3 Awesome Aquascaping Hacks! Stabilizing CO2 Delicate Driftwood and Workable Rocks

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 3 Awesome Aquascaping Hacks! Stabilizing CO2 Delicate Driftwood and Workable Rocks

Live comments
Comments on YouTube

cicco - 7 years ago

awesome work nice nice love it thanks plant bro!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Thanks for watching! Glad you liked it. I uploaded the cichlid hatchery video again. The music was too loud. It is better now.

sdq sdq - 7 years ago

when you getting the solar rgb ?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

sdq sdq for the 45F? I would love to try one out. The Halo on the 60P is also an awesome fixture.

IŹŹY MØNTANA - 7 years ago

Great video man just subscribed! Also I need to get a good carpeting plant. I have decent lighting but would prefer something that will grow under low light and little to no co2 (I've ordered a co2 system but delivery is taking forever) any suggestions?

IŹŹY MØNTANA - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping PERFECT! Might give me more idea's on my current aquascape ;)

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

IŹŹY MØNTANA thanks, will be uploading one on Low Tech tanks later today

IŹŹY MØNTANA - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping I appreciate your reply! Look forward to your videos!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

IŹŹY MØNTANA Monte Carlo will work great. Thanks for watching

Tropical Freshwater Abodes - 7 years ago

Rad channel man, I subbed! If your into it stop by my channel maybe subscribe if you like! :) cheers!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Tropical Freshwater Abodes thanks for stopping by mate

Joyce Wolan - 7 years ago

hi everyone, i have a forty breeder with half sand, i want to suck the sand out and add substrate to it threw a pvc pipe slowly to the bottom, the substrate is eco complete, i know when i first did it with no fish it was very cloudy, if i do it with the fish in the tank will it fill the water column so badly that it suffocates the fish with there gills, i hope i make sense , thanks'm leaving the other substrate half the tank, and the rocks plants and filters to, just adding more eco complete

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Joyce Wolan it won't kill them. may make them mad, but they will be fine. You could try and drain as much water as possible to limit the clouding before putting the substrate in there. Also getting a large enough tube to siphon the sand out will make it easier to get out of the tank.

memo - 7 years ago

I can't wait to see how its gonna look like once it done!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

memo I finally planted it. And I am really excited for this scape. It already looks awesome! can't wait for the weeping moss on the trees to fill in

You-Tube Junkie - 7 years ago

VERY NICE...

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Thank you very much!

Joyce Wolan - 7 years ago

hey dave, got some cherry barbs for my starter fish in my forty gallon, they have a great area for swimming and a branch and lea area. they all decide to swim in the empty side of the tank in the fluvial canister flow, they have been doing this crazy like for five days is this normal.? also i cycled and its been three weeks and i started to get the brown algae, so my local fish place, who by the way knows you(sea life aquarium,) told me to get a cleaning crew, so my panda cory i got decided to join the nuts in the corner swimming crazy like. is this all normal, any comments appreciated thanks your videos are a awesome help

Paul Chippington - 7 years ago

Great videos amazing glad i subscribed.

10. comment for 3 Awesome Aquascaping Hacks! Stabilizing CO2 Delicate Driftwood and Workable Rocks

Tropical Freshwater Abodes - 7 years ago

Great channel, subscribed! If your into it stop by help a brother out & sub too! :) cheers!

MasterAquatics - 7 years ago

awesome video!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

MasterAquatics thanks yo!

MutationDesign - 7 years ago

Shut up and do more videos

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

mutationdesign haha

B4UHINDI - 7 years ago

hi Dave how you been? hey do you still have those utah dragon stones?

Happi

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

B4UHINDI hey man! yeah I still have some

EsotericAquatics - 7 years ago

lookin like a laxer with that flow!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

EsotericAquatics flow is key to life. haha

Lava_sysT - 7 years ago

where do you get the wood from?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

from my LFS. People on planted tank.net sell it. And Tom Barr also sells it. Manzanita wood.

Walter Crews - 7 years ago

Can't wait to see this scape come together my friend. Be sure to post your progression video links to our new page since you are a great member of "United Tanks of America" https://www.facebook.com/groups/1737869786473027/

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

yeah for sure. It is coming together finally, but still have some more changes to make

BAMAZ#1 - 7 years ago

Thanks for the reply! I saw your video on rescaping soon after great help there.

OriginalMindTrick - 7 years ago

Another way of removing the film is by adding black molly to he tank.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

I
will
add it to the video. I
am sure hobbyists
will want to know. Thanks for the tip!

OriginalMindTrick - 7 years ago

+ADU Aquascaping
They works as a surface skimmer and can remove it entirely.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Entirely? It is caused from higher BOD and nowhere else for the bacteria to grow.

Pavilion End - 7 years ago

Ha ha, for sure know your hard core if your local fish store is abbreviated, lfs. best tanks online, almost to good it's scary!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

and thank you!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

haha, people were wanting to know what all the acronyms are

20. comment for 3 Awesome Aquascaping Hacks! Stabilizing CO2 Delicate Driftwood and Workable Rocks

9929kingfish - 7 years ago

What you studying?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

environmental science and management. Emphasis in soil and wetland remediation.

j03yYunG Aquariums - 7 years ago

Loving the new scape. This a new tank, 60P?

j03yYunG Aquariums - 7 years ago

Not really. Being on the only US company that sells pre made Wabi Kusa, I’m not going to give away the recipe. Like any other product everyone can get the basic ingredients to make something. It’s those extra ingredients that makes your product stay out. Plus I know Dave and he understands.

j03yYunG Aquariums - 7 years ago

lol, yeah there's a secret ingredient I use to prevent the ball from breaking apart so easily. Sorry I can't give that away. :0
I think if you bake it, it'll create too much micro cracks which may lead to it breaking apart. Natural dry method is better.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

hey man what type of soil do you use for your wabi kusa balls? I used Controsoil and right when I put it in the tank it instantly disintegrated into powder. Haha. I baked the balls to help them dry more quickly and am not sure if that is why they fell apart. It doesn't seem like it has as much clay as the ball you sent me. Do you garden soil or ADA Aquasoil? Controsoil may just need more clay.

j03yYunG Aquariums - 7 years ago

Nice!!!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

yeah 60P. going to be making the moss trees tonight actually.

AquaScapeGoat TV - 7 years ago

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a serious hate for 55 gallon tanks. Wouldn't be bad dimensions if they flipped it on its face though lol

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

exactly! then it would be like a breeder tank. I once smashed one I was so sick of it. Good for African Cichlids and that's about it.

AQUADESIGN by aquamaniac - 7 years ago

Love that scape Dave. And those rocks are really cool.
Keep up with the great videos and scapes.

AQUADESIGN by aquamaniac - 7 years ago

I have aspergers so any social kind of relationship is hard for me.
I kind of live in my own world.
Specially being away from home and family, its just me and the wife and work.
These days i have even abandoned my channel as i have no time left.
Going back to Portugal next year though.
Hope to have more time for myself and the hobby then.

AQUADESIGN by aquamaniac - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

yeah I guess I am to some degree. Relationships are still hard to maintain though. haha

AQUADESIGN by aquamaniac - 7 years ago

I've seen many scapes doing it. so it shouldn't be much of a problem. probably just needs regular trimming.
Nice to see you found a good balance between personal life and channel. you look healthier and happier on your videos now. Like before it seemed all serious no fun.Now you seem to be looser and enjoying yourself more.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

thanks man. The weight of the moss on the skinny branches has me worried.

AQUAPROS - 7 years ago

Cant wait to see the finished product Dave, great hardscape as usual. Im finally getting into mud stones (dragonstone in praticular). LFS finally got some in and I had to snag a bunch of little pieces as well, it totally helps the scape, your advice is right on. Hopfully I can can get somthing out soon. Take care man!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

he is busy with bacteria haha

calvin phan - 7 years ago

Whoa!!! where have you been?!?!?!? I miss your videos!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

I have some Ohko. It is pretty soft even under low Tech conditions. When I clean it with. toothbrush the tank gets murky from the dust. They seem to be almost entirely calcite clay. Haven't checked my KH, but I haven't been using any buffer just pure RO water and then I add some GH.

MASS Aquariums - 7 years ago

Texture baby. Gonna be dope

MASS Aquariums - 7 years ago

Hate 55's myself. 40 breeder is my favorite tank all day

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

yeah the suck balls! I once smashed one I was so sick of it. haha

Kamil Olczak - 7 years ago

nice insularium in the bkground it could be ;-}

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

will be a desert scene. A dry Creek bed after a flash flood

DMAN D - 7 years ago

Be careful with small branches like that,they snap real easy when they have been in the tank awhile.

DMAN D - 7 years ago

+ADU Aquascaping No problem.I found it out the hard way with some small manzanita wood.I think a youtuber by the name of Dennis wong has a video on making moss trees with that sponge method!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Very true, and I just realized the weight of the moss won't help. Thanks for pointing that out. Maybe I will have to spread the weight of the moss across multiple branches. meaning I will have to cut larger sponge pieces that lay across multiple branches to balance the weight.

LongVietT - 7 years ago

I really love the rock idea, never would of thought haha

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

thanks, yeah get some Sand stone or mud stone. Really nice to work with.

30. comment for 3 Awesome Aquascaping Hacks! Stabilizing CO2 Delicate Driftwood and Workable Rocks

Tommy P. Pedersen - 7 years ago

Great post! Thanks.

colinbarsby - 7 years ago

Hey Dave, I think your Head is working with the Golden Ratio beautifully, and the facial hair is supreme.
Keep those vids coming buddy.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

haha, it works well with the tank. I should try scaping with my head next time. Yeah people are weird dude.

BAMAZ#1 - 7 years ago

Hey Dave love ya vids man. I'm finally about to rescape my 2 tanks. ? I'm reusing Ada aquasoil and I know uve talked about the bacteria in your substrate being crucial. How should I use my A.S? I'm sure there is good bacteria already. I'm also going to use lava rock underneath w/osmocote +. Should I try and keeping bacteria alive or clean and dry completely? A.S about a 1yr old. Also is there an alternative that us regular Joe's can use that similar to Ada substrate additives to jump start your substrate? Sry so long I just value ur opinion. Keep um coming!

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

If the Aquasoil is already cycled from a previous tank that will get the job done. Even with bacteria additives it still takes 3-4 weeks to truly cycle. When people add liquid Bacteria additives they are relying on the bacteria they added not the bacteria in the tank, so it is temporarily cycling the tank, but your filter and substrate really are not cycled yet. It takes 3-4 weeks no matter what. Cheap liquid Bacteria additives are also usually a type of E. Coli and aren't the kind that grow in the filter. Hope this helps.

RR26 - 7 years ago

Can you move your head out of the rule of third. I used a piece of paper to cover your non-aquascaping head and the vide and the ADA tank looked much much prettier. There is no need to let audience to watch your head all the time unless you want to show off excessive self-love. Keeping high level CO2 at off time is just a waste and dangerous to fishes. Algae, e.g. green dust algae, like a stable co2 environment.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

haha, okay dude! I didn't say to leave it on 24/7. I said to have surface agitation 24/7. This increases O2.

dope sack - 7 years ago

what about hang on back filter I know it not pretty

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Yeah that can help, but it isn't skimming the surface just creating agitation, but it does work well to increase agitation and O2.

Kurt S - 7 years ago

what are you doing for water filtration?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

I will be using an API filstar canister filter and probably the Eheim surface Skimmer. Thanks for watching man.

Samuel Mays - 7 years ago

Hey Dave, awesome scape as always! Thanks for the hacks and advice. I was wondering if I could get a recommendation from you. What light(s) would you recommend to get me into the high light range on a standard 120 gallon tank?

Samuel Mays - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping Correction : The lights in running now is the Finnex Planted Plus 24/7 not the original planted plus. The only thing they are growing rapidly in my tank is diatom algae that I can't seem to beat haha I have to scrape it off my glass about two times a week.

Samuel Mays - 7 years ago

ADU Aquascaping thank you for replying! The tank is 60" long and I'm currently running two 30" finnex planted plus lights. It just doesn't seem to be growing my plants at the rate I would like, grow rate is really slow. I will definitely check into adding the Finnex Ray II.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

For power and being inexpensive I would go with a Finnex Ray II. They aren't fancy or anything, but do get the job done at higher depths. Great for taller tanks. You could go with the AquaticLife Halo LED. Point source LED matrix type fixtures really penetrate, but are a lot more expensive. I think they may have a Ray II plus coming out, which has the red LEDs. You may want to try a combination of a Ray II with a Planted Plus just to get better color. The Ray II is pretty yellow/white- it is pure daylight rating.

COOPER'S CICHILDS - 7 years ago

Dave nice video have a 5' piece of driftwood that I can't get to sink it keeps floating what would u suggest off to keep it from floating I've tried soaking out for 30 days

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Dang! Could it be because it is so large, or maybe not dense enough. What kind of wood is it?

Damion Markham - 7 years ago

cool thanks

LFCooledWhip - 7 years ago

Dave are you gonna be at aquatic experience in Chicago in november?

LFCooledWhip - 7 years ago

+ADU Aquascaping Oh yeah I forgot to mention I have some tanks already but the tanks I have are starting to fall apart (I started these about 7 months ago with no experience) So there is little nutrients and the lights are terrible.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

well having a tank for two years is worth it! I would just do it!

LFCooledWhip - 7 years ago

+ADU Aquascaping Also Dave I'm in a bit of a split... I'm a junior in HS right now and will be going off to college (hopefully in Chicago which is 40 minutes from where I live now) in 2 years. I really want to set up a big main showcase tank, like a 55 or 75 sometime soon but I don't know if it's worth it if I will be tearing it down in 2 years. I think it's worth it. Is that how long an aquascaped tank would last for? Like 2 years? I just don't want to take it apart while it's beginning to thrive.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Oh I would love to be there. Just have to make sure I don't have any exams that weekend. That is the only issue.

Carl Shayne Castillo - 7 years ago

Im also using the same rock. Its so easy to break apart and it does have a lot of details.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Yeah we have both been spoiled now. I love working with it. Thanks for watching man.

s p a n - 7 years ago

Where did you get that driftwood? Wild gathered?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

It is Manzanita wood. Some pieces have really fine delicate branches. You can check around on the plantedtank.net or Aquascaping The World group on Facebook. Tom Barr sells it, and other hobbyists.

Tl Tl - 7 years ago

Hey man loving the aquascape, thx for the educational video as well man keep it up

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Thanks for watching. I can't wait to scape this tank! I have to wait for my plants to grow out. I just realized that placing the mini wabi kusa balls on top of the rocks will also allow the different heights of the rocks and contours of the aquarium to show through the plants themselves. They will be at different heights and angles making it even more natural and realistic. Using the wabi kusa ball technique is a new idea to the hobby and I would recommend it to anyone, especially when you are doing a really complex detailed rock scape.

Alvaro Reyes - 7 years ago

Simple and direct. Thank you again.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Thanks! Yeah from here on out I am going to keep it simple, and try to not overload the video with too much information. 3 tips per video is enough. Thanks for watching.

Ontario Bushcraft - 7 years ago

LOOK AT THE SHAG!! lol

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

well Aquasoil can grow blyxa! what has changed? you stopped using Osmocote? water? lighting? any changes?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

doing a massive mad cow presentation. Due tomorrow and my partner didn't contribute 1% to the project. Karma is coming.

Ontario Bushcraft - 7 years ago

BTW Thank you for the quick reply! Hows school? lol

Ontario Bushcraft - 7 years ago

ada aqua soil The Blyxa just stopped growing I can grow ludigia to the surface from a cut back in days Blyxa three inches I mean its kinda cool but i'd like to be able to form it again lol

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

If there is an imbalance yes. What substrate do you use? How much have you cut back. Even with lean dosing plants can get huge. It just takes longer, and in some ways is more efficient. Less maintenance and still looks great. I had a mound of S. repens and only trimmed it one time over the course of 21 months and it looked great. Are your plants losing color too?

Ontario Bushcraft - 7 years ago

PLEASE HELP! I have had a tank going for over a year and it has gone to S^$# I have had it on osmacote and growing inch a week yada yada. Some blyxa baby tears dwarf hair grass. NOW? blyxa skinny and won't grow above 3 inches Can cutting back ultimately stunt plants?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

haha! Well with thinning hair it is all I can do. I am going for the David Cassidy look.

eric j - 7 years ago

interesting scape you got going on there, thanks for sharing friend.

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

thanks yo! should be pretty sweet once it fills in.

IFG - 7 years ago

Loma vs Walters is official

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

haha! Dang! I knew something good was coming. Classic matchup.

walter otiepka - 7 years ago

can you boil the wood?

ADU Aquascaping - 7 years ago

yes you can prepare it by boiling it, but may still need to soak it for some time to become totally saturated.

About 3 Awesome Aquascaping Hacks! Stabilizing CO2 Delicate Driftwood and Workable Rocks

The "3 Awesome Aquascaping Hacks! Stabilizing CO2 Delicate Driftwood and Workable Rocks" video is part of the category, which contains similar videos like this one.