackLionDZ for the #1 fan title. LOL
Thanks .I am moving over from marine so its all new again to me.I have kept marine tanks for 20 years and now all of a sudden you can't get marine stock for your tank as most marine shops are closing down .
Great work. At 12:44 can you please tell me the name of the rack in the background. I have been looking for same to keep multiple aquariums but couldnt find it.
I just made my first one 3 weeks ago and my water is still brown.. i didnt know to get the wood chips out. Now i gotta wait till my baby shrimp get bigger so i canstart over
I love the video. Thanks for all the information. I have a question about cleaning the gravel. Do you use a gravel vac? How would you recommend cleaning the bottom of a planted aquarium? Thanks
Thank you for this! I just started up a new tank and was wondering about when to start the ferts. Im also thankful for the algae types i can expect. I knew i would get some, but wasnt sure what types to expect! Thankyou!
I use Week Aqua as a light. I am very pleased with it. I use Z400 Pro in one set and Z200 Pro in the other tank. I recommend it to you, dear hobbyists.
I just got a 10 gal, with some planting spill and bio sand, plus some wood for my daughter's upgraded fish tank. Will it be OK to put the betta in the tank by day 1 or do i need to wait a bit more days or weeks? As for plants, just gonna put some new store bought plants and to see what happens.
mark i have got my first 10 gallon tank i used stratum and potting soil mix capped with sand (i got this idea from some other videos) it has been cloudy for 3 days im waiting for it to subside how long does it normally take
Plz lmk how to clean my filter, I have a Tidal 55 filter for my 36 gal tank. Fresh water. So I clean my filter every two weeks as well as remove alllll media(sponges, etc ) each n every time or no bc I need to keep good bacteria in some media..? Plz advise Tia
I have watched many of your video's and they are amazing. I am not new in the aquarium hobby, i had freshwater aquaria when i was younger, from zebra and discus till pirahna and about 12 year ago i had a 1000 liter seawater reef aquarium. Now i am thinking to start a aquascape tank and that is something i don't have any experience in. Something i am not sure about is what size aquarium to start with. In seawater it is bigger is easier for starters. If you start you can maintain a 1000 liter tank easier than a 60 liter tank, since the bigger the volume, the easier it is to get it stabelized and keep it that way. Is this the same with aquascape aquaria? What size would you recommend to start with and is there a difference in a shallow aquarium other then the looks? (I am currently looking at the Superfish Scaper 90 to start with, but i am open to suggestions if there are better options in the same price range)
Amazing video as always! Just want to ask, what background are you using on all your aquariums? are those frosted background or just plain white? Thank you!
where I live in the states, we have absolute trash for stores to buy stuff. Petco... and they have dead plants and like 3 aqueon tanks. Other countries love this hobby it seems!
Hey Mark, maybe an idea to turn the recreations of the Green Machine scapes into a series, I really liked the one you did and would love to see you tackle some more. Green Machine ahs some of my favourite scapes ever.
is the cotton and super glue not bad for the fish? is it non toxic or does that stuff not even affect fish? Or do they perhaps nibble on it? If so is there a certain super glue to use?
i swear, I am your biggest fan for two reasons. The first is that your humility is not natural, and the second is that you share 10 years of experience for free, in my personal belief, you are undisputedly number 1.
wow... glad u heb dat gesaid...
What did I just watch ? Super cool camera shots, clear explanations, complete informations, beautiful tanks, great voice and nice choice of the backing track, edit on point showing all we need to see... Probably the most perfect video for aquascaping beginners. Congrats on this, you can be proud of your work ! 💚
Thanks Mark! Ook voor niet beginners weer een duidelijke guide om even op terug te vallen! 😊
The best beginner friendly setup guide from start to finish that I have ever had the pleasure of watching. I was 50/50 about getting back into the hobby in my new home. Had a lot of issues with my old tank due to not having a clue 😊 With this video I now have the confidence to get a 60p and agains thank to TH-camrs like you it’s a great fountain of knowledge on tap. ❤ Thank you very much Mark I really appreciate it 😊
Great advice! It took me the longest time to get my lights on a schedule, and I had lots of bba. Once I finally started turning them off after the proper amount of time the bba went away.
I am new to aquascaping and your videos have given me more clarity, insight, and confidence in next steps, than all the research I did online this past week
Great video Mark. You make content that is fun to watch. I've been aquascaping for years and still enjoyed the video!
Amazing video! Just in 20mins you explain so so so much about aquascaping for people like me who wants to get a tank but have no clue what I need and where to start with and even what kind of fish I need to balance the ecosystem! And all of this is for free! I cannot believe it. Thank you very much❤ priceless!
Great video for all beginners Mark! I wish you and all folks here a very happy, healthy and successful new year full with awesome aquascapes!
🎉
First time on this channel, subbing immediately! Great video, about to start my 3rd scape! 😄 Last one went horrible so wish me luck!🤞🏻Groetjessss!
Good to see all the basics being covered in the video. If someone is willing to start proper aquascaping, they should watch it.
I have tried low quality stuff, less plants, bad soil and have suffered and learnt the hard way...better to start with good equipment and sound advice...
Probably your best, most straightforward video to date, Mark. Thank you!
I would say this is the best beginner advice for aqua scaping I have ever seen. I was 50/50 about getting a tank again after problems with my first setup - Looks like I’m getting a 60p thanks to the confidence you have now given me. Thank you good sir! ❤
Love that you put this video together! Your aquascapes are always so nice and you have such great advice and perspective on the hobby!
The floating plants are such great help. Based on your tips, put in some red root floaters and frog bits. Worked charm and didn't face algae. Also I started with a "leached" soil and added ferts incrementally.
This is so helpful! I am finishing up research for a planted tank (my first) with the intent to have shrimp and guppies, but I want to aquascape it and have it look nice as well as being a healthy place for the animals inside. I haven't found a guide yet that detailed the shaping of slopes, plant placement, hardscape, etc, as well as this video has! My notepad is much more fleshed out with ideas and information after watching this.
This is best aquarium video I’ve seen! Amazing for literally everyone who is interested in setting up an aquarium.
You have inspired me to try a planted tank again. I had one years ago but didn't know what I was doing. I just bought a new tank and am ready to get started. This video was perfect timing for me. Thank you!
Oh, btw I really appreciate how you just stick to the fact's and make it make sense. So many of other people just ramble on about nothing, just tooting their own horn,💇
Your channel is very nice! I've been following you for a few years! Try a video with a dark start! It would be useful information for many to avoid algae from the beginning! clear waters and lots of growth!
Great video as usual.
I do think small sponge filters can be a great option for beginners. They can be hidden with plants / hardscape, and are easier to set up and maintain than canister filters.
Plus they’re great for shrimp which are an excellent stocking option for newbies.
New year and I am trying to motivate myself to have a hobby that's unique and creative and I see you here in youtube maybe it's a sign to try aquascaping cuz I'm already a fishkeeper. I am sure that I could learn aquascaping through watching your videos. New subscriber here from philippines.. And I enjoy as well as amaze by watching your videos. Hoping to see more videos from you this year..
Go for it!
Great video Mark! I've been keeping fish since 2008 but this year I really want to focus on the scaping aspect. Thank you for always being a excellent source of information and inspiration.
Thumbs up on the DIY co2..I was just looking into this..I have 3 pickle jars right now my 1st try.. its going well..horticulture us what I do 9 months if the year outdoors..its -20 windchill no..so I brought the live for plants indoor
You could even promote this video for intro to general fisk keeping, considering you are covering the basics to raising fish
This is very helpfull! I would really like to get into aquascaping. I am saving up for buying a nanotank and making a setup for some shrimp and maybe snail.
Great Guide! not only for beginners!!!
Regarding using Soil... I have 3 packages of Tropica Soil of 9 liters each at home for more than 16 months, but I have never dared to use it in any of my aquariums or Nano Cube or Nano Tanks.
What really slows me down a lot with Soil, and makes me always decide on the combination of Substrates + Sand or very fine gravel, is the duration of the Soil.
I read again and again that the duration of the benefits of Soil in terms of water acidification and nutrient supply has a very short duration, just one year.... However, I can have Substrates such as Dennerle JBL or Tropica under sand or gravel for 5 years without problems.
Perhaps for someone who is a more radical Aquascaper, having to restart an aquarium every 12 months is great.... but in my case I usually have many dwarf american cichlids and Scalar fish, and I don't like the idea of having to constantly restart my aquariums since this type of fish is very sensitive to changes.
So the Soil option is usually the discarded option even though, for example, the reduction in PH that Soil usually causes, for the type of fish that I usually have in my aquariums, would be something great.
Greetings from Germany. 👋🏻❤👍
This is amazing!!!
I love your tank full of the Glow Light Tetras!!
♥
Thank you so much a really good introduction!
I'm finding Aquasoil very difficult to source in Canada, would Fluval Stratum be an acceptable substitute?
Hi Mark! First let me say that you are a true artist, both in aquascaping and filming. I've always admired gifted people (and envied a little, too ;). In one of your videos you mentioned that we should avoid "dead zones" in our tanks where there is no water flow. Maybe you could say something more about water circulation in your tanks and in general? Where to put inlets and outlets in a small tank and in larger ones?
I agree. Planted tank is not as complicated as it seems
Mine just stabilised within a month 😂
Thanks for this video! While I don't have a tank myself (yet), I really enjoy watching aquascaping videos. I enjoy them so much that I'm considering picking up the hobby again. I had a tank years ago, before there was as much online information available, but I gave up after a couple of years of fighting algae. I assumed I had a relentless algae issue because I couldn't control the natural light coming through the windows of the room. I've noticed that you and other aquascaping content creators have tanks in rooms with very little to no windows. I was hoping to find more information about tank placement in relation to natural light in this video. If you're ever short of a subject for another video, I would really appreciate hearing your take on the subject.
Thank you so much this is very helpful
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Do you cap your aqua soil?
As usual, you are clear about what is your opinion then immediately follow with your experience that show why you have that opinion. You have an uncanny knack for being able to add things that even experienced fish & plant keepers and aquascapers learn from. I have been a fan since your earliest videos and will arm wrestle @BlackLionDZ for the #1 fan title. LOL
Do i have to buy Ro water or can i use tap water with a dechloinator in it ?
Tap water with a dechlorinator is fine 😊
Thanks .I am moving over from marine so its all new again to me.I have kept marine tanks for 20 years and now all of a sudden you can't get marine stock for your tank as most marine shops are closing down .
This is really great beginners guide!! I am staring mine and can’t wait to share.. hope it will turn out well.
Very good and educational on how to plant an aquarium. Where is the heater and pump/filtering equipment hidden in the tank?
Thanks for this. Learned a lot and gained inspiration to take the leap in Aquascaping.
Great work. At 12:44 can you please tell me the name of the rack in the background. I have been looking for same to keep multiple aquariums but couldnt find it.
I just made my first one 3 weeks ago and my water is still brown.. i didnt know to get the wood chips out. Now i gotta wait till my baby shrimp get bigger so i canstart over
Great video, thanks for the information. I will be starting my own aqua tank soon!
BEAUTIFUL
I love the video. Thanks for all the information. I have a question about cleaning the gravel. Do you use a gravel vac? How would you recommend cleaning the bottom of a planted aquarium? Thanks
Thank you for this! I just started up a new tank and was wondering about when to start the ferts. Im also thankful for the algae types i can expect. I knew i would get some, but wasnt sure what types to expect! Thankyou!
I like this format, you should do it again, chats with Matt!
18:28 the epiphyte plant on the wood! is that montecarlo!? looks sooooo good
Everything covered, very well done!
Thank you very much really really good informative tutorial
I use Week Aqua as a light. I am very pleased with it. I use Z400 Pro in one set and Z200 Pro in the other tank. I recommend it to you, dear hobbyists.
Liked and subscribed. You have a beautiful voice and your aquascapes are dreamlike. So beautiful
Thanks for the sub!
I have set myself up for (re)scaping 5 tanks for the coming year. I'll take any and all inspiration I can find.
Thanks! 😅
I just got a 10 gal, with some planting spill and bio sand, plus some wood for my daughter's upgraded fish tank. Will it be OK to put the betta in the tank by day 1 or do i need to wait a bit more days or weeks?
As for plants, just gonna put some new store bought plants and to see what happens.
Really enjoyed this video Mark very informative love your channel take care.
Can you recommend me which lamp should i use from Twinstar for a 50-60 liter tank?
You are a landscaping genius! I'm amazed by your work!
This is a super tutorial…
1 2 3 Thanks Mark
mark i have got my first 10 gallon tank i used stratum and potting soil mix capped with sand (i got this idea from some other videos) it has been cloudy for 3 days im waiting for it to subside how long does it normally take
Hello! Can you recommend me for a 50-60 liter tank which Twinstar lamp is suitable ?
Amazing! I'm trying to learn aquascaping and I'm not very creative with it ... what do you think is the easiest layout (such as the concave shape etc)
I'm a big fan of the triangular shape, and I find them quite easy to make :)
what if you use tetra aquastart? Will that help to start putting fish into your tank faster?
You helped me a lot to find a layout ^^
Good timing Mark-Jan, my new Oase StyleLine 175 will be delivered in two days!
Nice one!
Can you make a video where you show the cleaning process please? How to clean the gravel/aquasoil what are useing to do it and so on.
do you recommend buying an already built scaped tank and just continuing to take care of it?
Im a new subbie and I find your voice, your videos and the aquascapes very relaxing and calming. More power to you👋🏻
Thanks for subbing!
may i ask where u buy ur harscape materials in the netherlands?
iam currently trying to make my second aquascape
Best tutorial ever
I have been following for a looong time but I didn't know your name Mark. Nice to meet you.
Best advice in one place
Thank you for this wonderful tutorial
Plz lmk how to clean my filter, I have a Tidal 55 filter for my 36 gal tank. Fresh water. So I clean my filter every two weeks as well as remove alllll media(sponges, etc ) each n every time or no bc I need to keep good bacteria in some media..? Plz advise Tia
For aquarium 20x20x25.. How much substrate i need pour it for plant grow?
I have watched many of your video's and they are amazing. I am not new in the aquarium hobby, i had freshwater aquaria when i was younger, from zebra and discus till pirahna and about 12 year ago i had a 1000 liter seawater reef aquarium. Now i am thinking to start a aquascape tank and that is something i don't have any experience in. Something i am not sure about is what size aquarium to start with. In seawater it is bigger is easier for starters. If you start you can maintain a 1000 liter tank easier than a 60 liter tank, since the bigger the volume, the easier it is to get it stabelized and keep it that way. Is this the same with aquascape aquaria?
What size would you recommend to start with and is there a difference in a shallow aquarium other then the looks? (I am currently looking at the Superfish Scaper 90 to start with, but i am open to suggestions if there are better options in the same price range)
What substrate should i use if i dont want it to change water chemistry but grow plants and not to be replaced
Amazing video as always! Just want to ask, what background are you using on all your aquariums? are those frosted background or just plain white? Thank you!
Your fish look so happy!!🎉😊
Your work is awesome😍
Amazing...so clear and precise. Way to go!
Excellent💌
I have a question what store do you go to as seen in the video
Lindo demais
Hey I just have one question for c02, if I buy a system will I have to turn it on every single day?
Where do you get those logs from? They’re perfect ?
Excellent!
I'm new here and can I use garden soil for my tank?
what hardscape store were you at, i live in the Netherlands as well and saw dutch tekst.
Waarvoor zijn die watten die je gebruikt bij het aan elkaar lijmen van hout (hardscaping)?
where I live in the states, we have absolute trash for stores to buy stuff. Petco... and they have dead plants and like 3 aqueon tanks. Other countries love this hobby it seems!
Hey Mark, maybe an idea to turn the recreations of the Green Machine scapes into a series, I really liked the one you did and would love to see you tackle some more. Green Machine ahs some of my favourite scapes ever.
Mark you are the best thanks alot for the help❤😊
This video is awesome. thank you sso much for making it
At 16:59, what is that pump called?
Love all your videos!!!! You should Colab with MD!! 🙏🙏
Yes ❤ the 2 best on TH-cam
what food were you giving the fish, i cannot find a brand that stays afloat, they imediatly go to the bottom
I use the dry flakes and granules from OASE
is the cotton and super glue not bad for the fish? is it non toxic or does that stuff not even affect fish? Or do they perhaps nibble on it? If so is there a certain super glue to use?
Tones of useful tips and high level production quality. Good job 👏
This man is a genius ❤
I love it your channel i like perfect..amazingggggg