5 Tips For A Planted Aquarium Setup

When you embark on your aquascaping journey, a lot of the time you jump right in! and so you should!
But you make a lot of mistakes along the way.
If you're a bit more strategic, and start learning about the mistakes other aquascapers have made... Your planted tank can kick off with an amazing advantage.
So listen in as I explain the 5 things I would do differently If I started my aquascapes from scratch.

[@timtrethan2557]

loving the regular uploads dude... keep up the good shit!

[@Daluafishroom]

@@timtrethan2557 thanks man 🙏 I’m going to keep at it for people like you

[@daluainternational]

Same here!!!

[@daluainternational]

Great vid team❤

[@wmahicks]

Re: floating. I use superglue on the regular, especially for stone to stone and for “twiggy” wood (spider wood, manzanita). For larger wood pieces though I have a different workaround.
I arrange the wood pieces on plastic egg crate, drill small holes at the contact points, then use stainless steel wire threaded through the holes, securing it to the egg crate. I do the same for wood to wood connections.
After you add stonework, substrate, etc. on top of the egg crate, literally everything in the aquarium is being used to keep the wood work in place. Plus, unlike super glue, so long as appropriate measures are taken, the mechanical connections that have been established between pieces will not weaken over time.
Just keep in mind that you’ll want the footprint of the egg crate to be a few inches back from the front and sides of the tank so it’s not visible. You also want to make certain to drill holes far enough up into the wood that there is enough “meat” such that the wire is unable rip through. Finally secure the loose wire ends on the bottom side of the egg crate, beneath the substrate layer, etc. so the sharp/pointy wire ends aren’t a danger to livestock.
I’ve now used this method in a few tanks with unsoaked, buoyant wood and it has not budged in the slightest.
An additional benefit of this method is it can also be used to create more delicate, open looking wood only scapes that do not require large (or fewer/smaller) stones to keep wood from floating. Or the stones can be placed in the far corners of the tank while still providing the benefit of helping to keep the wood from, er… drifting - so to speak - but keep the wood as the true focal point.
As with all methods there are pros and cons of course. However I’ve found it takes out nearly ALL the anxiety of whether or not it’s all going to float away.

[@Daluafishroom]

So the sand, stone etc become the weight?
I lowkey love how creative this is 🤔 is there a vid anywhere you can tag me in so I can see how it is done? It sounds so unique that I need to try it 😂

[@wmahicks]

@yes, it’s that exactly. Everything in the aquarium works together - up to and including the pressure exerted by the weight of the water against the total surface are of the sand/substrate - to prevent the wood from floating up. Or at least that’s my theory on how it works.
I guess it’s perhaps a method of my own making? I don’t know of any vids that exist - and I myself am not the creator type. 😬🤷🏻‍♂️ I’m working on a new tank now. When it gets to that time I’ll see if I can make a quick vid demonstrating the attachment to the egg crate.