How to Convert to a Planted Community Tank *EVERY STEP*

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Ben Ochart

Ben Ochart

Жыл бұрын

Here is a detailed, every step, look at how I converted my plastic-fake plant 55 gallon tank into a much nicer REAL planted community tank. But the upgrade included a lot more than just adding plants. It's a full tank makeover from lids, to heaters, to filters, substrate and, of course, plants. Here are the detailed steps of how I made the switch and gave my 55 gallon a real upgrade!
A huge shout-out to aquariumcoop.com for their kind support in this project! Visit the Co-Op here: www.aquariumcoop.com?sca_ref=3301874.0yH4KEHjB2
(I am an “Affiliate” of the Co-Op and using this link will help to support the channel)
What do you think? Share your thoughts and tips in the comment section. We all learn from each other at this channel and since I'm new to planted tanks, any advice is greatly appreciated. Remember to always be learning and don't ever forget that you reading this right now - YOU ROCK!
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Remember that fish keeping is truly a fluid situation and what works for one set-up might not work for another. Do plenty of research gathering information from several reliable sources before making any changes in your aquarium.
Copyright protected music used with permission:
One Last Dance with You performed by: The Flax
www.epidemicsound.com/track/E...
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Live Streaming
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A big shout-out to my channel sponsor THE CICHLID SHACK, a provider of top quality fish and fish keeping food and supplies. Visit the shack at thecichlidshack.com and use "shackattack10" for a 10% discount on all products (including food) and use "shackattack15" for a 15% discount on all fish purchases that total over $100.
Note: Discounts do not apply to shipping cost.
Thank you to key vendors that have helped with my new fish room including:
Aquarium Co-Op, a top provider of both products and knowledge for all types of fish keepers.
Sicce, a top quality manufacturer of aquarium pumps and filters.
Hygger/AQQA makers of a variety of aquarium products such as lights, pumps and heaters.
JC & P, providers of lights, rocks and other quality aquarium products.
Underwater Galleries, makers of the most beautiful ceramic caves available.
Xpertmatic, maker of good quality internal filters and air pumps.
Many of these products are listed in my Amazon Affiliate store at:
www.amazon.com/shop/benochart
For a behind the scenes look and access to photos and videos not posted anywhere else, please follow me on Instagram at: ben.o.cichlid
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Thank you for the on-going support and encouragement!

Пікірлер: 48
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
Visit the Aquarium Co-Op here: www.aquariumcoop.com?sca_ref=3301874.0yH4KEHjB2
@medkow7415
@medkow7415 Жыл бұрын
I'm patiently waiting to see how your Val grows. You and everyone else says how it just explodes. I must be the only person who can't get it to grow. Lol. The tank does look nice!
@georgeyboyhowe1685
@georgeyboyhowe1685 Жыл бұрын
that actually looks very nice well done
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
Thank you 😀👍🏻
@petejeau
@petejeau Жыл бұрын
Looks a whole lot better. An established eco system will be there in no time. One quite easy plant to try which grows fast, sends out runners and looks good is the Ambulia (Limnophila sessiliflora). I bought one plant and now have 4 aquariums full of it from all the cuttings (in 3 months).
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
Great tip, thanks!
@mikejejenich7116
@mikejejenich7116 Жыл бұрын
Hey ben. 🐠 🪴 🌱. Good luck. With the plants. I havent had good luck with plants. Im a plant killer. 🤣.
@BeeKayCee911
@BeeKayCee911 Жыл бұрын
Beautiful 🐠🌱🌾
@jerrysfishroom3579
@jerrysfishroom3579 Жыл бұрын
Love the look. Especially the plants and substrate on the sides with the clean sand bottom in the center. Great job
@jaymilo8425
@jaymilo8425 Жыл бұрын
Very well done again Mr. Chiclid!
@Anp8
@Anp8 Жыл бұрын
Wow 😍Those plants will explode in no time and that tank will be soo stunning. great job ben I'm excited for you.
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
Thank you
@geraldoyo1
@geraldoyo1 Жыл бұрын
Looks great Ben. Nothing adds a finishing touch to a nice aquarium like nice healthy plants in my opinion.
@thelasttitan7196
@thelasttitan7196 Жыл бұрын
BEAUTIFUL ❤️ 👌⛓️🛡⚔️
@XCaliKev
@XCaliKev Жыл бұрын
👍😎 Cool look Ben. Should fill in nicely.
@paulone65
@paulone65 Жыл бұрын
never had any luck with live plants , tanks looks great
@williamjamescavejr9423
@williamjamescavejr9423 Жыл бұрын
Looks amazing 👏
@timadams306
@timadams306 Жыл бұрын
Great job Ben
@mikerosenzweig
@mikerosenzweig Жыл бұрын
Looks great!
@Whips_World
@Whips_World Жыл бұрын
Really nice looking scape though, Ben. I like the way you balanced it out.
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
Thanks. Usually I'm not into balance and symmetry in tank décor but because of the use of the plant specific substrate I felt it was the best way to go (plus, unlike cichlids, these fish will not redecorate, LOL)
@jayfuller3709
@jayfuller3709 Жыл бұрын
Nice video. The Amazon Swords will require a lot of tabs to keep it going. It is a very hungry plant
@FEAdeES
@FEAdeES 9 күн бұрын
Hello, do you have a follow up video on this plant growth? Thanks!
@BenOchart
@BenOchart 7 күн бұрын
Any of my newer fish room walk through videos show how far that planted tank has come. Here’s the most reason: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mMdmareXyNGUmYU.htmlsi=A0iBNTXxF921gm8_
@32cichlids58
@32cichlids58 Жыл бұрын
Nice shirt👍👍 I've been wanting one can wait to get my hands on one
@lots33ml
@lots33ml Жыл бұрын
Looks really good, ben like you I'm new to planted tanks. I've just recently set up a 60-gallon cube planted aquarium. It came out pretty good so far. I also bought a professional co2 set up from co2 art, which is definitely pricey, but i wanted a professional setup. You only live once. Lol, next week, i have some really awesome fish coming from the shack that will just about do it for a while with this new tank. Your setup does look nice interested to see your progress. Later ben.
@migueleespinosa2632
@migueleespinosa2632 Жыл бұрын
Love it buddy. Did you put the root tabs deep in the substrate under the plants? Highly recommended since you don't have any deep diggers.
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
Pushed the caps in, but not down to the white sand, just to the bottom of the new plant substrate.
@markadams5009
@markadams5009 Жыл бұрын
Looks nice, interested in a follow up to see how it looks after the plants start growing in. Personally for myself I love plants but in my 20 gallon long I didn't want to go with root tabs and special media so I went for plants that you don't plant in media. So I have several different types of anubias and java ferns and I also have java moss all of which are either glued to rocks or attached to driftwood. I like how it's very easy to move the plants while I'm gravel vacuuming. Someday I might try a tank with plants that must be planted in substrate though since I have more limited plant options in my setup.
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
I love anubias and have some in the driftwood. Fingers crossed I don't get a big die off.
@markadams5009
@markadams5009 Жыл бұрын
@@BenOchart Good luck, personally my anubias plants have always done just fine attaching them to whatever and putting them into aquariums. It's a pretty tough plant lol. I do sometimes though have to take a paper towel and wipe algae that starts to try growing on those big leaves. (I just do it inside the tank whenever I vacuum.) I have found though that the plants at the back rarely get any algae growth but that's because more often than not, I have the lights pulled up closer to the front for viewing the fish.
@jamesklimowicz7591
@jamesklimowicz7591 Жыл бұрын
Ben looks great....I am also changing over a 75 gallon to a planted tank. What are your thoughts on the co-op 48 inch light? Getting ready to order one and seen your video? Did your video have it installed yet? How does the lighting look on the plants and fish? Thanks James
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
Thank you. Ask me about the light in two weeks. The one I received is being replaced since it was cracked in shipping. I was impressed by the shape and build but will withhold final judgement until after I've used it for a few weeks.
@Whips_World
@Whips_World Жыл бұрын
Co-Ops water is just too different from mine here in Illinois. I have never had any luck with their plants. But. Full transparency. I haven't had much better luck with plants from other companies either. I'm now trying plants I pick up at swaps from vendors who have similar water. I hear great things about their light though, and I've been using their Easy Green ferts, in both liquid and capsule form.
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
Fingers crossed that I don't kill these plants.
@dougely2273
@dougely2273 Жыл бұрын
Looks like you could use a bit more light. The back right corner in particular looks dark.
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
Mostly because I move the light forward when filming. I'll be swapping out the Beamswork light for the Co-Op 48" in a few days. I hope it has a wider spread.
@markpaulson1346
@markpaulson1346 Жыл бұрын
Makeover looks great Ben! Question, how many lbs. of the "Active Flora" did you use? Thanks again for a great, informative video! You're helping me so much getting started in this great hobby again!!
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
Thank you. I’m used one 20 pound bag
@seannunes2041
@seannunes2041 Жыл бұрын
Looking good Ben. Wait until you connect your CO2. Even a little CO2 makes a massive difference. Just get ready to prune the water sprite every week and watch the swords send out runners with baby swords.
@cichlidfrontosaguy9141
@cichlidfrontosaguy9141 Жыл бұрын
I got plants a little over a month ago. They're not looking good. I'm treating with iron, potassium and still not picking up. They're wilting and I hope that doesn't mean they'll die and won't get new growth.
@petrl.
@petrl. Жыл бұрын
Zdravím, hezky jste to vymyslel a udělal, ale nechtěly by ty kytky v akváriu více světla?
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
Yes. A plant specific light is being added.
@HalfManHalfCichlid
@HalfManHalfCichlid Жыл бұрын
The water sprite will do much better floating than in the substrate. It also needs a lot of pruning once it's growing and it is easier to prune floating than submerged. The fertilizer and CO2 will make a huge difference. Your light seems somewhat on the dim side so I would start with 12 hrs per day. I have siamese algae eaters in all 4 planted tanks. They will keep algae, especially black beard from taking over your anubias and swords. Good luck. My plants are my new passion in the hobby, check out the videos of my planted 200 gallon on my channel
@dtechvinnie
@dtechvinnie Жыл бұрын
Is it a good idea to put real plants in a African tank? If do which plants do you advise never had real plants in my tank! Thank you
@BenOchart
@BenOchart Жыл бұрын
Never worked for me and it cost me $100. You can see it here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mKl_lbylz6zbpXU.html
@petercooper5777
@petercooper5777 Жыл бұрын
I used to be a plant killer until I got CO2 Put that in and watch your plants take over
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