How to Set Up a Planted Aquarium - Live Plants for Beginners

How to setup a planted fish aquarium starts with understanding what live plants demand. There are a handful of major differences that you have to change about a regular fish aquarium to grow live plants. The first step to setting up a aquarium with live. Plants is to use a low flowing filter. The sponge filter is the most common type to use in a planted aquarium. the reason we use a sponge filter is because live plants do not like a lot of flow in the fish tank.

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Choosing a decent quality light for your planted aquarium is also a huge deal. Make sure that you purchase an aquarium light designed for live plants. This is usually a light in the color spectrum between 6000 K to 7000 K. I also advise that you hang the aquarium light between 6 to 10 inches above the tank. This helps spread the lighting across all of the plants in the aquarium. And it ensures that the plants don’t get too much lighting and possibly burned.

Top 10 Easy Beginner Aquarium Plants

[ajmulvey]

I'm a total newbie and really appreciate your videos!! I went to my local store which has been around since I was a kid with a great reputation... and I found the young kid working who is obsessed and a total fish nerd... his passion totally won me over - he suggested a lot of what you're talking about... In late May, I set up a 20-gallon tank with an EHEIM classic 350 for my daughter's birthday. She is obsessed with baby shark, so I got 6 GloFish long fin tetras. I got a bunch of different rocks, driftwood, spider wood and a bunch of plants. I used a bunch of easy root tabs to start - and wish I paid more attention to the plant names. My plants are doing good but it's nice to hear about melting... I going to adjust my lighting height and see how that affects my plants...Thanks for all the tips!! Loving this & becoming obsessed myself!!

[DontUNVME]

Aquariums and houseplants are a circle of life.

[matthewblankenship]

Heavily planted aquarium and sponge filters is all you need ..it’s all I use ..and all I will ever use ..tanks are thriving ..the key is right light and spectrum and plants and sponge filter ..water changes once a month for my bio load ..and boom happy fish keeper ✌🏻

[njzwfyg]

Just saw this video. So helpful. Great tips for newbies like me. Thank you for mentioning ammonia and plant melting.

[rdred]

I put a baffle (a plastic soap dish with suction cups) under my HOB filter.
It worked.

[lynnbonica]

Great tutorial, even if a bit rushed. Could you maybe do a video on some different types of plants that'd be good in nano tanks, besides anubius and crypts. For background, mid and front (including some without runners). I have a 5.5 gallon and would like a little more variety. Like some grass-like midground that my fish can swim through. Just a thought. Or maybe just a couple of suggestions? Thanks Chris, even if you don't do one.

[johnnieg]

I’m not sure exactly why but I find your channel the most likeable out of all the aquarium channels I’ve seen. Keep up the good work 👍🏻

[danielsmith]

I’m new to aquascaping. Love your videos.

[il.mister]

I just bought a 24 hours cycle light from amazon and my plants changed in 3 days, really incredible

[darcylovell]

Been following your channel for a little bit now but wish I was following you from the beginning dude .Over that little bit of time you have helped me out as I've been keeping fish an plants for a couple years now had a few problems here and there I watched a couple of your videos know my problems have been Fixed thank you 😊

[audrameyer]

Great info! All of my tanks are planted and I really love the look. Some have pothos growing out of them, which I love!

[MoreLikeMerMad]

My mother-in-law has gifted us a tiny 10 litre tank and I am so excited to start with this little project! I'm planning on 4-5 guppies, a shrimp and a snail as well as one statement plant in the centre. Possibly a moss ball or two, but I don't want it to get too crowded!

[echoesvayne]

i've been using media bags filled with stratum eco complete and crushed coral... then capped with sand and/or gravel... i put those where i know root feeders will be and i use just sand and or gravel where i want open floor space.. the plants will spread in as nutrients (poop) settle into the substrates there, but it starts how i want

[Baby-Ghoul]

Just set up my aquarium I hope it does good, I knew the water wasnt going to be perfect and looks like I got a few high levels I really hope my plants dont die... I used really nice substrate and also got some plant food to try and make the plants happy. I CANT WAIT for it to finish cycling so I can get fish!

[miketerhaar]

Been watching you for about a year now, it’s funny cause I also use Hygger lights on all my tanks. I also use the double sponge filters that suction cup to the side of the tank, only difference is I use the ones with there own electric motor. I hated the splashing from the bubbles when I used air powered sponges. I though you mentioned in a past video that you live in Minnesota, i also live in Minnesota. I only have 13 small tanks ranging from one 3 1/2 gallon tank to the largest of 29 gallon, i too love plants and my favorite part of aquariums is the plants . I have floating plants in most of my aquariums except for the ones with shrimp which have a lot of guppy grass floating in them and also Java Moss, I also don’t have floating plants in the two tanks with mystery snails that I’m breeding cause they have tops. In 1 and a half years I’ve taken enough plants to fill my first two tanks and let them multiply to fill 13. Love your videos, I’ve learned a lot from you.

[iainaquariumagic]

Great advice and instructions were a me amazing 🎉

[shabeerok]

I was searching and just this video very informative like me as beginner

[EuroGupper]

Usually when I buy plants I let them float free to adjust to my water parameters and the water temperature to avoid what I call plant shock.

It reduces/prevents melt or death. After about a week of floating I plant them.

I think floating at the surface keeps them closer to the aquarium light and easier contact with CO2 from the air

[ryanrogers]

Can you please do a video on plant choices and placement for different looks like Dutch style or Jungle style etc.?

[ardi_fc]

Wow awesome 👍👍 very nice, , good sharing 👍🙏🇮🇩