Low Tech Aquascaping Part 1 of 2: Substrate and Hardscape

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 Low Tech Aquascaping Part 1 of 2: Substrate and Hardscape

Live comments
Comments on YouTube

Shaden0040 - 6 years ago

The spider driftwood piece looks more like a Dinosaur skeleton to me. Head on the right side neck arching up head bent down, thick tail on the left. Oh instead of organic soil check out organic worm castings.

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Ok yeah I see that...prehistoric! I do have a red worm culture that I use as live food, and I've used the castings in my emersed setup...but I'll check about buying a clean bag of it on the next planted setup!

Max Starmer - 6 years ago

That stream looks familiar, is it in Maryland?

Max Starmer - 6 years ago

PlantedDiscusFishTank Nice. I used to fish there when I lived in Maryland.

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Yes, its called morgan run and feeds the Liberty reservoir in Maryland.

Oleg Nemchenko - 6 years ago

Awesome vids! Could you share where you buy your fish tanks (I live somewhere around your area as I recognized Tropical fish shop from your vids about Holland aquarium).

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Hey Oleg,
I'm just catching up with comments...I try to get tanks on sale or used. Petco and Petsmart always have a $1 per gallon sale twice a year...so I get my smaller tanks there. For the larger tanks (75 gals), I go thru craigslist mostly. I go to trade shows as well for used tanks. Thanks for tuning in!

Ted Kaiser - 6 years ago

Just getting caught up with your channel going through some of your earlier videos. I'm about to set up a 75 gallon for my 6 discus juveniles that have been growing out in a 30 gallon bare bottom with no plants and want to add some plants to the 75. So I'm finding this hardscape and the whole project a great inspiration. Thanks for the videos and I really appreciate you sharing your honest insights and learnings even from painful losses and challenging experiences!

Ted Kaiser - 6 years ago

Anything on combining discus and plants is great since there are interesting trade offs to be made, especially keeping things low tech. I haven't set up my 75 yet, and still trying to decide whether to go dirt or aqua soil with a variety of plants planted in substrate as well as tied to rocks/wood or go more bare bottom or just sand with some swords in pots and anubias and java fern tied to driftwood. So it would be great to see an update on your 75 rimless and see how the plants and fish have been progressing. Thanks again for the great insights you're sharing on on your fish and plant keeping!

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Ted, you're welcome. Thank you for tuning in! I plan to upload many more discus videos. Let me know if there are specific topics you would like to watch.

CO-MTB - Lukes Fish Vids - 6 years ago

I am really concerned that the rimless is going to burst since nothing above 20g should be derimmed. But i absolutely love your channel and has inspired me to do a tank that i almost shut down. thank you so much PDFT, i hope you check out my tank when im finished with it and upload it.

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thanks for tuning in Luke! I'll lookout for your video upload.

Stephen Nicholas - 6 years ago

I liked the drift wood and the larger stones, yet not all those smaller stones that were the same size. The placing was just not looking natural or balanced. Would have been bolder with the earth too, piling it up much more under the bigger rock to one side to create more of a valley to rest the eye on the left side, then would have reduced the visibility of the smaller stones and used less of them. Also the stone on the left should not be stuffed right up to the glass, maybe 10 cm from it

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

That's great feedbak stephen, I appreicate it!

CO-MTB - Lukes Fish Vids - 6 years ago

love it

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thanks Luke!

Mister B - 6 years ago

Good video with good quality. I enjoyed it. (Only thing i missed, was a voice over instead of text.)

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thanks! I'll make sure to add more voic- overs!

George Calderon - 6 years ago

is coming out really original awesome job

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thanks George!

10. comment for Low Tech Aquascaping Part 1 of 2: Substrate and Hardscape

Marcin Wyderka - 6 years ago

Piękny korzeń i bardzo fajna aranżacja Łapka w górę pozdrawiam aby tak dalej .

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

thank you marcin! Hello out there in Poland (I hope I got that right).

Juan Martinez - 6 years ago

keep it up bro, I enjoy watching your videos very helpful

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

thanks Juan!

Adrian's Aquatics - 6 years ago

well done mate..great video ;)

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

thanks!

OriginalMindTrick - 6 years ago

Some honest constructive feedback on the hardscape.
That piece of
wood works great with the tank dimensions and has a great shape and
symmetry. However the rocks are placed in a very orderly and unnatural
way. It looks like a person intentionally placed them there very neatly
instead of being placed there by the elements.
The stones are also a bit too different in colour and stacked on top of each other. That
might work with rocks of different shapes but not rounded shapes unless
you fill in the gap with sand or moss on the stones.
Use less rocks/stones and place them with a bit more care as to look more natural.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5lnQeKbMpM&index=51&list=PLqRTl_Z1_Igb8BcHUFGWJUDmYQJtiyu8s
https://youtu.be/RLCuNgMivoc?t=18s

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thank you, that is great feedback!

Tony Canniffe - 6 years ago

Awesome scape. Nice job collecting materials and thanks for the litres conversion! Another Aussie here. Now if you could do the Celsius to Fahrenheit in you head, that would impress.

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

haha...I'll see if temperature comes up on the next video!

Bizzyfakka - 6 years ago

yo! LITERS!!!!

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

haha, I try!

Michael Struyf - 6 years ago

did u planted already? Cant wait for the result

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Hi Michael, you may have seen my latest video already with the plants and fish. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

Rob Goulet - 6 years ago

Love this channel. There aren't enough quality discus channels out there, keep up the good work.

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thanks Rob!

Mals Aquaholics - 6 years ago

great scape ! love the wood shape , here in the uk ,we have to be careful where we pick up wood n rock as there is laws against it . but hey , they wont miss one or two :)

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thanks! That is interesting, I've heard a few people with similar restrictions on driftwood and rocks where they live...does that mean you have to buy driftwood from certain regions that allow it?

Cindy O'Hara - 6 years ago

As usual your videos are awesome- I love the way you intro the new videos - and showing the price of driftwood- I get it I have spent hundreds on driftwood in the past so I get it. Here in the cayman island drift would is likely to be salty so I troll specialty fish stores when ever I'm in the States - I found this place in Orlando called fish business- they have amazing spider wood some over 3' long. Then I have to carefully wrap it in my luggage - lol the customs agent probably thinks I'm crazy! I am amazed but what you found - it's an amazing piece !!! I love your design it's amazing. Keep the videos coming - I'll keep watching !! I post your videos on my Facebook group - Cindy's liquid space - I'm hoping you don't mind!

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Hi Cindy! Thank you again for the kind words. That's funny about you checking in your driftwood on a plane...I would probably just hand carry it on my back haha. No problem with sharing videos on your group...please do.

20. comment for Low Tech Aquascaping Part 1 of 2: Substrate and Hardscape

Alexis Torres - 6 years ago

Great Video as Always! I like how you start your videos, its a nice intro.

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thank you for tuning in Alexis!

MASTERBOSS Blah - 6 years ago

Just found your channel, LOVE IT, with your production value, content and upload consistancy im sure you will take off! keep up the great work, Thumbs up from Australia!

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thank you for the encouragement! Hello to Australia!

president of random - 6 years ago

please check out my channel

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Random indeed!

Jim Hanley - 6 years ago

Great video. Did you soak the pieces of wood you found? I have a few big ones in an 100 gallon tupper wear horse trough trying to get them to sink. Taking forever!! Can't boil the big ones.

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

I did soak for a few weeks in a similar tote, and the spider didn't completely sink but enough so that a few rocks on the ends was able to weigh it down. Thanks!

6leumas6 - 6 years ago

Love it, great job!

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thanks!

Captain Conolio - 6 years ago

Looks awesome! I'm exited to see what you stock it with.

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

thank you! I should be finished with part 2 of the video by the end of the week.

A_Reel_Guy - 6 years ago

Awesome hard scape! I was wondering what you soaked the wood in when you got it home. Like did you use a container or something also does the wood float ? I live in Florida and a lot of the wood around here floats near rivers and lakes and the beach

A_Reel_Guy - 6 years ago

Thanks a lot for the tips. I'm setting up a 125 gonna do my first planted tank with soil and I have used a lot of stuff from your videos! Keep up the great work! Beautiful discus and amazing aquariums!

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thanks! I used a 50 gallon tote to put the driftwood in. Roots typically are more dense and tend to sink so I look for those mainly. Hardwoods like oak and maple also tend to sink after soaking...you should be able to tell by their weight...for example if you are getting tired dragging the driftwood, its most likely a hardwood.
If your driftwood doesn't completely sink on its own, you can weigh it down or tie it down with rocks.

Biswajit Bhattacharya - 6 years ago

Do you used the same soil on your 240 g

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

you're welcome...hello to India. Thanks for tuning in from across the world! I'll try to use more metric units (liters and centimeters) in future videos haha.

Biswajit Bhattacharya - 6 years ago

PlantedDiscusFishTank thanks for all the help. Like you channel and video. Keep dowing the good work. I am from india.

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Just the osmocote under the soil. After a year or so, the soil will get depleted, and that's when I either add supplemental liquid fertilizer (potassium and iron and trace minerals) and root tabs or I re-do the whole tank with fresh dirt.

Biswajit Bhattacharya - 6 years ago

PlantedDiscusFishTank any fertiliger

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

No Co2...I'm mostly use low tech plants...anubias, java fern, and amazon swords. Also some of my plants are emersed and so they get much more CO2 from the air than you can inject in the water.
I have used CO2 in the past with red plants and high light plants and it had its pros and cons.

Biswajit Bhattacharya - 6 years ago

PlantedDiscusFishTank thanx for reply. Do you run co2 on your tanks????

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Yes I do...organic garden/potting soil. Same sand as well..all purpose sand from home depot. Thanks for tuning in!

MELODY MUNRO - 6 years ago

It is illegal to take rocks, sand or driftwood from beaches, lakes, rivers where I live....

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

I'm sorry to hear that...maybe the next county? Is it illegal for the whole state (assuming you live in the US)? Driftwood can be considered firewood, and in some places, a firewood permit can bypass the local laws. Thanks for the comment.

Zer0cool NINJA88 - 6 years ago

great vid

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

thank you!

30. comment for Low Tech Aquascaping Part 1 of 2: Substrate and Hardscape

Faris El Jundi - 6 years ago

i dont know why you dont have thousands of views!!

Joricano - 6 years ago

i agree sharing your passion should be first rather than views. I like your videos less on the talking more on showing how it's done. That's why i subbed

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thank you I appreciate that. I'm still trying to figure out the youtube formula for attracting an audience. Maybe its the thumbnail? But regardless, I'm going to share what I enjoy in the hobby...the views are secondary.

Faris El Jundi - 6 years ago

millions**

fish tank noob - 6 years ago

well P.D.F.T i love it!!!!! spider island rocks!!!! it looks truly amazing....will that wood release color?

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

thank you! The wood has been wethered and aged by the looks of it so it shouldn't release too much tannin. So far the water has been clear.

Roberto Ramirez - 6 years ago

Dope Piece!

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thanks!

Scott Hadley - 6 years ago

I love the scape! It looks amazing!!

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thank you!

Frank Huang - 6 years ago

great choice of driftwood

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Thank you!

Moon Leah - 6 years ago

WOW. Instasubbed :D Which kind of sand are you using? Play sand or pool filter sand? Also did it take a while to clean it?

PlantedDiscusFishTank - 6 years ago

Moon Leah, thank you! I'm using all purpose sand (linked below). I had to fill and empty the tank 2x to get it cleaned...not too bad.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/SAKRETE-60-lb-Multi-Purpose-Sand-40100307/100350266

About Low Tech Aquascaping Part 1 of 2: Substrate and Hardscape

The "Low Tech Aquascaping Part 1 of 2: Substrate and Hardscape" video is part of the pest, animals, fish, freshwater category, which contains similar videos like this one.