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A little guide for those with little experience

Little

Little

Member
Joined
26 Dec 2023
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433
Location
Kent
I have little experience in this hobby. I have little knowledge too.

When I first started reading the site, I found a lot of great content to read. Honestly it was amazing… but a lot to take in.

I decided to distill a few things I picked up over this past year, in the hope it helps someone start out.

It’s a little basic and a little vague but I hope you like it… at least a little:

1. Patience is Key​

  • Nature Takes Time: Just like planting an acorn, growing a planted aquarium requires patience and time. Your strongest attribute in this hobby will be patience. While some shortcuts exist, they often come with higher risks.

2. Types of Aquariums​

  • High Tech: High energy, high speed, high risk, and high reward. These aquariums typically have:
    • High levels of light
    • Injected CO2
    • Nutrient-rich substrates and water column
    • Frequent water changes
    • Pros: Faster plant growth, vibrant and colorful plants, impactful viewing.
    • Cons: Rapid deterioration if things go wrong, such as algae outbreaks.
  • Low Tech: Low energy, slow growth, and less maintenance. These aquariums typically have:
    • Low light
    • No injected CO2
    • Lean nutrients
    • Fewer water changes
    • Pros: More stable system, slower growth requiring less intervention, often looks more natural.
    • Cons: Slower plant growth, less vibrant appearance.
  • Medium Tech: A balance between high and low tech, offering moderate energy, speed, and maintenance.

3. Substrate Options​

  • Active Soil: Often called Aqua soil, these are clay pellets that alter water chemistry and release nutrients. Commonly used in high tech setups, they require frequent water changes initially.
  • Inert Materials: Includes sand and gravel, which do not affect water chemistry. Nutrients need to be added separately, such as through root tabs or liquid fertilizers.
  • Dirtied Tank: Soil capped with sand, providing nutrients while preventing them from leaking into the water column. Often used in low tech setups for a more natural look.

4. Maintenance​

  • Regular maintenance is crucial for a healthy aquarium. This includes:
    • Changing water as needed (more often in high tech, less in low tech).
    • Trimming overgrown plants.
    • Removing floating plants that block light.
    • Removing damaged or melting leaves.
    • Controlling algae growth.
    • Keeping the tank clean, especially at the beginning.

5. Essential Elements​

  • Light: Plants need adequate light intensity and duration. Fancy lights are more about aesthetics. High light and longer periods typically require more CO2 and fertilizers.
  • Water: Tap water is generally fine (make sure to treat it before use), but rainwater or RO water can give you more control when used with remineralization.
  • Fertilizer/Nutrients: Both macro (NPK) and micronutrients are necessary. Fertilizers can be expensive pre-made products or cheap homemade dry salts. Both works. Two dosing systems are:
    • EI (Estimating Index): Used in high tech aquariums, involves dosing a lot of fertilizer and frequent water changes.
    • Lean Dosing: Used in low tech aquariums, involves adding the minimum amount of nutrients based on plant growth.
  • CO2: Essential for plant growth. Some will be naturally present or more can be injected. Injection can be done via natural reaction systems or compressed bottles.

6. Aquarium Size​

  • Small Tanks (<18 liters/5 gallons): Harder to maintain due to instability and frequent maintenance needs. Suitable for snails and shrimp, possibility for a Betta but not recommended.
  • Medium Tanks (37 liters/10 gallons): Ideal for beginners, offering stability and room for plants and livestock. Get this size if space and budget allow. This will make your first experience much easier.
  • Large Tanks: Require more maintenance, are costlier, and need more space. When things go wrong on a large tank, it can be an off putting experience for a beginner.

7. Filtration​

  • Various types of filters can be used, including external, internal, hang-on-back, and sponge filters. Each has its pros and cons regarding price, space, noise, visuals, and ease of cleaning. They all work.
  • Flow Rates… movement of water helps distribute nutrients and CO2, and surface agitation adds oxygen. However, too much flow can stress livestock and plants.

8. Starting the Aquarium​

  • Plant and Wait: Fill the tank, add lots of floating and fast-growing plants, and let it stabilize. After a few months, you can swap in more sensitive plants and add livestock.
  • Other Methods: Dark Start (running the tank without light or plants for weeks) and Dry Start (not filling the tank with water, wrap the top in cling film, keeping plants moist. Finally add water when grown in).

9. Handling Problems​

  • Accept that things may not always go as planned. Patience and regular maintenance are key to success. Aquariums are dynamic and require attention.

10. Research​

  • Thorough research is essential before making any decisions regarding plants, livestock, and equipment. This helps avoid common mistakes and ensures a successful aquarium.

Conclusion​

  • Nature Takes Time: Measure progress in months and be patient.
  • Do Your Maintenance: Regular upkeep is crucial for a healthy aquarium.
  • Research Everything: Informed decisions lead to better outcomes.
 
Last edited:
Would any experienced member of the UKAPS team / committee be willing to collaborate with me to improve and eventually pin this guide? I think having something pinned for people absolutely new to this hobby of planted tanks would be very useful.

My vision would be for the guide to:
1. Cover the common / general concepts they will likely hear about at a high level.
2. Promote a useful mindset.
3. Be succinct and memorable.

Ideally a more detailed version could be written and then pared back to the essentials.

Cheers.
 
I think I missed out some stuff.
Hardscape and Temperature for sure.
Probably should have covered difficulty ratings for plants too.
It would benefit from better structure as I wrote it “on the fly”.
I likely have some things wrong or more specifically, not in alignment with UKAPS teams views (for example the lighting comments may be wrong).
If no committee / admin member reaches out in the next few weeks, I will try a solo re write in the future and send it in to request it added to the article section.
 
Hi all,
Little said:
I think I missed out some stuff.
Click to expand...
It looks a pretty good start. You can link in threads like <"Soil Substrate or Dirted Tank - A How to Guide">, <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?"> & <"EI DOSING USING DRY SALTS">, all from <"Articles / Tutorials">.
Little said:
Probably should have covered difficulty ratings for plants too.
Click to expand...
You could just put in a link to the Tropica web-site <"plant details - Tropica Aquarium Plants"> and / or UKAPS Plantbase <"Plantbase">?

cheers Darrel
 
Little said:

1. Patience is Key​

  • Nature Takes Time: Just like planting an acorn, growing a planted aquarium requires patience and time. Your strongest attribute in this hobby will be patience. While some shortcuts exist, they often come with higher risks.
Click to expand...
This is the bit that I think should be considered more - primarily because it's absolutely true, but also because there are "indicators/signs" that the newbie to planted aquariums need to understand. I'll try to qualify with my own newbie experience.

A year ago, I had no idea about planting an aquarium. I am still very new, as only started 6 months ago. I hear that patience is the key, but few people advise you on the overall "broad-stroke signs" when you are on the right path, or not. Further still, there is a limited understanding of "the patience band". What I mean here is that there is a point where things are OK and a point where they have gone too far the other way. Newbies need some level of "guardrails" or indicators, and it would be great to create them - even if they are not fixed and basically say "seek help at this point".Any guide for inexperienced/newbies needs to be written from the perspective of that 'target audience'. There needs to be an expert review for anything that the good members/experts on here write - but there also needs to be a review from a plant dumb-ass like me to ensure that it makes sense and hits the "newbie" mark. You cannot make an aquarium path run on rails, but having some indications would be great.
 
Hey little, this is a great idea and would be happy to help anywhere I can.
I think keeping it as a general introduction/summary and not being too prescriptive is the right way to go, knowing what not to add is probably as important as what is.

I can think of a couple of key principles i wish I had been pointed to when I started rather than figuring out over years...

  • esentially, you can't change too much water or too often and increasing it is generally the best first corrective step to all algae problems. Too little and too infrequent will always cause issues. (Assuming the water parameters are a good match)
  • Consistency is key, set a routine and be religious. Don't fiddle, observe changes before making any further changes.

Linking to articles, stickies and threads is a great idea as Darrel suggested, helping people find the knowledge they will need.

Thanks for taking the time 👍
 
Iain Sutherland said:
  • esentially, you can't change too much water or too often and increasing it is generally the best first corrective step to all algae problems.
Click to expand...
Without sounding like I am having a pop at @Iain Sutherland (I'm not! I am only using his bullet as an example!), this is precisely the type of ambiguity that any article needs to lean into. i.e. signs for 'too much' or signs for 'too little'. Someone less experienced NEEDS a marker/sign to support action.
 
Iain Sutherland said:
Linking to articles, stickies and threads is a great idea as Darrel suggested, helping people find the knowledge they will need.
Click to expand...
Hmmm. In terms of threads, if that link leads to an unwieldy chain of discussions, then that could be quite a problem for the beginner. i.e. You have created a "A little guide for those with little experience" with links to a discussion thread, which sometimes is very weavy.
 
I think suggesting adding links to the article by Little is best as most after enthusing the basic concept of the article will want to build knowledge and reference more, it's not suggesting you randomly use the Internet, but proven articles and respected sponsers only help a newcomer have a planted aquarium or some who previously were unsuccessful
 
Good luck with this - I think it will be great to produce it! Think about the recipient and inject everything you have! 😍
 
I decided to pivot and put it on a platform that allowed me to easily edit it yet remain easy for anyone to access (MS Sway). I thought about links but ended up deciding against it.

This is my current draft. I spent about three hours on this but it probably needs some more time to polish it up a bit more.

sway.cloud.microsoft

A Little Guide to Planted Aquariums - For Beginners

Nature Takes Time.
sway.cloud.microsoft sway.cloud.microsoft
 
I really like this, @Little ! The guide is extremely clear and helpful for beginners. I really like the points about often not needing to buy "solutions", and the simple explanations of non problems. This is a great resource.


I do have a small suggestion you can ignore: I found it a little difficult reading the serif font over the patterned background. Might be worth making it slightly easier to read before sharing with a sans serif font and a single colour background. You can use wgac checkers online to measure the accessibility of the webpage. You could also add a contents/index for people to refer to. Up to you though!

If you want someone to give it an edit for grammar/readability/accessibility, I'm happy to do so. I used to do this for the wildlife trusts 🙂
 
megwattscreative said:
I really like this, @Little ! The guide is extremely clear and helpful for beginners. I really like the points about often not needing to buy "solutions", and the simple explanations of non problems. This is a great resource.


I do have a small suggestion you can ignore: I found it a little difficult reading the serif font over the patterned background. Might be worth making it slightly easier to read before sharing with a sans serif font and a single colour background. You can use wgac checkers online to measure the accessibility of the webpage. You could also add a contents/index for people to refer to. Up to you though!

If you want someone to give it an edit for grammar/readability/accessibility, I'm happy to do so. I used to do this for the wildlife trusts 🙂
Click to expand...
Excellent background for 'supervising' the eccentrics, myself included, here. Collectively, there is wisdom here...
 
Little said:
It has an accessibly view on the three dots and a contents button on the bottom right.
Click to expand...
Brilliant. Maybe mention that in the doc, I've not used Microsoft sway before - unsure if it's a commonly used program, although quite possibly. On mobile the menu is in the top right 🙂

Off topic but thanks, @Connswater ! I definitely wouldn't call it supervising the eccentrics... as I said to Alec, being on this forum is more like chatting to 200 different versions of my dad lol 😂
 
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