👇👇MD MERCH CLICK HERE👇👇: NEW ANGELFISH BEAST!!: md-fish-tanks.creator-spring.com/listing/angel-beast FULL SHOP: md-fish-tanks.creator-spring.com In this video I cover all the things I do to keep my aquarium plants in good condition. Many of you have commented that you have tried to create an aquascape only to have the plants all die off. Sometimes in the early stages, it can look like the plants have died off as they get covered in algae. I will help you to NOT get to that stage so you can enjoy your aquarium from day 1. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:15 Lighting 7:47 Plants 11:20 Floating Plants 13:10 Substrate 16:06 Filters 19:11 Fertilisers 21:26 co2 23:07 Stocking 24:02 Fish In Cycle 27:02 Clean Up Crew 29:36 Controlling Algae 31:38 Complete Run Down Equipment (all links affiliate): LED FLOODLIGHTS: US amzn.to/3m3cEz9 UK amzn.to/3orIdRv MAIN STRIP LIGHTS: amzn.to/3Qq7euI GOOD BUDGET LIGHT:: US amzn.to/2MDfjk1 UK amzn.to/3iYlfQQ SMALL HANG ON BACK FILTER: US amzn.to/2Mw63OO UK amzn.to/39rx3b5 NANO INTERNAL FILTER: US amzn.to/3oxGBWm UK CANISTER FILTER: US amzn.to/3iNeVtW UK amzn.to/2Fo774a GOOSENECK CLIP ON LAMP: (similar as product is now discontinued) US amzn.to/2IlwLVA UK amzn.to/2LNat13 MINI WATER PUMP: US amzn.to/2oAmf5y UK amzn.to/2mjHDez TANKS: US amzn.to/2SOocHG UK amzn.to/2SPA24i STRIP LED LIGHT: US (similar) amzn.to/2SNgbm7 UK amzn.to/2Fn9aW1 ASTA LED LIGHT: US amzn.to/3k9EmpY UK amzn.to/3p5XUPY AQUARIUM RACKING: Shelving: US amzn.to/2SrYZ5k UK amzn.to/2GFWKJ2 AIRPUMP (FILTER SYSTEM): US amzn.to/31z8FA9 UK amzn.to/37GIoUa FILTER SPONGES: US amzn.to/3dQLUfM UK amzn.to/3dS2k7K MEDIA BAGS: US amzn.to/34Kaf2N UK amzn.to/3lAj3z1 STAINLESS LILY PIPES: US amzn.to/2FqHpvR UK amzn.to/2RlfrnC BOWL AQUARIUMS: US amzn.to/2M4FwFO UK: amzn.to/2Vx73CL API® products Subscribe to API on KZfaq: kzfaq.info USA consumers purchase API products on Amazon: www.amazon.com/stores/page/2193F555-CE5F-4A6B-BDC4-F315CB7F175D?channel=MDTanks UK consumers purchase API products on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/stores/page/25663644-6C8C-432C-9E6A-0A85082C3E3C AQUARIAN® products Follow AQUARIAN on KZfaq: kzfaq.info/love/NxaNWKoWr_ztSgXgPj9r8A Purchase AQUARIAN products here: aquarian.co.uk/where-to-buy/ AWESOME MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITY kzfaq.info/love/3uQXzXSPspf2LoGdtYGiHwjoin FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/md_fishtanks/ FOR BUSINESS ENQUIRIES: admin@mdfishtanks.com #plantedtank #aquascape #mdfishtanks

Speaking of clean up crews, I had a random pond snail get into my goldfish tank. No idea where he came from, but given he's been taking care of any algae growth and leaving my plants alone he's more than welcome to stay rent free.

I just got done reading a chunk of Diana Walstad's book. She also advocates for 12 to 14 hour light cycles because anything less can trigger senescence in some plants - the shorter day would normally mean they need to prepare for winter in the wild. In her text she pushes for a slight variation though. She leaves lights on for five, turns off for four, then turns them back on for five hours. The afternoon siesta, she found, allowed CO2 levels to restore to their pre-dawn levels.

I’ve just discovered your channel a few days ago and have been binge watching like it’s Netflix! I’ve been keeping aquariums since childhood, but have been out of it a few years. I’m preparing a new tank now and you’ve provided such inspiration that I’m going in a entirely different direction than I’d expected. I’ve started purchasing and ordering things I’ve learned from your videos to try my hand at a heavily planted tank. Wish me luck!…. I want to create the happiest home I can for a contented group of fish as well as something aesthetically pleasing. So glad to have discovered your channel!

MD, I've been watching and following your videos for a few months. I'm a newbie fish keeper and have gotten so much motivation and many ideas from you. That being said, for me, I think this particular video was one of your best. Loads of valuable info for this newbie. Keep up the good work and keep providing us with your experience and knowledge, good stuff!

Great video, MD! This will definitely help your viewers get some success at replicating plant growth in their own tanks. I do want to emphasize one thing you mentioned, though - your tap water with low ph/TDS enables you to get plant growth not typical of most low tech tanks. If someone doesn’t get the type of growth MD showcases, don’t get frustrated! Balancing lights and nutrients is just two components in the triad - which also includes carbon. Here’s the point: if you’ve got low pH/TDS (total dissolved solids), it’s easier to dissolve more CO2 from the atmosphere. So you can run brighter lights or longer photoperiods and elevate the nutrient levels. Hopefully this is helpful without getting too science-y and some more MD fans can have some better luck replicating the awesome plant growth seen in these wonderful videos!

MD, it's like you knew exactly what I needed with this video as I started my first ever planted aquarium last week!

Is it just me or does everyone just want to hang out with this guy? Learning so much and enjoying the company. Thank you 😊

This video was brilliant! Keeping it all simple and using simple terms, your videos have helped me so much in setting my tanks up and will be setting up a 3rd tank very soon 😁

Love the way you really encourage people to be patient and take notice of what’s going on in their tank. All situations are different and it’s crucial we actually look to see what’s happening. Thanks mate, awesome content. 👍👍👍

Great channel. It's been over 15 years since I had a tank and now I'm setting up my freshwater tank with one oranda. Back then there were only books to read but now it's cool to see it in action and what can be done on a low setup.

Thank you for this. You're good at explaining why you're doing things when you're setting up each tank, but I like a dedicated video like this one, too, with information all in one place.

I've set up my planted tank because I binging watch all your videos. And here I am having problem growing out my aquarium plants :3. Thank you for this help MD!

Good stuff MD, thanks for sharing your experiences. Every tank and set up is different so your spot on in saying to be observant and to experiment with what works for each individual tank. It's also quite satisfying going through that process and then getting it all lock in. It's important to be patient throughout the start up phases.

Thank you so much for this one MD. I think more stuff like this is needed. Especially for those of us who want to do plants but haven't got the money for the more expensive equipment

I love that you love low tech tanks - and to me, you are an artist with a special flair for life under water. I'm not, but I love it all just the same and my scapes are improving. Really enjoy learning about your process to see what else I don't know that I don't know.

Also, a big yes to your idea of loading substrate into bags. Did that earlier this year when I set up my 100 gallon. It works! Thanks MD. :)

I never knew exactly what type of fish keeper I was until this video. I know now I am definitely mid tech going towards low tech. Thank you for your insightful knowledge! 🙏

This video is exceptional! Thank you for all the work that you put into this as well as all of the other videos that you have created.

As someone who has always had plants in my tanks (many years ago) --- not to be confused with having a "planted tank". I appreciate the simplified how-to that you advocate. You've made me want to start again (once I'm back on my feet, that is).

Beautiful set ups and it's awesome to see good looking tanks that don't cost 1000's. Thanks for the links to the equipment super useful 🙏🏻👍🏼

Great video! I kept wanting to skip forward to sections I was most interested in, but I couldn't because every section was absolutley full of great information. Thank you!

Man I love listening to this guy, it’s like relaxation for me.

Thanks for answering my ph question. Love the advice of buying several plants and just leaving them in the pots to see how they do.

Such a beautifully organized and comprehensive informational video on freshwater plants!

MD, I have been following you for a few months, and I am addicted to creating aqua-scapes. Just a beginner, and going to make sure I can get good plant growth from a variety before I set up a larger tank. I have been watching many of your videos and they are addicting. Please keep it up!

Your humble af dude. Your tanks are beautiful.

New to aquariums setup. Just want to thanks for all the useful videos, you make it a lot less intimidating then it needed to be. I also like your approach, letting the eco system to do most of the work, in term give us more time to enjoy. Keep up the good work.

love this video and love this style. I've been doing planted tanks for 25+ years and was always about blasting the light and co2, but last 7-8 years, i've went semi lower tech, lower lights (the lights these day are way too powerful), good substrate like ada or aquario neo and it makes a huge difference. can't wait to watch all your videos over and over again. keep up the great work!

Great video. Had a tank 50 years ago when tanks were made of angle iron and putty glass! Just starting again. Have binge watched your videos and learnt so much - greatly appreciated!

Always interesting watching your videos coming from a high tech, co2, inert substrate perspective that I'm used to.

I’m new to the hobby and I’ve gotta say you are the best fish KZfaqr out there. I love your style and this type of fish keeping. Inspiring. Thanks for all the education. I watch your videos just to relax lol. I’m based in Thailand so it’s different stuff here in the fish keeping world but also in the land of tropical fish so it’s cool too!

This!...is the best how to tutorial for a planted tank. Period. Over the last 18 years I did both co2 and the MD way, many many times and this video is 100% spot on, on all accounts. Thank you sir MD! 👏👍👌

What a great video! Shines like a diamond!💎

Man, I really like your videos. You have the coolest aquascape channel on KZfaq. Thanks for the tips!

Thank you for sharing your expertise and all your tips and tricks... your style of tanks are exactly what I am doing at my home!

I didn’t imagine by looking at your tanks you didn’t have co2 on them. Great results!

Your large tank with orange fish is absolutely gorgeous to look at. Those fish must have hours of fun in there! Nice work MD :)

Awesome videos pal. I've learnt a lot. I'm currently in the process of setting up my 75g and am glad I didn't fill it fast, I'm going to get some plant substrate and bag it ahead of time and put my gravel sand mixture on top and then plant and fill. Awesome. Best guy I've found so far

Great md this was so interesting and informative you covered a lot, well I loved it. I can replay this over and over and I will not get tired of it. ❤

One of the best advice videos on low tech tank setting!

Definitely learned something here. Even after having aquariums for over thirty years, great running systems, new technics can change everything. In my case it was propably to little planting for too much light, since I got a great new LED over a small tank. It was always covered in ugly algae and nothing else grew great. It was frustrating and very negleted for long now. Now I’ll give it a new try 💪

Absolutely love your channel. Excellent tutorial and you are a joy to listen to. Editing is on point to. Thank you! Keep up the inspiring videos.

MD was definitely an inspiration to me to get into keeping a planted tank. I'm certainly no expert but one piece of advice that I wish I had when I started is stop over thinking things and just get a tank. Reading the internet it's easy to get you worried think it's impossible to balance a tank and all. I would say learn the basics then just get a tank setup and react to problems as they arise. Mine isn't perfect, it's got some visible algae, some plants could be greener, but I'm getting new growth on everything, enough so that I have to trim it now, no water changes, no filter, fish are vibrant and thriving, and the amano shrimp are happy too. So just get out there and do it and I think most people will find it's much more fun than they thought while researching on the internet.

A very good refresher course! I really needed this right now. Thank you!

This is amazing content. I'm just getting into the hobby and this answers so many of my questions, thanks!

Fantastic video! I've recently found your channel and have been 'clicking sumfink' for the last couple of weeks and just absorbing so much information. Thanks for all of the great content you put out!

A tour of your home tanks, and how you might treat them differently, would be a fun video to see!

Such a plethora of great information, useful as evidenced by your magnificent tanks! 👍🏻

thanks for the advice on lighting the plants, i needed to figure out how much i had to increase lighting on my blackwater betta tank

Got my first aquarium 8 months ago, and have been really struggling keeping my plants looking good and healthy. I NEED THIS VIDEO!

the soil on media bags is incredible trick... i htink you juts solved the problem everyone has with soil bed tanks looool

At this point I think it would be really cool for you to have a hi-tech tank with CO2, not only for the challenge of it, but as a comparison with the other ones. I for one would love to watch a special series on that subject.

Love this. Thank you for sharing. Every time i get tempted to start getting into a high tech co2 tanks, you remind me that less is more sometimes. Do you have a video of list of your favorite plants that grow well in low tech plants?

I just had this video running over my home speaker while I did some tidying up to my aquarium, since I’ve been on a mission to help my plants grow better. Your videos always cheer me up and inspire me in the hobby. Ps. Would you ever share your skin care routine? Is that a weird question since this is an aquarium channel….I think there’s a bunch of us that are wondering about it, lol. Thought I would ask just in case.

Absolutely love your tanks and definitely want to start one of my own!!

Just got my aquarium and hard scapes today. Building my first ever low tech aquarium after watching lots of your videos. Thank you for the amazing videos always!

New enthusiast here, only had an aquarium for a year but recently decided we wanted to get into planted aquariums. This video was fantastic at cutting through the chaos of information out there! We are a busy family and don't have time for high maintenance, and this summarises the route we want to go down! It's helpful to know you can do this with a low maintenance approach!

This covered so much good information in a really digestible way, well done. Not just about the plants but about various aspects of keeping aquariums. Should be required viewing for people new to aquariums. Maybe the only thing that would be good to detail more is TDS build-up if you only top up with tap water.

I love your videos and set-ups! Your videos are really helpful and a great watch but I wish you would do an "Aquarium Plant Tours" series just introducing different plants and the tanks you can grow them in!

Thanks MD! Lots off great tidbits here.

Always such a great video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!

Im new to the hobby. You’re videos helped me throughout my journey. Thanks a lot👌👌👌

Awesome informative video MD! I think I’m going to try your aqua soil in a bag and sand cap method for my next scape! Just gotta find the right sand! It still blows my mind you don’t use co2! Keep up the great content!

Great summary video. I wish I’d seen something like this when I started out.

Good to see somebody else keeping aquariums the old fashioned way. I still think it is the best way, although the aquarium stores/suppliers will try to convince you otherwise so they can sell you a bunch of expensive, mostly unnecessary stuff. I used to keep marine aquaria this way too, and was growing sponges and gorgonians before reef tanks became a thing and all the water additives and liquid nutrients were available. If you get the biology right the "toys" don't matter so much.

WoW! Just WoW! And I've been swimming in your "work/passion/play with a purpose" since the 1st time I saw your great, and informative fun. WoW. Thank you. I repeat what Island David says. WoW, is my version of all of David's praise and excitement. Enthusiasm for all! ✌🏼🙏🏼🖖🏼🧜🏻‍♀️🐾🐠🐠🐠

Amazing video! Incredibly informative and well put together 😅

Bravo! Very well explained . Thanks for including links re: lights, etc.

Always great advice with a sense of humor.... thank you!

Another great video MD, I've always had problems with my plants going black so I can try and sort it out now 😁

Capped soil method FTW! I recently set up large tank with capped soil and slow start over the first several weeks (light, waterline, fish). Lights go with somewhat dimmer morning, siesta, afternoon going to full blast and long dimming in the evening. I'm growing even some red plants and Rotala Rotundifolia looks even better than in a gravel-bottom tank with CO_2 injections. So far there's only some diatom on the glass. As the cleanup crew goes, I'm still waiting for Java Moss to grow to survive SAE, because they love it. On the other hand I'm happy Angelfish and Black widow tetras ate all the duckweed in a day.

Greatest content out there! Much love from Perth, Aus

I love every time you do a new set up always watching..Hope it much easier to get a plant in Canada especially in Regina Saskatchewan.. John

Great video. Love your style of fish keeping. No stress😊

Ohh man u r 100% true to the heart❤️❤️❤️ u r really honest to ur viewers bro most of them recommend buy this buy that but u...u r another level man...luv frm india❤️❤️❤️

Excellent video & so well put together! Just the overview I needed 😁 Thanks 🌱

I love watching your videos😀 I have learnt so much from your content.

This is a really helpful video. Great information and advice. 10 out of 10 for this one !

Some of my favourite videos are when my two favourite KZfaqrs get together (MD and Matt). Hopefully it won't, but I'm just praying that the change in relationship to technically being boss and employee doesn't change the amazing chemistry and dynamic you two have as the 'mates' having a laugh have always worked so well. Really looking forward to seeing more of you guys together

Brilliant video. So helpful. Top marks MD.

Man wished you were at aquashella here in Dallas. Loved to shake your hand and give you an appreciation for your channel.

Really good stuff MD informative as well and quite fast response for the comment thank you

Your electric blue acara look awesome. Love them!

Very informative. Have to watch this video multiple times. Thank you

Thanks a lot for this Master Class -really helpful

Absolutely great video. The information is really important to know before you get started or even after. I learned a lot l. TY

Amazing and very informative! Love all the content! Thanks for the video!

I was literally just searching for these videos, Thankyou. Also love your channel and shrimp tanks :))

Fantastic and very iformative video MD.

Dudes! I feel duped. Been watching your shrimp vids for weeks. Set my tank up following your methods, learned alot from you-Thanks. So, picked my cherry shrimp up from aqua shop yesterday and was shocked!! They are teeny tiny. Cant see them without my glasses on! Realise now that all the vids Ive watched from you and others have all been zoomed in on🤣🤣Any way, they've got a huge tank to themselves and they are gorgeous.

Hello from Puerto Rico!! First timer on your channel and just subscribed. Very good info. Thx!! 🌿

pretty boss level knowledge, the tanks speak for themselves.

I think there was supposed to be a cut at 8:21 ish. Made me laugh the neutral facial expression!

I love your videos. I watch them with my son sometimes, he knows I’m addicted. Haha

Fantastic tutorial, MD! Thanks!

Thanks for the new video!!! Just got some Java fern for my tank

thanks man, your tanks are the best,,love your content and common sense advice .

Dude, thanks for your channel, you are appreciated.

Just a comment to help with the algorithm. Love waking up to fresh content.