A planted aquarium is a living system, not a decoration — plants, fish, shrimp, bacteria, light, and nutrients in continuous negotiation. Get the setup right and the system largely runs itself; get it wrong and you will fight algae for months. This section covers the whole arc: choosing tank size (bigger water volumes forgive beginner mistakes), selecting substrate, filtration, and lighting for your goals, cycling the tank before livestock arrives, and planting heavily from day one — the single best algae prevention there is.
Stocking a planted tank is different from stocking a fish-only tank. Small schooling fish like neon tetras, ember tetras, and rasboras complement plants without uprooting them; bottom dwellers like corydoras need smooth substrate; shrimp colonies (neocaridina and caridina) double as a cleanup crew and a living indicator of water stability. Bioload must stay matched to plant mass — lightly planted tanks cannot carry heavy stocking, while dense Dutch-style jungles process surprising amounts of waste.
You will also find complete method guides here, including the low-tech Walstad method (soil substrate, no CO2, no filter) and high-tech CO2-injected builds, plus troubleshooting for the classic new-tank sequence: diatoms in week two, hair algae in month two, and the patience to let the system mature. Whether this is your first 10-gallon or your fifth show tank, start with a plan, plant heavily, change water weekly, and let biology do the heavy lifting.
Planted Aquariums A complete 55-gallon planted tank setup guide: equipment, lighting PAR targets, CO2 dosing, a zone-by-zone plant plan, stocking numbers, and a cycling timeline.
Planted Aquariums Build a Rio Negro blackwater setup for Corydoras adolfoi: fine barbel-safe sand, leaf litter, driftwood, soft acidic water, and a proper shoal.
Planted Aquariums African butterflyfish (Pantodon buchholzi) need a surface-first planted tank: a sealed lid, floating-plant cover, and calm water. Full setup and feeding guide.
Planted Aquariums A complete setup guide for Xenomystus nigri: 55-gallon tank, fine sand, dim planting, escape-proof lid, and which fish it will eat.
Planted Aquariums Amano shrimp are the hobby's best algae grazers, but rushed acclimation kills most. The setup, drip method, and feeding that keeps them thriving for years.
Planted Aquariums Build an authentic Rio Negro biotope: white sand, leaf litter, tannin-stained water, and a stocking list where every species actually swims in the Amazon.
Planted Aquariums The Amazon puffer is the one puffer you can keep in a group. Here is the planted tank setup: stocking, plants, and the snail diet that keeps beaks trimmed.
Planted Aquariums Apistogramma planted tank setup: 20-gallon minimum, cave territories, soft acidic water, tough plants, leaf litter, and breeding tips for dwarf cichlids.
Planted Aquariums AquaClear or Seachem Tidal? We compare self-priming, surface skimming, media baskets, noise, and shrimp safety to find the best HOB for planted tanks.
Planted Aquariums Turn your fish tank into a tiny farm: raft beds, media beds, and riparium planters that strip nitrates while growing basil, lettuce, and pothos at home.