True Definition Of Low Tech Aquascape And Why It Matters

ADVERTISING

LuxoGear Emergency Whistles with Lanyard

Shop now »

NOCO Genius GEN5X2, 2-Bank, 10A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Charger

Shop now »

RHINO USA Boat Trailer Transom Straps (2PK)

Shop now »

LUCKY Kayak Portable Fish Depth Finder

Shop now »

Seaview 180 V3 Full Face Snorkel Mask

Shop now »

Most popular comments
for True Definition Of Low Tech Aquascape And Why It Matters | Aquascaping

Live comments
Comments on YouTube

fbexi1981 - 6 years ago

do you have 10x flow in your low tech tanks too?

ADU Aquascaping - 6 years ago

fbexi1981 yes, usually. 10x isn't really that high. For example a low flow nano canister filter will do 100 gph and is perfect for a 10 gallon low tech. The tank in the video is close to 20 gallons and the Filstar canister filter does roughly 250 gph. Smaller tanks 10x is adequate. For larger tanks I like to do 15-20x total volume per hour.

Sean Meister - 6 years ago

great video, thank you. I am curious how you decided on running the lights on this tank for 9 hours. I find the subject of how long to run lights, high tech or low tech, to be pretty much non-existent. No one seems to be talking in any detail on this subject. People will state how long they are running their lights, etc. but no reasoning as to why...I thought you might be a good source for information on this...maybe a topic for a future video, or maybe you have one on this subject already?

Nepali Fish Guy - 6 years ago

Informative...

Steve Syed - 6 years ago

Clicked on this and the first three seconds thought "who the heck is this guy....wearing a damn winter hat indoors"....sat impressed and listened to every word for 8:26. Great information, thanks!

Steve Story - 6 years ago

What type (brand) tank do you use? I really like the one over your right shoulder. The look really clean and beautiful.

T Woods - 6 years ago

Hey Dave,

I know this is a old video, but I wanted to give you a 'thanks' for explaining the KH thing along providing the links. It has been more helpful than you'll ever know.

Have a good weekend!

Ruben van der Zee - 6 years ago

So much detail in that scape! And really like how the rocks and subtrate melt together! If I say that right... Greets from Holland

Poyo WR - 7 years ago

hey Dave, I watched a few of your vids and have feel a lot more prepared to set up my new 6 gallon edge. I'm using soil and a small led in addition to the stock light. I'm still deciding on plants but am looking mostly for low maintenance hardy plants. anyways thanks for the videos!

Fabouls - 6 years ago

Hello, how is your tank going on? did you get the plants?
I have a 6 Gal edge (4 months old) and I want to add a carpet plant and some kind of moss, I know it's ridiculously hard for the maintenance due to the small opening. My hands are large af lol

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

yeah that sounds like it should be enough light for such a small aquarium. Your plants should do well. You can always get dwarf sagittaria, microsword, crypt parva, anubias nana petite, bucephalandra, christmas moss.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping is proud to announce their partnership with BucePlant! Check out BucePlant.com.
When ordering, if you type "ADU15" into the code section you will get 15% off of your first Plant Order, so make it count!
To get to their website click on the BucePlant icon link that I have listed below!
http://buceplant.com?rfsn=512608.61055d

10. comment for True Definition Of Low Tech Aquascape And Why It Matters | Aquascaping

jack sparrow - 7 years ago

Hi ADU Aquascaping, love watching Your videos, they are for me a great inspiration, though I don't understand English, just the visual of food is for me a great help. I don't know how to deal with that compiler, but I love You and I'm not gay.

jack sparrow - 7 years ago

From the other end of the world Czech Republic 49.6889147 N, 15.9943144 E

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

jack sparrow hahahaha, hey thanks for watching. It means a lot. Where are you from?

Joseph Valdez - 7 years ago

I am running a pressurized co2 in my 20 gallon long tank with monte carlos as my carpeting plant and high lighting (finnex 24/7 planted plus on max setting). My question is, what lighting does monte carlos prefer, low, med, or high? My monte carlo's growth is fairly slow. Some tips please?

Joseph Valdez - 7 years ago

So i tested my waters gh & kh today. KH came out perfect but my GH is at 127 ppm. Live plants range I believe is 50 - 100 ppm. Please correct me if I am wrong.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

oh, that's what I thought. yeah I wouldn't say that it burns the plants, just that if you start adding in CO2 or messing with your CO2 it can fluctuations in the CO2, and that can induce algae, but over time you can rebalance your tank to the new parameters. I was just trying to say that if you have a low tech tank and add Co2 it can sometimes cause algae. I probably didn't mean to say that it will burn the plants. Sometimes having high light over shade loving plants, such as java fern or anubias can wash them out a bit and reduce chlorophyll production, which then reduces growth. They may stay healthy, but won't be as dark and won't grow out as fast. Shade loving plants grow faster in the shade. Too much light makes them too happy and so they don't have to grow out to produce more chlorophyll because they are being spoiled and to some extent over spoiled and may become bleached.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Joseph Valdez which video is that in? So I can put it in context?

Joseph Valdez - 7 years ago

I was just watching some of your old videos and you mentioned about the amount of co2 injected to the tank can or may burn the plants. I run co2 in my tank until the co2 reader is almost yellow. Now I'm thinking maybe I am injecting too much co2 and too much lighting. By the way thank you so much with the tips!

Joseph Valdez - 7 years ago

I would have to check the KH value of my water and get back to you with that on Friday. I don't trim it very often since it is not that thick. Temperature is around 78-80 F.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Joseph Valdez that is interesting, it will usually get pretty thick even under high light, especially when dosing CO2. What is your KH value of your water? Is your tap water very alkaline? That can slow growth even when dosing CO2. Are you trimming it often? trimming can actually help stimulate more and new growth under good conditions. Also what is your temperature? Temperature does play a role in growth rates and is often overlooked.

Joseph Valdez - 7 years ago

I am using Fluval stratum and yes I am dosing fertilizers as well. The tank is going to be 6 months old this March. I would say it has carpeted most of the tank surface but not that thick. So I'm wondering maybe I was using too much light?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Joseph Valdez It prefers medium light for the most part. Your fixture and size aquarium should be giving you enough light for Monte Carlo. Are you using soil or Aquasoil and dosing any fertilizers? How old is the tank? It can take a bit for Monte Carlo to get established and start growing. It is also easier to plant it one stem at a time. This is more tedious, but you will get better results if you break it up into small individual stems before planting than planting it in clumps/clusters.

yusuf saraç - 7 years ago

Great video. Can you tell the dimensions of the tank above the right shoulder of yours ? I mean width, height and depth ?

Nerd Herd - 7 years ago

Love this video!!!!

Damien G - 7 years ago

hey I was wondering what light you would recommend over a 20 long. a finnex planted plus or a stingray? trynna aim for low medium

Damien G - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping no I'm not in the Facebook group I'll go look for it.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

The Current Satellites may have a fixture right in the middle, or maybe even the GroBeams. The new Finnex Vivid is a mix of a Stingray and a monster. It seems to have similar output to the old Fugeray, which would better match what you are looking for. have you been asking around in the Low-Tech planted tanks group on Facebook by chance? Are you in that group?

Damien G - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping man so many different opinions. alot of people say planted plus will be pushing high light. what light other than the ones I mentioned would you use to get low to medium light?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

man, it is hard to say. It is a hard size tank to match up. Maybe the planted+ on acrylic risers.

BAMAZ#1 - 7 years ago

Mixing the two together i found that 25% of faucet with the r/o gives me a kh of 5 and a ph around 7.6-7.8.. just never knew what it should be and how much c02 and pps method would change it. Is this ok or any suggestions?

BAMAZ#1 - 7 years ago

Thanks bro

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

BAMAZ#1 that's perfect really. Once you get the substrate and CO2 it will acidify it a bit more. When doing evaporation refills use RO of course, and that combination for water changes sounds great.

BAMAZ#1 - 7 years ago

Thanks Dave! I was wondering because I have really hard water so i actually use primo water from the refillable stations but it has no kh reading at all 0?? so i mix my faucet water with the primo r/o water. So i didnt know what kh/ph readings i should try and reach before putting into my aquarium? Love what your channel dude!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

BAMAZ#1 oh okay, yeah I have used that method. You have a specific amount of tap water you add? you are able to get around 3-4 KH? since you aren't using a set dose or concentrate solution you will just have to measure in liters or gallons. Unless there is an easier way? What is your method?

BAMAZ#1 - 7 years ago

When you and pro scapers suggest having KH around 3 to 5ish or whatever are they talking your water source or the kh of your water readings after c02 dosing is added? Because c02 changes your kh right?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

yeah. you test for what your KH is at in the aquarium while dosing CO2. Yes over time CO2 can slowly reduce the buffer just slightly, but the interesting thing is that when using a bicarbonate based buffer with CO2 it behaves a bit differently. So to keep it simple just know that the CO2 will reduce the pH, but is having a very little impact on the actual buffer of the water, so your fish are happy. Also, when doing a water change you adjust the KH of the water based on how much water is being removed during the water change and not for the total water volume. So removing say 15 gallons of water you adjust for 15 gallons. Follow the instructions on the bottle, or if using a DIY buffer you will have to monitor your setup, perform KH tests, and come up with your own dosing amount based on your findings.

Red Hawk - 7 years ago

What type of light do you have on your tank, the one that is a clamped?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

It is an aquatic life halo LED. has pretty good color rendering for an LED fixture.

Дмитрий Александрович - 7 years ago

in your scapes you use a pump for circulation, but the water moves on the surface, does it reduces the amount of co2 in water ,because it flyes to atmosphere? how to save co2?

Дмитрий Александрович - 7 years ago

can you please give links about bicarbonate buffer and soil substrate?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

yes it helps to have a lot of O2 for microbial beds and decomposition and to help with gas exchange at the surface of the water, so yes, you will need to increase your CO2 slowly over time to keep your CO2 levels the same. That is if you are using pressurized CO2. If you are doing a low tech tank without CO2 you can always add a bicarbonate buffer and use a soil substrate to help add more carbon to the water.

20. comment for True Definition Of Low Tech Aquascape And Why It Matters | Aquascaping

SirenSea_Reviews_Aquariums - 7 years ago

i always find myself smarter watching your videos. your aquatic scapes are true art

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Melvin Park - 7 years ago

What filter and light brand do you use for the ADA 60P tank? Thanks!!

Melvin Park - 7 years ago

thank you sir

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Jason Park lighting is an Aquatic Life Halo. I really like it, and it has good color rendering.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Jason Park a medium size API Filstar canister. Works great and not too expensive.

Yeeeeaaaaaahhh!! - 7 years ago

Beautiful scapes, dude. Also, thanks for the links.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Yeeeeaaaaaahhh!! thanks for watching. Yeah read those over

nathan e - 7 years ago

Links don't work for me /(

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

nathan e they seem to be working for me. You may have some web browser scripting issues.

movingWater - 7 years ago

low vs. high tech is basically how much money you spend. if you are buying all brand equipment, its more money and its high tech. if you are more of a DIY aquarium person, you spend less, but can achieve same results as a high tech.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

movingWater true less money spent without the CO2 and in some cases the light.

movingWater - 7 years ago

yes. more money, better CO2 equipment and light.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

movingWater it has everything to do with how CO2 alters plant growth. It works synergistically with light. Meaning it enhances the lights influence on photosynthesis as well as itself enhancing photosynthesis. Read the Tropica study. The original definition has to do with CO2, and it is scientifically based.

sdq sdq - 7 years ago

nice , scape improving day by day ,what rocks are those ?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

sdq sdq thanks, I made some more changes and it looks a lot better now. More depth and better proportions. It is some type of sand based mudstone I collected in the local rocky mountains. It is primarily sand, so it doesn't alter water chemistry too much.

Channidae - 7 years ago

Can you make a video about carpeting dwarf hairgrass and how to keep it?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

LeonDB I can talk about it, but don't have any currently grown out. I do have some in my two aquariums, so I guess we could wait for it to fill in some more

OriginalMindTrick - 7 years ago

What kind of temperature are you running at your place? :)
Outdoor jacket and a winter cap.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

OriginalMindTrick haha, who knows. Just had it on. Guess I just came in from outside.

Laura - 7 years ago

Dude. Never. Stop. Making. Videos. Please. Thanks :)

Nerd Herd - 7 years ago

I agree!!!!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Laura haha! thanks for watching yo

N.O.A.H. - Northern Ontario Aquarium Hobby - 7 years ago

Hey. I just called you out on a youtuber challenge if you feel like playing.

https://youtu.be/h_4INsnXAxs

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

hey man, I have been called out by a few people, so I guess I have to do it. Once the snow melts I will think of something. haha

30. comment for True Definition Of Low Tech Aquascape And Why It Matters | Aquascaping

Brandon Cosme - 7 years ago

I have two led light bulbs now. One is a 8 watt LED and another is 14 watt LED, both at 5000k. Would this be good enough to grow most of the low tech plants in a low tech 10 gallon? I would really like to grow a lush Jungle Val forest and a carpet of some sort up front.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Brandon Cosme yeah that combination will work great for starting out. Once things carpet you can add more root tabs. the root tabs will still leach some nutrients into the water column too.

Brandon Cosme - 7 years ago

+ADU Aquascaping Is soil the only thing needed also to carpet dwarf sag? I'm also going to use Osmocote+ in DIY root tabs and sprinkle it on the glass, similar to you in your low tech tank. I'm just using Flourite Black also, couldn't afford ADA Amazonia and I believed the Marifed Controsoil is not being sold anymore.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Brandon Cosme if using soil that is all you need. Vallisneria hate Excel. You can build up their tolerance, but it causes them to melt.

Brandon Cosme - 7 years ago

+ADU Aquascaping Oh okay, thanks. Do you think I should dose any type of liquid carbon or fert? My main desire is to just create a nice carpet and a lush Val forest, whatever I need to do to achieve that, I can do lol.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Brandon Cosme oh right, then yeah that is plenty of light. You were at 11 watts and then stepped it up right? yeah that amount will be enough light. If it ends up being too much light just raise the lighting up.

Brandon Cosme - 7 years ago

+ADU Aquascaping In my previous comment, I said I was going to use 20 watts and you replied that it would work well. Will it not work anymore?

Also correct me if I'm wrong, I believed you said your 18" fixture was 13 watts? I listened to that advice and got more than what you suggested of 16 watts. I can still add my 8 watt LED bulb if needed so that I would have 30 watts of LED.

PS When I say watt, I mean the actual wattage being used, not their incandescent equivalent, in case I sounded unclear.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Brandon Cosme I think I already told you that you may need more light. Try it out and if carpeting dwarf sagittaria is slow than up the light. I had a current current satellite plus over a ten gallon and it worked great. It is a 30 watt fixture.

Rommel R - 7 years ago

Beautiful tank my man. I have an Eheim 2215 and would like to have the same output hose like yours. Could you direct me to what parts should I get?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Rommel R I am using just the parts that come with the API filstar canister filter. You could look into using the Filstar tubing and parts. Just see if they fit or not.

Laurie Barton - 7 years ago

I always learn so much on aquascaping from your videos! Will definitely read the links to articles you provided.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Laurie Barton thanks for watching. Yeah check them out!

Elliot Mallard - 7 years ago

I missed your videos man. Thanks for the new post.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Elliot Mallard thanks for the support!

RandomlyInspired - 7 years ago

You know, now that you mentioned it. I have had way more success with growing plants in my beta tank (he shares with 2 corys and 4shrimp) which uses natural light since his tank is a good distance from the window, whereas I struggle to even keep plants alive in my goldfish tank which has a good led light head. It could also have something to do with me just using flourish excel as plant food. I'm still in the learning process with planted tanks, but also on a tight budget

RandomlyInspired - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping that will definitely be my goal for my next tank build. Thanks for the tip!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Liah Rodriguez yeah depending on how you run your tank and the plants you choose can impact their growth under too high of light, especially when you aren't using pressurized CO2, Excel helps a little bit, but a bicarbonate buffer will supply the plants with even more carbon, same goes for using a soil substrate. Low tech is easiest when using soil and having some bicarbonates for buffering and additional carbon.

IŹŹY MØNTANA - 7 years ago

I need your help! I have a bonsai in my aquarium with xmas moss on it. It's been doing good for about 3 weeks but now it's brown. I don't use co2 or excel but I do use a nutrition liquid once a week after a water change as directed. I've nailed it down to the lighting. It's a LED fixture off amazon but I think it's too bright for my xmass moss.. any way I can bring them back without changing light? Or any other moss that would be better "besides java moss"

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

IŹŹY MØNTANA Yeah it may be the light. You can try hanging the lights and get wire and drywall screws, or finding or making acrylic risers for the fixture. It is kind of strange it would all start turning brown. like it all of a sudden just all died, or progressively got worse? I have Christmas in my tank too. I am running the light at 45% of full power, have super high O2 and circulation and have good amounts of bicarbonates. You may need to dose more than just a micro mix once a week. KNO3, magnesium, calcium, and potassium as well.

paducahFishFan - 7 years ago

Interesting thoughts. You think about things more than me. :-)
I started wanting to do cool planted tanks and then got side tracked by growing out a batch of discus.

Good luck on finals!

Cheers

Anthony Francisco - 7 years ago

I can't handle the angle youtube aquarists have their cameras

Digitalfiendscom - 7 years ago

Thanks for the links! They should make for some interesting reading.

I'm still new to all of this and really struggling with my high tech Mini M w/Aquasky light - plants and MC carpet are growing great but constantly fighting brown hair algae that continually makes everything look dirty (tank is cycled, not diatoms). I'm dosing according to what I calculated on RotalaButterfly.com (though reduced trace dosage a bit).

On the other hand my other high tech tank, a 60F w/Current LED Pro+ is damn near self sufficient (about 7 months old). I clean it about once every 2-3 weeks, very little detritus thanks to the army of RCS, and stable. I dose a bit of potassium via KSO4 once a week but stopped dosing KNO3 and the plants are doing great.

I used to have a 12" cube that I ended up neglecting after I transferred all the fish to the 60F. That cube had no water changes for months and only ambient light and occasional light from a halogen pot (though it was still heated as I was planning on using some of the plants). It had no algae and the plants looked amazing...until everything eventually crashed. But for a couple of months that tank looked amazing. I've always want to try my hand at another low tech, low maintenance tank (maybe even a riparium) but wanted to learn more to understand why that cube worked so well.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

OJ dude thanks for the support!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Mixing the water with RO can dilute it, so yes it will alter the water and lower the TDS. It can have an impact on growing certain types of algae more than others, and if your tap water is super high in phosphate it can cause issues. Do you run high surface water agitation with a powerhead and wavemaker? Really you just want to run high water surface agitation 24/7 to have high O2, which will help with stability of the CO2/O2 flux. The light I am using is an Aquatic Life Halo LED. Very good color rendering. Better than Kessil. I love it.

Digitalfiendscom - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping The filter is reasonably clean, running with mech, coarse pad, substrat, and filter floss. It was recently cleaned in the past two weeks. I'm not sure how much O2 I'm promoting at night with the bubbler but its on for about 2 hrs in total - should I run it all night? Going to take a PH reading tomorrow morning before the CO2 starts. Probably a silly question but can TDS affect algae growth? I need to get a TDS meter but I wonder if mixing RO and tap water would do anything. Btw what light are you running on that tank to your right in the video (the light on the gooseneck)? Thanks again.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

How dirty is the filter and how much O2 are you getting. You may want stronger surface agitation. Do you have a surface biofilm growing on top of the water? And yes reducing the lights may also help.

Digitalfiendscom - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping Thanks for the reply. I think it's brown hair algae - it's not long and stringy though, it's quite short hair and little bits/brownish clumps that get stirred up when I vacuum. It's definitely not diatoms which I'm familiar with. I've also got some GSA but that seems to be slowly going away. I'm torn what to do really. As much as I love the clean look of the Aquasky 361 light, I think it is WAY too much light, especially for a newbie. Dimming it isn't an option either as the DC adapter is something like 9-35v. I was thinking of making my own acrylic stand for the light to raise it up another 4". I'm going to try and reduce the photoperiod to 5-6 hrs. Water parameters: PH is 6.5-6.6 (tap water is 7.6 iirc), KH 5, GH 8, NH4 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 0, PO4 0-0.25. Temp is around 24.5-25c. I filter with an Eheim 2213 and aerate with an Eheim air pump for 30min every two hours until the CO2 comes on (one hour before lights). I dose using the amounts I calculated with the RotalaButterfly calculator. I can never seem to get nitrates up and all the plants are growing well. The annoying part is that I'll meticulously clean the bits of algae, wipe if off the leaves, and brush the wood, and within days it is back to how it was. I've never had such a battle with algae before. I even tried your suggestion of spot treating with hydrogen peroxide which works but doesn't stop it. I don't over feed and have three otos, a dozen RCS, and a nerite as the cleanup crew. Other fish are 6 glowlight rasboras and a betta. I figure some of this might have to do with the tank being in the kitchen by a sliding glass door (we keep the blinds closed) as well as the strength of the light and small tank size. It's fairly heavily planted though: s.repens, hygrophila, altern r. mini, anubias, Rotala Rotundifolia, and Monte Carlo.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

nano tanks are harder because of the size. Poor circulation, harder to maintain buffer etc... they actually take more work. Keeping the filter very clean and doing frequent water changes may help, and possibly reducing the photoperiod. Is it Rhizo algae? That is usually from an increase in organic nitrogen. So you would want to really watch the filter and water circulation, up the O2 with more surface agitation too.

AQUAPROS - 7 years ago

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!! DAVES BACKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AQUAPROS - 7 years ago

Way to go dude! I remember those days...hahah All info you can apply in one way or another to your tank!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

DIY AQUAPROS got 100% on the exam. Was about nutrients, nutrient cycles, soil nutrient and carbon remediation, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, pollution reduction from eutrophication.

AQUAPROS - 7 years ago

Hey man, life is life, thats all I can say. Keep up the good work, things get tough but they always get better! You re doing great in our eyes!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

DIY AQUAPROS thanks bro, I will tell you that I do. Highest grade in the class! haha, but dang dude. All this going on plus extreme life and eye opening events going on all at the same time. Hard to focus man. Just had a realization to the extreme about my own personal growth. Damn dude. I need to focus, but am having a hard time.

AQUAPROS - 7 years ago

You got this dude! Soils, pshhhh you know all about soil... :D

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

DIY AQUAPROS hahaha thanks man! glad to be back, but now I have to focus on a soils exam! I am so tired. haha

AQUAPROS - 7 years ago

PS. That scape is dope.

BD Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Hey ADU, very nice video. I allways like to see your video and explanation. This is a good low tech aquascape. Even if I do not like trees. ;) kKeep it up man! Greetz from Germany
greetz BD

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

haha, I actually used to not like tree either, and probably still don't! Just thought I would give it a go. Thanks for watching man. I will have to check out some of your latest videos!

ss ss - 7 years ago

What kelvin is the light on the tank on the left? Looks really nice. I've got a moss tank here under a 2700k 30W LED light and it gives a really warm natural winter sun effect like yours.

Be interesting to know details of it.....

ss ss - 7 years ago

+ADU Aquascaping - brilliant, thanks for the reply.

Lovely tanks and presentation as always.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

I don't know the exact Kelvin because the spectrum is adjustable. It seems like it is a mix of 6500 and 10000 for the most part, but has many LEDs in the matrix, including UV-B LEDs. Look into the Aquatic Life Halo LED. That is the fixture that I am using. It does have really nice color rendering. Better than the Kessil in a lot of ways.

Memories - 7 years ago

Welcome back! you're awesome!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Memories haha, thanks, glad to be back and thanks for the support

MarineLifeDrew - 7 years ago

That's really interesting with the too much light topic. I set up a 55 for someone I know and I added some floating plants to reduce maintenance. overtime all the floating plants pilled to one side shading this amazon sword. On the other side was another amazon sward that wasn't covered. The one that was shaded grew much bigger and taller than the other by a lot!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

MarineLifeDrew yeah shade loving plants love the shade. Usually slow growing and dark green

The Midwest Fishkeeper - 7 years ago

I think I have the lowest of low tech aquariums a 29gal with a customized LED gravel and never dose anything. The light is decent and MY PLANTS GROW HOLY COW I always heard high tech grow plants faster. But my lowest of low all the plants take off and grow like crazy!

The Midwest Fishkeeper - 7 years ago

I use the elive led lights that are 2 Warm White 2 Color enhancing and 2 Plant Growth I have Amazon swords, aunibus nana, temple, crptocoryne wendtii and parva.

Yisan Cheong - 7 years ago

Hi may I know which plants are those? and what light are you using? I'm about to set up a 30gal :)

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

The Midwest Fishkeeper yeah just depends on the type of plants being grown. Anyone that disagrees is just ignorant haha

Thuddy Waters - 7 years ago

I never realized Shia LaBeouf knows so much about aquascaping.

AvianAviator - 7 years ago

Heh! i'm in Utah!

Nerd Herd - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping you are absolutely amazing!!!!!!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Thuddy Waters yeah my Utah accent always sounds Canadian to people. haha

Thuddy Waters - 7 years ago

That's funny. I guess you do sound like a non-Canadian Tom Green! But your voice is too low to sound like Neil Young.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Thuddy Waters more people have said I sound like Tom Green or Neil Young. haha

Thuddy Waters - 7 years ago

+ADU Aquascaping I guess I'm not the only one who notices the resemblance. That's not a bad thing. I wouldn't mind looking like Shia LaBeouf. I don't hear any similarity to Obama in your speaking, though.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Thuddy Waters haha, I get that sometimes. And someone said I speak like Obama! haha

Kushal Patel - 7 years ago

after so long time....
good to see u man..
great info... thanks buddy

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

kushal patel Hey what's up Celebrity!! haha

Kurt S - 7 years ago

Is that a Kessel on the tank behind you?

Kurt S - 7 years ago

thank you.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Kurt Seifert It is an Aquatic Life Halo. Really nice light. It has better color rendering than Kessil and is less expensive.

Kirsten K - 7 years ago

My kh is very low out of the tap. How do I raise it to 7?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Kirsten K you can add potassium bicarbonate buffer. I show you how to make one in my 3rd episode of 10 quick tips. Or you can buy a Seachem buffer powder.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Kirsten K what is the KH at? Are you running low tech? And are you using soil?

Paul Chippington - 7 years ago

Missed you brother, Great aquascape. Most start off low tech, Great informative video

Nerd Herd - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping is to COOL!!!!!

Paul Chippington - 7 years ago

Keep them coming now your back

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Thanks for stopping by man. Glad to be back in action!

50. comment for True Definition Of Low Tech Aquascape And Why It Matters | Aquascaping

KrispyAquascape - 7 years ago

You should do a video on the amount of maintenance involved in high tech tanks. A high tech stem plant tank is a burden lol. I have a life to live, don't let your tank run your life.

Nerd Herd - 7 years ago

ADU more like Amazing, dude, universe!!!!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

KrispyAquascape oh yeah that is another great point! well I have talked about it in the past as you know. It can be a burden at times. haha

Hetzer 1701 - 7 years ago

The tropica paper was an eye opener, thanks for posting Dave!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Hetzer 1701 yeah for riccia itself it prefers low light with high CO2. Just crazy. Simply it is this: some plants like low light, some like medium, and some like high. And all types will benefit from any increase of carbon. Organic, sediment, or pressurized. Dark green plants prefer shade.

IŹŹY MØNTANA - 7 years ago

Perfect video to wake up too! Keep it up man

IŹŹY MØNTANA - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping who said you couldn't enjoy both ;)

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

IŹŹY MØNTANA hahaha thanks! better than coffee. Your brain will be even more stimulated.

colinbarsby - 7 years ago

Another dose of Dave at last!!!! So pleased to see another awesome video. KH and Bicarbonates are such vital sources of carbon for aquarium plants and aquarium chemical stability in general. Buffer is so seldom understood.

Nerd Herd - 7 years ago

TO Amazingly perfect!!!!!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

colinbarsby ah, good evidence. And a lot of our experiences solidify the studies.

colinbarsby - 7 years ago

+ADU Aquascaping I have the cleanest water in my city. Zip, zero, nil, in my water. No KH. No buffer. Big trouble keeping fish, tough to grow plants.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

colinbarsby thanks Colin, yeah I recently realized how bad it would be to have low carbon in a sand only tank. Some people are advising that a KH is not necessary. Well maybe in some super high tech tank that gets tons of attention it isn't needed, but even then I still would advise for having some buffer!

Thistle Bites - 7 years ago

Using co2 is overrated...

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Thistle Bites in some cases it is. And with super fast growth sometimes the tank can become a burden.

Mark Morgan - 7 years ago

hey man have you ever considered doing a live video? i think it would be cool to sit and have a chat

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Mark Morgan I have thought about it, but no decent web cam. My phone could work I guess. Definitely will consider it.

Tritan - 7 years ago

What you do best is not shaving...

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Chris Campbell haha, I just missed the boat that's all. And I guess my apartment was super cold. haha

Chris Campbell - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping Shouldn't you be out on a crabbing boat?

paducahFishFan - 7 years ago

https://www.harrys.com
I highly recommend it. :-)

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Tritan hahaha, I don't do it for looks now. My razor's motor burned up.

COOPER'S CICHILDS - 7 years ago

great video

Wes Jones - 7 years ago

Hey man, where can I get those small tree looking things in the neon tetra tank?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Wes Jones they are manzanita wood twigs. Manzanita wood.com mat have some, or check Aquascaping the world group on Facebook and ask around. I got mine from my local fish shop. Just scraps from leftover manzanita branches.

Racing's Natural Aquariums - 7 years ago

Great info and beautiful tanks!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Racing1278 thanks man

No Thanks - 7 years ago

Your tanks look amazing

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

No Thanks thank you!

pecktec - 7 years ago

Great information here.

Nerd Herd - 7 years ago

OHHH Yeah!!!!!!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

pecktec thanks man! read the articles when you have time. great information.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Read all three articles and open your mind!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Red Head In Heels dang, that is exactly what happened to me. All of my Cichlids died from a heater malfunctioning. It got too hot, but the unintended experiment showed that Fire mouth Cichlids can tolerate 90+ degree water. It was happy as a clam swimming around not even hyperventilating. Really crazy. I almost quit the hobby. I even got physically sick from it and had a bad association with tanks because I got sick. I later got some geoohagus tapajos and their pink heads would make me sick just looking at them. I finally got over it though. And the trick was actually using fake plants, which quickly turned into real plants.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Red Head In Heels wow, thanks for the compliment! It means a lot and helps me see if what I teach works. Thanks for the support as always. How long have you been in the hobby?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Red Head In Heels true, but Dennis used to make fun of me for challenging Tom in stuff. In some threads he did contradict himself from my perspective, BUT! peoples opinions and knowledge change, so I won't hold older threads against him, and I hope people don't hold things I said in the past against me. We all make some mistakes. I say things that aren't always entirely accurate, and so does Dennis, and Tom. We are all learning. Tom just has a huge headstart.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Red Head In Heels great example! do you have a bicarbonate buffer? haha, well people like to be lied to. Most are scared of truth and honesty. haha. thanks! I will definitely upload over Christmas break. Will probably have another video up this coming Sunday. I have some ideas cooking!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Tritan maybe that is why more people are pissed off. Haha. Well you can just take my word for it. Some people won't believe it for whatever reason, but my own experience combined with the studies findings makes for a pretty tasty and solid argument. I hate reading fiction.

Tritan - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping the reason I watch YouTube is because I don't want to read.

thepokekid01 - 7 years ago

Interesting stuff, and good luck with exams

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

thepokekid01 thanks, read the articles when you have time.

N.O.A.H. - Northern Ontario Aquarium Hobby - 7 years ago

great to see you back at vids. you are a huge inspiration and so full of useful knowledge. i am going to be adding instructional videos to my channel starting this week and i already have plans for a top five youtube resource vid and you have most certainly made the cut...thanks as always.

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC3D384hKLvQtSxoRWNKoN2w

N.O.A.H. - Northern Ontario Aquarium Hobby - 7 years ago

Once stuff starts getting posted i would love your comments. I really dig your approach to the hobby and yourbopinuons wpuld always be welcome. Goodluck on your finals.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Thanks for the support as always! I will check it out. Keep the knowledge rolling to stop the trolling.

E Wright - 7 years ago

blah...nice, high output lights you got there.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

set to 50% power. Read the articles! blah! haha

ExtraSteps - 7 years ago

Does anyone else get an Obama vibe from the way he talks?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Amen!

Kolton D - 7 years ago

I wish I had an eye like you that can design tanks like you do. I see it as an art, and I've never been the artistic type. I go to the store and see these plants and "give me 3 bunches of those, 3 bunches of those" and so on. I just don't have an artistic eye and I'm always changing the layout in my tank and am never satisfied.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

well my first aquariums were not very pretty! I just kept practicing and practicing. You will get it down the more you do it.

TheLoachGuy - 7 years ago

My upcoming ten gallon planted tank and I appreciate your video!

Michael Piccirillo - 7 years ago

Great video-

have you ever found any lights that have that "Shimmer Effects" other Kessil lights?
I think I've seen your on the left as well, Have you had anything that matched or came close to your light that sell for under $200-300 each?

Devon Trigg - 7 years ago

Michael Piccirillo aquaray LEDs

jonnyboy5050 - 7 years ago

Michael Piccirillo LED lights. but they're only good for smaller tanks because they don't penetrate very deep. I use em on my 20 high and they work great. I use finnex but there are some other brands out there

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

I am using the Aquatic Life Halos, they start at $350. They have better color rendering than the Kessil lights and they produce the shimmer!

About True Definition Of Low Tech Aquascape And Why It Matters | Aquascaping

The "True Definition Of Low Tech Aquascape And Why It Matters | Aquascaping" video is part of the freshwater, aquascaping category, which contains similar videos like this one.